Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Zechariah 2:3
And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
3. went forth ] from the place where he was standing beside me. Comp. Isa 26:21.
went out ] Rather, went forth, the Hebrew word being the same as before. This second angel is seen going forth from the opposite side of the stage on which the vision appears, to meet the interpreting angel as he went forth.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The angel that talked with me went forth – Probably to receive the explanation which was given him for Zechariah; and another angel, a higher angel, since he gives him a commission, went forth to meet him, being (it seems probable) instructed by the Angel of the Lord, who laid down the future dimensions of the city. The indefiniteness of the description, another angel, implies that he was neither the Angel of the Lord, nor (were they different) Michael, or the man with the measuring line, but an angel of intermediate rank, instructed by one higher, instructing the lower, who immediately instructed Zechariah.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The angel that talked; the great and glorious Angel, i.e. Christ Jesus himself, which had so long talked with Zechariah.
Went forth, from the midst of the myrtle trees, where he was first seen: whither he is going is not said; perhaps to standby, direct, and encourage the person that was going to measure Jerusalem.
Another angel went out to meet him; a created angel, or a ministerial angel, as became his office, offers his service to Christ, who is Lord of angels.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. angel that talked with me . . .another angelThe interpreting angel is met by another angelsent by the measuring Divine Angel to “run” to Zechariah(Zec 2:4). Those who performGod’s will must not merely creep, nor walk, but run withalacrity.
went forthnamely, fromme (Zechariah).
went outfrom themeasuring angel.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth,…. See Zec 1:9 and he “went forth” from the place where the prophet was, with whom he had been conversing:
and another angel went out to meet him: the same that was seen among the myrtle trees, Zec 1:8 and here, with a measuring line in his hand, Zec 2:1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
It is said, that the angel went forth, and that another angel met him. It hence appears as from the whole of what the Prophet says, how carefully God provides for the safety of his Church; for he has ever angels as his emissaries, who hasten at his nod, and aid the Church in its necessities. Since then angels thus unite to secure the well-being of the Church, we hence perceive how dear to God are the faithful, in whose favor he thus employs all his angels; and we also see, that it was the Lord’s will that this prophecy should be clear and manifest to all the godly: go, and run to that young man, he says, and tell him. Zechariah had indeed asked for an explanation of the measure in the man’s hand, but from the fact that another angel met him, it appears, as I have already said, that God does not neglect the request and prayers of his people, provided only that they are desirous of learning; he will then perform the part of a true and faithful teacher towards them. But the word “run,” ought especially to be noticed: “go,” he says, “and even hasten, lest the youth should longer doubt, and explain the purpose of this prophecy.” He calls the Prophet a youth, because he was then among angels. He would not call him a man of full age, because he had before called an angel man. What rank could the Prophet hold among angels except that of a youth? This circumstance ought therefore to be observed as the reason why Zechariah spoke disparagingly or humbly of himself.
Now as to the import of the prophecy, we have already said, that here is described the heavenly Jerusalem, which is surrounded by no walls, but is open to the whole world, and which depends not on its own strength, but dwells safely though exposed on all sides to enemies; for the Prophet says not without reason, “through the villages shall Jerusalem be inhabited;” that is, it shall everywhere be inhabited, so that it will have no need of defense to restrain or hinder enemies to come near; for a safe rest shall be given to it, when every one shall quietly occupy his own place. It follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) Went forth.Literally, goes forth, from the prophets side, in the direction of the man who went to measure. LXX., .
Went out.Literally, comes forth: viz., from the invisiblei.e., appears, reveals himself. The same word in Hebrew means to come and to go forth, according to circumstances. (Comp. Zec. 5:5-6.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Now the interpreting angel appears upon the scene.
