Zechariah 6 · Verse 7

Zechariah 6:7

And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
Zechariah 6:7, King James Version

Zechariah 6:7 in other translations

BSBAs the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.
WEBThe strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the earth. He said, “Go around and through the earth!” So they walked back and forth through the earth.
ASVAnd the strong went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
YLTand the strong ones have come forth, and they seek to go to walk up and down in the earth;' and he saith, ‘Go, walk up and down in the earth;' and they walk up and down in the earth.
DARBYand the strong go forth, and seek to go that they may walk to and fro through the earth. And he said, Go, walk to and fro through the earth. And they walked to and fro through the earth.
BBEAnd the red ones go to the east; and they made request that they might go up and down through the earth: and he said, Go up and down through the earth. So they went up and down through the earth.
WebsterAnd the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Go hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.

What does Zechariah 6:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. bay--rather, the "fleet" (or "strong"). As the "red" are not otherwise mentioned, the epithet "fleet" (as the Hebrew for "bay" ought to be translated) in Zec 6:3 seems to apply to all four, and here especially to the "red." Their office is to complete hereafter the work already in part executed by the previous three who have stilled Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Græco-Macedonia; namely, to punish finally the last great foe of Israel, the final form assumed by the fourth world kingdom, Rome, which is to continue down to the second advent of Christ. Hence they "walk to and fro through the earth," counterworking Satan's "going to and fro in the earth" (Job 1:7; 2Th 2:8, 9; 1Ti 4:1), in connection with the last awful development of the fourth world kingdom. Their "fleetness" is needed to counteract his restless activity; their red color implies the final great carnage (Eze 39:1-29; Re 19:17, 18, 21).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 And the bay went forth - The Seleucidae, who conquered Syria and the upper provinces, and who wished to extend their conquests, and "sought to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth," were of unbounded ambition, and sought universal empire; such as Antiochus the Great. "So they walked to and fro," did extend their conquests; and harassed many countries by their vexatious and almost continual wars. Some think the Romans are meant, who carried their conquests hither and thither, just as the Divine providence permitted them.

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…

Read the full comment on Zechariah 6:1-8 →

Zechariah 6:7 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.

וְהָאֲמֻצִּ֣יםve.ha.'a.mu.Tzimand the strong [horses]H554
יָצְא֗וּya.tze.'Uthey have gone outH3318
וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙vay.vak.Shuand they have soughtH1245
לָלֶ֙כֶת֙la.Le.khetto goH1980
לְהִתְהַלֵּ֣ךle.hit.ha.Lekhto go aboutH1980
בָּאָ֔רֶץba.'A.retzon the earthH776
וַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
לְכ֖וּle.KhugoH1980
הִתְהַלְּכ֣וּhit.ha.le.Khugo aboutH1980
בָאָ֑רֶץva.'A.retzon the earthH776
וַתִּתְהַלַּ֖כְנָהva.tit.ha.Lakh.nahand they went aboutH1980
בָּאָֽרֶץ\׃ba.'A.retzon the earthH776

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

Cross references for Zechariah 6:7

  • 2 Chronicles 16:9

    For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

  • Zechariah 1:10

    And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

  • Genesis 13:17

    Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

  • Daniel 7:19

    Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

  • Job 1:6-7

    Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

  • Job 2:1-2

    Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

  • Daniel 7:24

    And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the bay.
1:10; Ge 13:17; 2Ch 16:9; Job 1:6,7; 2:1,2; Da 7:19,24

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

Context

  • Zechariah 6:6

    The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.

  • Zechariah 6:7

    And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.

  • Zechariah 6:8

    Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

Read all of Zechariah 6

Zechariah 6:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y los rucios salieron, y se afanaron por ir á recorrer la tierra. Y dijo: Id, recorred la tierra. Y recorrieron la tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et les vigoureux sortent et cherchent à s’en aller, à se promener par la terre. Et il dit: Allez, promenez-vous par la terre. Et ils se promenèrent par la terre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und die starken ziehen aus und trachten hinzugehen, die Erde zu durchziehen. Und er sprach: Gehet, durchziehet die Erde! Und sie durchzogen die Erde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui autem erant robustissimi, exierunt, et quærebant ire et discurrere per omnem terram. Et dixit: Ite, perambulate terram: et perambulaverunt terram.