Old Testament · Prophecy · book 38 of 66 · 1 min read
The book of Zechariah
Eight night visions and then a stranger second half, containing more material the Gospels quote at the crucifixion than any other prophet except Isaiah.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says Yahweh of Armies.”
At a glance
- Chapters
- 14
- Author
- Zechariah, with the second half widely attributed to another hand
- Written
- From 520 BC; chapters 9 to 14 possibly later
- Written for
- The same rebuilding community Haggai addressed
- Themes
- night visions, rebuilding, the coming king, cleansing
What it is about
Zechariah begins alongside Haggai and with the same practical goal — get the temple finished — but goes about it through a sequence of eight night visions, each explained by an interpreting angel.
The first half's argument is that the small, discouraging work in front of them matters, and its most quoted line makes the case: not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.
The second half changes register entirely and supplies images the Gospel writers reach for repeatedly: a king entering on a donkey, thirty pieces of silver, a shepherd struck and the sheep scattered, one they have pierced.
Where to start
Chapter 4, for the vision of the lampstand and the line about might and power, which is the book's centre of gravity.
The chapters worth knowing
- Zechariah 3 — Joshua the high priest in filthy clothes, re-dressed in front of the accuser.
- Zechariah 4 — Not by might nor by power, said to a governor with inadequate resources.
- Zechariah 9 — The king entering on a donkey, quoted in all four gospels.
What people get wrong about it
That the famous verse is about spiritual effort generally. It is spoken to a governor rebuilding a small temple with inadequate resources, about that specific job.
Questions
What are the visions in Zechariah?
Eight night visions in the first six chapters — horsemen, a lampstand, a flying scroll, a woman in a basket and others — each interpreted by an angel and all aimed at encouraging the rebuilding.
Why do the Gospels quote Zechariah so much?
Its second half supplies several images the passion narratives use: the king on a donkey, the thirty pieces of silver, the struck shepherd, and the one who is pierced.