Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Zechariah 4:13
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these [be]? And I said, No, my lord.
See Zec 1:4.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. Knowest thou notGod wouldawaken His people to zeal in learning His truth.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he answered me, and said,…. That is, the angel answered to the prophet’s questions:
Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord;
[See comments on Zec 4:5].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
We have also mentioned before, that the desire of improvement observed in Zechariah ought to be noticed. For though we attain not immediately what God teaches, yet the obscurity of a passage ought not to damp our ardor; but we ought rather to imitate the Prophet, who, in things difficult and unknown to him, asked explanations from the angel. Angels are not indeed sent now to us from heaven to answer our questions; but yet no one shall be without benefit who will humbly and with a sincere desire ask of God; for God will either by his ministers so elucidate what seems obscure to us and full of darkness, that we shall know that there is nothing but what is clear in his word; or he will by the Spirit of knowledge and judgment supply what is deficient in the ministrations of men.
And this is also the reason why the angel replies, Dost thou not know what these mean? For he does not upbraid Zechariah with ignorance, but rather reminds all the faithful, that they ought to quicken themselves, and to exert all their ardor to learn, lest sloth should close up the way against them. This reply, then, of the angel no doubt belongs to us all, “Dost thou not know what these mean?” We ought to remember that the things we esteem as common far exceed our thoughts. It indeed often happens that one runs over many parts of Scripture, and thinks that he reads nothing but what is clear and well known, while yet experience teaches us that we are inflated with too much self-confidence; for we look down, as it were from on high, on that doctrine which ought, on the contrary, to be reverently adored by us. Then let every one of us, being warned by this sentence of the angel, acknowledge that he as yet cleaves to first principles, or, at least, does not comprehend all those things which are necessary to be known; and that therefore progress is to be made to the very end of life: for this is our wisdom, to be learners to the end.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Zec 4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these [be]? And I said, No, my lord.
Ver. 13. Knowest thou not what, &c. ] See Trapp on “ Zec 4:5 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Knowest: Zec 4:5, Heb 5:11, Heb 5:12
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Zec 4:13. The prophet still is unaware of the meaning of the vision.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Again the interpreting angel expressed surprise that Zechariah needed an explanation of these things (cf. Zec 4:5). He did not want to give an interpretation if Zechariah could figure it out himself. Normally God does not provide additional information until we have done all we can to discover His meaning. To do so would discourage human effort Godward.