Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Zechariah 1:9

Then said I, O my lord, what [are] these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will show thee what these [be].

9. O my lord ] This question is addressed to the interpreting angel, of whose presence we are for the first time made aware by the fact that he replies to it.

the angel that talked with me ] This is the title by which this angel is distinguished throughout the visions: Zec 1:13-14 (where the A. V. has “ communed with me”), 19, Zec 2:3, Zec 4:1; Zec 4:4-5, Zec 5:10, Zec 6:4. The phrase has been variously interpreted. Some would render “ in me,” “in that that angel formed in the spirit and imaginative power of Zechariah phantasms or images of things which were foreshown him, and gave him to understand what those images signified.” Others take it to mean “ by me,” “the prophet being the channel through whom the divine revelations were made.” But there is no reason to depart from the rendering of the A. V., which accurately describes the office of the angel as actually discharged by him in explaining the visions, and which is supported by Hebrew usage. Comp. Num 12:8, where it is difficult to understand how God should speak “face to face,” either “in,” or “by,” a man.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

What are these? – He asks, not who, but what they import.

The angel that talked with me – Literally, spake in me. The very rare expression seems meant to convey the thought of an inward speaking, whereby the words should be borne directly into the soul, without the intervention of the ordinary outward organs. God says to Moses, If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, will make Myself known unto him in a vision, I will speak (literally) in him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so – In him will I speak mouth to mouth Num 12:6-9; and Habakkuk says of the like inward teaching, I will watch to see, what He will speak in me . It is the characteristic title of one attendant-angel, who was Gods expositor of the visions to Zechariah (Zec 1:13-14, Zec 1:19, (Zec 2:2 Hebrew) Zec 2:3; (7) Zec 4:1, Zec 4:4-5; Zec 5:5, Zec 5:10; Zec 6:4). Dionysius: By his ministry God showed me things to come, in that that angel formed in the spirit and imaginative power of Zechariah phantasms or images of things which were foreshown him, and gave him to understand what those images signified.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. O my lord, what are these] The angel here mentioned was distinct from those mentioned in the eighth verse; he who talked with the prophet, Zec 1:13.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Then; so soon as he had seen and observed. Said I; Zechariah.

O my Lord: this was Christ the Lord of hosts.

What are these? what is the meaning of these appearances or visions?

The angel; Christ, the Angel of the covenant; so I take this Angel, that promiseth to inform the prophet, to be the same that appears, a man on the red horse among the myrtles.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

9. the angel that talked with menotthe “man upon the red horse,” as is evident from Zec1:10, where he (the Divine Angel) is distinguished from the”angel that talked with me” (the phrase used of him,Zec 1:13; Zec 1:14;Zec 2:3; Zec 4:1;Zec 4:4; Zec 4:5;Zec 5:5; Zec 5:10;Zec 6:4), that is, theinterpreting angel. The Hebrew for “with me,”or, “in me” (Nu12:8), implies internal, intimate communication [JEROME].

show theereveal to thymental vision.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Then said I, O my Lord,…. These are the words of the Prophet Zechariah to the angel that showed him this vision:

what are these? what is the meaning of this vision? particularly who are meant by the horses, red, speckled, and white, and those upon them?

And the angel that talked with me; who seems to be different from the Angel of the Lord, the man among the myrtle trees, Zec 1:8 he was one of the ministering spirits; see

Re 17:1:

said unto me, I will show thee what these [be]; that is, give an interpretation of the vision, and point out the persons intended by the horses.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(9) O my lord.This is addressed to the angel that talked with me, or, perhaps, in me, according as we regard him as discharging the office of the Virgil of Dante, or the Daimon of Socrates (but, see Lawes History of Philosophy). LXX., . This is the angel-interpreter, whose office it was to interpret the visions (Zec. 1:18; Zec. 2:3; Zec. 4:1; Zec. 4:4-5; Zec. 5:5-10; Zec. 6:4), and who is often referred to simply as he.

I will shew thee.viz., by the word of the man who stood among the myrtles.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

9. The prophet, who does not understand the vision (compare Amo 7:1-9), seeks an explanation.

O my lord The one here addressed must be the person who replies, the heavenly interpreter.

The angel that talked with me He is the constant companion of the prophet throughout the entire series of visions; his office is to interpret to Zechariah what he sees and hears (Zec 1:9; Zec 1:13-14; Zec 1:19; Zec 2:3; Zec 4:1; Zec 4:4-5; Zec 5:10; Zec 6:4; see Introduction, p. 599).

