God’s Word Translation
Zechariah 4:11
11I asked the angel, “What do these two olive trees at the right and the left of the lamp stand mean?”
Zechariah 4:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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?
- New International Version (NIV)Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?”
Context of Zechariah 4:11
9“Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of Armies has sent me to you. 10Who despised the day when little things began to happen? They will be delighted when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. (These seven eyes of the Lord roam over all the earth.)” I asked the angel, “What do these two olive trees at the right and the left of the lamp stand mean?” 12Again I asked him, “What is the meaning of the two branches from the olive trees next to the two golden pipes that are pouring out gold?” 13He asked me, “Don’t you know what these things mean?” “No, sir,” I answered.
Read all of Zechariah 4Zechariah 4:11 word by word
וָאַ֖עַן וָאֹמַ֣ר אֵלָ֑יו מַה־שְּׁנֵ֤י הַזֵּיתִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶה עַל־יְמִ֥ין הַמְּנוֹרָ֖ה וְעַל־שְׂמֹאולָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- I, and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- these twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- olive treesזַ֫יִתzayith · oliveH2132
- upon the rightיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
- of the candlestickמְנוֹרָהmenôrâh menôrâh · lampstandH4501
- and upon the leftשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · leftH8040
Cross-references for Zechariah 4:11
Commentaries on Zechariah 4:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11What are these two olive trees - See on Zechariah 4:2; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11And I answered and said - The vision, as a whole, had been explained to him. The prophet asks as to subordinate parts, which seemed perhaps inconsistent with the whole. If the whole imports that everything should be done by the Spirit of God, not by human power, what means it that there are these two olive-trees? And when the Angel returned no answer, to invite perhaps closer attention and a more definite question, he asks again;Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-14Verses 11-14 Zechariah desires to know what are the two olive trees. Zerubbabel and Joshua, this prince and this priest, were endued with the gifts and graces of God's Spirit. They lived at the same time, and both were instruments in the work and service of God. Christ's offices of King and Priest were shadowed forth by them. From the union of these two offices in his person, both God and man, the fullness of grace is received and imparted. They built the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-14This vision shows that God, through his Spirit, would help Zerubbabel and Jeshua rebuild the temple.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1211-12. Zechariah three times (Zec 4:4, 11, 12) asks as to the two olives before he gets an answer; the question becomes more minute each time. What he at first calls "two olive trees," he afterwards calls "branches," as on closer looking he observes that the "branches" of the trees are the channels through which a continual flow of oil dropped into the bowl of the lamps (Zec 4:2), and that this is the purpose for which the two olive trees stand beside the…Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 4:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Zechariah 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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