New King James Version
Zechariah 4:10
10For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
Zechariah 4:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth."
- New Living Translation (NLT)Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)
Context of Zechariah 4:10
8Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 9“The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” 11Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?” 12And I further answered and said to him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?”
Read all of Zechariah 4Zechariah 4:10 word by word
כִּ֣י מִ֣י בַז֮ לְי֣וֹם קְטַנּוֹת֒ וְשָׂמְח֗וּ וְרָא֞וּ אֶת־הָאֶ֧בֶן הַבְּדִ֛יל בְּיַ֥ד זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל שִׁבְעָה־אֵ֑לֶּה עֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה הֵ֥מָּה מְשׁוֹטְטִ֖ים בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For who hath despisedבּוּזbûz · to despiseH936
- the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of small thingsקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
- for they shall rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
- and shall seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- the plummetבְּדִילbedîyl · tinH913
- the plummetאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
- in the handיָדyâd · handH3027
- of Zerubbabelזְרֻבָּבֶ֫לzerûbbâbel · ZerubbabelH2216
- those sevenשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
- the eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- which run to and froשׁוּטshûţ · to roveH7751
- through the whole earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
Cross-references for Zechariah 4:10
- Ezra 3:12But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy,
- Nehemiah 4:2And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?”
- Job 8:7Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
- Proverbs 4:18But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
- Daniel 2:34You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
- Hosea 6:3Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.
- Haggai 2:3‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?
- Matthew 13:31Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,
- 1 Corinthians 1:28and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
- Isaiah 66:11That you may feed and be satisfied With the consolation of her bosom, That you may drink deeply and be delighted With the abundance of her glory.”
- Luke 15:5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
- Amos 7:7Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand.
- Zechariah 3:9For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
- Revelation 8:2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
- Zechariah 1:10And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.”
- 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”
Commentaries on Zechariah 4:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Who hath despised the day of small things? - The poverty, weakness, and unbefriended state of the Jews. It was said, "What do these feeble Jews?" "Will they build," etc.? No. But God will build by them, and perfect his building too. And shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel - He is master builder under God, the grand architect. Those seven - are the eyes of the Lord - Either referring to his particular and especial providence; or to those…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10The simplest rendering is marked by the accents. “For who hath despised the day of small things? and (that is, seeing that there have rejoiced and seen the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel, these seven, the Eyes of the Lord, they are running to and fro in all the earth,” 1:e., since God hath with joy and good-pleasure beheld the progress of the work of Zerubbabel, who can despise the day of small things? The day of small things was not only that of the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-10Verses 8-10 The exact fulfilment of Scripture prophecies is a convincing proof of their Divine original. Though the instruments be weak and unlikely, yet God often chooses such, to bring about great things by them. Let not the dawning light be despised; it will shine more and more to the perfect day. Those who despaired of finishing the work, shall rejoice when they see Zerubbabel giving directions what to do, and taking care that the work be done. It is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10A plumb line is a cord with a tin or lead weight at one end. It helps ensure a wall is vertical in construction. these seven eyes: Seven represents completeness or perfection. God observes everything on earth and controls the destinies of people and nations.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. who ... despised ... small things--He reproves their ungrateful unbelief, which they felt because of the humble beginning, compared with the greatness of the undertaking; and encourages them with the assurance that their progress in the work, though small, was an earnest of great and final success, because Jehovah's eye is upon Zerubbabel and the work, to support Him with His favor. Contrast, "great is the day of Jezreel" (Ho 1:11) with "the day of…Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 4:10
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries