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.
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.”
- BSB Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol 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 they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
- Zech 6:5–8And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth.
- Heb 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
- Job 2:1–2Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
- Zech 1:8I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
- Ps 103:20–21Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
- Job 1:7And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
- Zech 4:10For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
- Ezek 1:5–14Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
- Zech 13:7Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
- Hos 12:3–5He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
- Gen 32:24–31And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.