I will show thee The angel does not promise a direct answer, but assures the prophet that an explanation will be given.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Zec 1:9. The angel that talked with me This was another heavenly minister, sent probably to present the visions to the prophet’s imagination, as well as to explain them. Vitringa styles him, Angelus comes et interpres, “the accompanying and interpreting angel:” and under his direction the prophet receives satisfactory information.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Zec 1:9 Then said I, O my lord, what [are] these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these [be].

Ver. 9. Then said I, O my Lord, what are these? ] Thus the prophets inquired and searched diligently (as saith St Peter ( ), 1Pe 1:11 ), for the truth of things, as hunters seek for game, and as men seek for gold in the very mines of the earth; who, not content with the first ore that offered itself to their view, dig deeper and deeper till they are owners of the whole treasure. See Pro 2:4 ; and rest not till ye see that blissful sight, Eph 1:18-19 .

And the angel that talked with me ] Or, in me, as the Vulgate rendereth it. This was some created angel, who might reveal things to the prophet by working on the phantasy and spirit, by way of information and instruction, as Dan 9:21 Luk 1:11 Rev 1:1 .

I will show thee what these be ] How ready are the holy angels to serve the saints, Heb 1:14 , rejoicing more in their names of office than of honour, of employment than preferment, to be called angels, that is, messengers, or internuncios, than principalities, thrones, dominions, Eph 1:20 ; accounting it better to do good than to be great, to dispense God’s benefits than to enjoy them. Hence they are with and about the saints, as their companions, guides, protectors, monitors, and rulers of their actions, as here.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

my lord. Hebrew. Adonai. App-4.

angel. See verses: Zec 1:11, Zec 1:12, Zec 1:13, Zec 1:14, Zec 1:19; Zec 2:3; Zec 4:1, Zec 4:5; Zec 5:10; Zec 6:4, Zec 6:5.

be = are.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

angel

(See Scofield “Heb 1:4”).

Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes

what: Zec 1:19, Zec 4:4, Zec 4:11, Zec 6:4, Dan 7:16, Dan 8:15, Rev 7:13, Rev 7:14

the angel: Zec 2:3, Zec 4:5, Zec 5:5, Zec 6:4, Zec 6:5, Gen 31:11, Dan 8:16, Dan 9:22, Dan 9:23, Dan 10:11-14, Rev 17:1-7, Rev 19:9, Rev 19:10, Rev 22:8-16

Reciprocal: Dan 8:13 – one saint Zec 1:14 – the angel Zec 3:1 – he

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Zec 1:9, This verse reveals one form in which God sometimes appeared to the men who were to be inspired, namely, that of an angel. There Is a number or cases recorded in the Bible where He appeared in that way. Zechariah asked the angel the mean- ing or the vision and was promised an answer.

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

Zec 1:9-11. Then said I, O my Lord, what are these What is the meaning of these appearances, or visions? And the angel that talked with me said This was another heavenly minister, sent, probably, to present the visions to the prophets imagination, as well as to explain them. Angelus comes et interpres, an accompanying angel and interpreter. And under his direction the prophet receives satisfactory information from the month of the first angel and his attendants. Blayney. I will show thee what these be I will cause that it shall be explained to thee by the angel who stands first among the myrtles. This may have been done by a sign given to that angel, or by words omitted in the relation. Newcome. And the man that stood among the myrtle-trees This was an angel of an order superior to him mentioned in the preceding verse, who either prevents that angel, and takes upon him to return an answer to the prophets question, or else sends his answer to Zechariah by that angel, as Christ sent his revelation to St. John by an angel, Rev 1:1. These are they whom the Lord hath sent They are the messengers or ministering spirits of Jehovah. And they The rest of the angels, implied at the end of Zec 1:8, and who came after the first; answered, We have walked to and fro through the earth We have been diligent to execute that office which was allotted to us. And behold all the earth sitteth still, &c. This must be understood here, and in many other places, in a restricted sense, for all the nations with whom the Jews had a connection. It means here chiefly the Persian empire, which enjoyed peace at that time. But the state of the Jews was unsettled: see Zec 1:16 : which circumstance gives occasion to the following intercession.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Zechariah asked the angel who was with him in his vision what the horsemen and the horses represented, and the angel said he would explain.

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)