Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”
Parallel translations
- WEB The man who stood among the myrtle trees answered, “They are the ones Yahweh has sent to go back and forth through the earth.”
- KJV And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
- NKJV And 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.”
- NASB And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees responded and said, “These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.”
- NLT The rider standing among the myrtle trees then explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent out to patrol the earth.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The rider explains that the horses are those Yahweh sent to patrol the earth. God keeps watch over all nations.
Overview
These messengers go 'back and forth through the earth,' picturing God's comprehensive surveillance of world affairs. Nothing escapes His notice or control. For an anxious remnant under a vast empire, this is deep comfort: the Lord of Armies governs history, working all things toward the restoration and redemption He has promised.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Zech 1:11And the riders answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and tranquil.”
- Zech 6:5–8And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.
- Heb 1:14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Job 2:1–2On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.
- Zech 1:8I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.
- Ps 103:20–21Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.
- Job 1:7“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
- Zech 4:10For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”
- Ezek 1:5–14and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form,
- Zech 13:7Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.
- Hos 12:3–5In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.
- Gen 32:24–31So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
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Christ at the center
The Branch who is both priest and king, the shepherd struck and the flock scattered, the king coming humble on a donkey, the one they pierced, the fountain opened for sin — Zechariah is dense with Christ.
How Zechariah 1:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.