The Vision of the Golden Lampstand
Study note
The angel wakes Zechariah as if from sleep and shows him a golden lampstand with a bowl on top, seven lamps, and two olive trees beside it. This is the fifth night vision. The lampstand represents God's presence and His Spirit at work. The famous words 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit' are spoken to encourage Zerubbabel that no obstacle is too great when God is at work.
1 The angel who had been talking with me came back and shook me awake, like rousing someone from a deep sleep. And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
2 "What do you see?" he asked. I answered, "I see a lampstand made entirely of gold with a bowl sitting on top. It has seven lamps, each with seven channels feeding oil to them." And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 "Two olive trees stand next to it — one on the right side of the bowl and one on the left." And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 I asked the angel, "What does all of this mean, my lord?" So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5 "You truly do not know what these are?" the angel asked. "No, my lord," I admitted. Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
7 "Who do you think you are, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will be flattened like a plain! He will set the final capstone in place while everyone cheers, 'Beautiful! Beautiful!'" Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zerubbabel Will Finish the Temple
Study note
God gives a direct promise that Zerubbabel, who laid the foundation of the new temple, will also complete it. The people should not look down on small beginnings. God sees everything that happens on earth, and He is watching over this work.
8 Then the LORD spoke to me again. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9 "Zerubbabel's own hands laid the foundation of this temple, and his own hands will finish it. When that happens, you will know that the LORD of Armies sent me to you." The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
10 "Who has sneered at the day of small beginnings? People will be thrilled when they see Zerubbabel holding the final measuring stone. Those seven lamps represent the LORD's eyes, which scan back and forth across the entire earth." For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
The Two Olive Trees Explained
Study note
Zechariah asks about the two olive trees pouring golden oil into the lampstand. The angel explains that they represent the two anointed ones who serve the Lord of the whole earth. These likely refer to Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest, the civil and religious leaders of Israel at that time.
11 Then I asked the angel, "What are the two olive trees on either side of the lampstand?" Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12 I also asked, "What about the two olive branches pouring golden oil through two golden pipes?" And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 He looked at me and said, "You do not know what these are?" I answered, "No, my lord." And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14 "These represent the two anointed ones who stand ready to serve the Lord of the whole earth," he said. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.