Zechariah 6 · Verse 1

Zechariah 6:1

And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
Zechariah 6:1, King James Version

Zechariah 6:1 in other translations

BSBAnd again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze.
WEBAgain I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of bronze.
ASVAnd again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
YLTAnd I turn back, and lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, four chariots are coming forth from between two of the mountains, and the mountains are mountains of brass.
DARBYAnd I lifted up mine eyes again, and saw, and behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
BBEAnd again lifting up my eyes I saw four war-carriages coming out from between the two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
WebsterAnd I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.

What does Zechariah 6:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Zec 6:1-8. Eighth Vision. The Four Chariots.

1. four chariots--symbolizing the various dispensations of Providence towards the Gentile nations which had been more or less brought into contact with Judea; especially in punishing Babylon. Compare Zec 6:8 ("the north country," that is, Babylon); Zec 1:15; 2:6. The number "four" is specified not merely in reference to the four quarters of the horizon (implying universal judgments), but in allusion to the four world kingdoms of Daniel. from between two mountains--the valley of Jehoshaphat, between Moriah and Mount Olivet [Moore]; or the valley between Zion and Moriah, where the Lord is (Zec 2:10), and whence He sends forth His ministers of judgment on the heathen [Maurer]. The temple on Mount Moriah is the symbol of the theocracy; hence the nearest spot accessible to chariots in the valley below is the most suitable for a vision affecting Judah in relation to the Gentile world powers. The chariot is the symbol of war, and so of judgments. of brass--the metal among the ancients representing hard solidity; so the immovable and resistless firmness of God's people (compare Jr 1:18). Calvin explains the "two mountains" thus: The secret purpose of God from eternity does not come forth to view before the execution, but is hidden and kept back irresistibly till the fit time, as it were between lofty mountains; the chariots are the various changes wrought in nations, which, as swift heralds, announce to us what before we knew not. The "two" may thus correspond to the number of the "olive trees" (Zec 4:3); the allusion to the "two mountains" near the temple is not necessarily excluded in this view. Henderson explains them to be the Medo-Persian kingdom, represented by the "two horns" (Da 8:3, 4), now employed to execute God's purpose in punishing the nations; but the prophecy reaches far beyond those times.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The vision of the four chariots drawn by several sorts of horses, Zac 6:1-8. The other vision in thus chapter may refer in its primary sense to the establishment of the civil and religious polity of the Jews under Joshua and Zerubbabel; but relates in a fuller sense, to the Messiah, and to that spiritual kingdom of which he was to be both king and high priest. In him all these types and figures were verified; on him all the promises are yea and amen, Zac 6:9-15. Verse 1 There came four chariots - Four monarchies or empires. This is supposed to mean the same with the vision of the four horns, in chap. 1. Mountains of brass - The strong barriers of God's purposes, which restrained those powers within the times and limits appointed by Jehovah.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Zechariah 6:1-8
This vision may represent the ways of Providence in the government of this lower world. Whatever the providences of God about us are, as to public or private affairs, we should see them all as coming from between the mountains of brass, the immoveable counsels and decrees of God; and therefore reckon it as much our folly to quarrel with them, as it is our duty to submit to them. His providences move swiftly and strongly as chariots, but all are directed and governed by his infinite wisdom and sovereign will. The red horses signify war and bloodshed. The black, signify the dismal consequences of war, famines, pestilences, and desolations. The white, signify the return of comfort, peace, and prosperity. The mixed colour, signify events of different complexions, a day of prosperity and a day of adversity. The angels go forth as messengers of God's counsels, and ministers of his justice and mercy. And the secret motions and impulses upon the spirits of men, by which the designs of Providence are carried on, are these four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from God, and fulfil what the God of the spirits of all flesh appoints. All the events which take place in the world spring from the unchangeable counsels of the Lord, which are formed in unerring wisdom, perfect justice, truth, and goodness; and from history it is found that events happened about the period when this vision was sent to the prophet, which seem referred to therein.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Zechariah 6:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וָאָשֻׁ֗בva.'a.Shuvand I returnedH7725
וָאֶשָּׂ֤אva.'e.Sa'and I lifted upH5375
עֵינַי֙'ei.Naieyes myH5869
וָֽאֶרְאֶ֔הva.'er.'Ehand I sawH7200
וְהִנֵּ֨הve.hi.Nehand there!H2009
אַרְבַּ֤ע'ar.Ba'fourH702
מַרְכָּבוֹת֙mar.ka.VotchariotsH4818
יֹֽצְא֔וֹתyo.tze.'ot[were] coming forthH3318
מִבֵּ֖יןmi.Beinfrom betweenH996
שְׁנֵ֣יshe.Nei[the] twoH8147
הֶֽהָרִ֑יםhe.ha.Rimthe mountainsH2022
וְהֶהָרִ֖יםve.he.ha.Rimand the mountainsH2022
הָרֵ֥יha.Rei[were] mountains ofH2022
נְחֹֽשֶׁת\׃ne.Cho.shetbronzeH5178

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Zechariah 6:1

  • Ephesians 1:11

    In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

  • Daniel 8:22

    Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

  • Zechariah 1:18-19

    Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

  • Acts 4:28

    For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

  • Zechariah 6:5

    And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

  • Daniel 4:15

    Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

  • Psalms 36:6

    Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

  • Daniel 7:3-7

    And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. …

  • Daniel 4:35

    And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

  • Zechariah 5:1

    Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.

  • Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

  • Isaiah 14:26-27

    This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The vision of the four chariots.
9 By the crowns of Joshua are shewn the temple and kingdom of Christ the Branch.

I turned.
5:1
four.
1:18,19; Da 2:38-40; 7:3-7; 8:22
and the.
1Sa 2:8; Job 34:29; Ps 33:11; 36:6; Pr 21:30; Isa 14:26,27; 43:13
Isa 46:10,11; Da 4:15,35; Ac 4:28; Eph 1:11; 3:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Zechariah 6:1

    And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.

  • Zechariah 6:2

    In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

Read all of Zechariah 6

Zechariah 6:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y TORNÉME, y alcé mis ojos y miré, y he aquí cuatro carros que salían de entre dos montes; y aquellos montes eran de metal.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et de nouveau je levai mes yeux, et je vis: et voici quatre chars qui sortaient d’entre deux montagnes, et les montagnes étaient des montagnes d’airain.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ich hob wiederum meine Augen auf und sah: und siehe, vier Wagen kamen hervor zwischen zwei Bergen; und die Berge waren Berge von Erz.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et conversus sum, et levavi oculos meos, et vidi: et ecce quatuor quadrigæ egredientes de medio duorum montium: et montes, montes ærei.