Went forth The same verb is translated in the next clause “went out.” This raises the question, whence did the one or the other go forth? For the first verb LXX. reads “stood”; that is, beside the prophet. If the present Hebrew text is retained we must think of the angel as stepping forward from the place where he stood beside the prophet, or from the background to which he had retired after he had interpreted the preceding vision. As he stood forth he was met by another angel who came upon the scene from the opposite direction. This thought is implied also in the reading of LXX. To express the thought more clearly Zec 2:3 might be translated, “And, behold, the angel that talked with me stood forth, and another angel came forth to meet him.” Less natural is the interpretation which makes the interpreting angel come upon the scene from the presence of Jehovah with a new message for the prophet, when he is met by the other angel.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Zec 2:3. The angel that talked with me Many interpreters have thought, that the angel who talked with Zechariah, and interpreted to him, was no other than Jehovah himself, the second person in the blessed Trinity. In examining some passages which follow, I think it will appear to be without sufficient foundation. In the mean time, let me observe, that here he is not only called simply AN ANGEL, (that is, a ministering spirit, as the apostle to the Hebrews explains the term, expressly contrasting it with the Son; Heb 1:14.) but he is addressed by the other angel, not, I think, as a superior, but as a fellow servant, to whom he delivers orders, as from a common master. See the Reflections.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
“And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, (4) And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: (5) For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.”
It should seem, that this other angel was a servant of the former. Heb 1:14 . But, observe the earnest solicitude of our Lord Jesus to inform his redeemed of all things suitable for them to know, and especially of his promises. Read what he himself saith, Joh 15:1 . The promise that is made concerning Jerusalem, plainly proves that it was not literally Jerusalem, the city, for this Jerusalem had walls then built by Nehemiah. See Neh 6:15 . But it is spiritually to be considered as God’s people Jerusalem, to whom he is himself their security, and for whom God hath provided salvation for walls and bulwarks. Isa 26:1 ; Eze 38:11 . And do not forget, Reader, to mark down with peculiar strength of expression, the Lord’s gracious promise, that he himself will be both a wall of fire round about, and a glory in the midst of his people. Alluding perhaps to travelers, when traversing the desert, and places infested by beasts of prey, who make fires around them at night, which intimidate those creatures from approaching. It is a sweet and beautiful figure this, to represent Christ as the defense of his people, whose presence alone restrains the great enemy of souls, that roaring lion, from seizing the flock of Jesus. And, observe the greater beauty still of this emblem. Christ is not only a fence to secure, but a fulness of blessings to supply. He is both a sun and a shield. Jesus, that is their strength, is also their glory. See Isa 40:19 ; Rev 21:1 ; Psa 125:2 . Reader! I do not think it needful to remind you of Israel’s history in the wilderness, how the Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. Sweet type also of Jesus in his constant presence and favour to his redeemed forever. Mat 28:20 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Zec 2:3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
Ver. 3. And behold the angel ] Zechariah’s angel, as one calleth him.
Went forth
And another angel went out to meet him
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
angel. See note on Zec 1:9.
went forth: or, came forward.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
angel
(See Scofield “Heb 1:4”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the angel: Zec 1:9, Zec 1:13, Zec 1:14, Zec 1:19, Zec 4:1, Zec 4:5, Zec 5:5
and another: Zec 1:8, Zec 1:10, Zec 1:11
Reciprocal: Jer 25:38 – hath Eze 1:14 – General Dan 7:16 – one Dan 8:13 – one saint Zec 3:1 – he
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Another angel, possibly the angel of the Lord (Zec 1:11-12), came forward to meet Zechariah’s guiding angel as he was going out toward the "man" with the measuring line. He instructed him to tell "that young man," Zechariah, that Jerusalem would expand beyond its walls because so many people and cattle would live in it (cf. Eze 38:11). Another interpretation is that the young man was the angel with the measuring line. [Note: E.g., Leupold, p. 55.] But it seems more probable that the other angel gave this revelation to Zechariah directly. During the restoration period, the Jews built walls around the city to make it secure, yet few people wanted to live in it (cf. Neh 11:1-2; Neh 7:4). This prophecy must have a future fulfillment, though it doubtless encouraged Zechariah’s contemporaries to rebuild the city in their day. [Note: See Merrill, pp. 116-18, for defense of this "both in Zechariah’s day and in the future" interpretation.]