New English Translation
Zechariah 6:7
7All these strong ones are scattering; they have sought permission to go and walk about over the earth.” The Lord had said, “Go! Walk about over the earth!” So they are doing so.
Zechariah 6:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, “Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth.” So they walked to and fro throughout the earth.
Context of Zechariah 6:7
5The messenger replied, “These are the four spirits of heaven that have been presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. 6The chariot with the black horses is going to the north country and the white ones are going after them, but the spotted ones are going to the south country. All these strong ones are scattering; they have sought permission to go and walk about over the earth.” The Lord had said, “Go! Walk about over the earth!” So they are doing so. 8Then he cried out to me, “Look! The ones going to the northland have brought me peace about the northland.” 9The word of the Lord came to me as follows:
Read all of Zechariah 6Zechariah 6:7 word by word
וְהָאֲמֻצִּ֣ים יָצְא֗וּ וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ לְהִתְהַלֵּ֣ך בָּאָ֔רֶץ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לְכ֖וּ הִתְהַלְּכ֣וּ בָאָ֑רֶץ וַתִּתְהַלַּ֖כְנָה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the bayאָמֹץ'âmôts · strongH554
- went forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- and soughtבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- to goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- that they might walk to and froהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- through the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
Cross-references for Zechariah 6:7
- Zechariah 1:10Then the man standing among the myrtle trees spoke up and said, “These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk about on the earth.”
- Genesis 13:17Get up and walk throughout the land, for I will give it to you.”
- 2 Chronicles 16:9Certainly the Lord watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.
- Job 1:6Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord – and Satan also arrived among them.
- Job 2:1Again the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also arrived among them to present himself before the Lord.
- Daniel 7:19“Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others. It was very dreadful, with two rows of iron teeth and bronze claws, and it devoured, crushed, and trampled anything that was left with its feet.
Commentaries on Zechariah 6:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7And 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7And the strong went forth and sought to go, that they might walk to and fro through the earth - The mention of their strength corresponds to the extent of the power and commission, for which they asked, to go to and fro, up and down, at their will, unhindered, through the whole earth. The Babylonian empire held Egypt only out of Asia; the Persian was conquered in its efforts against Europe, in Greece; Alexander‘s was like a meteor, gleaming but breaking…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7The teams of horses appear strong and eager to do the Lord's work (Zechariah 6:5). They move only when the Lord commands.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 6:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Zechariah 6
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries