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.”
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.
- 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.”
- 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 1:11They reported to Yahweh’s angel who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked back and forth through the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and in peace.”
- Zech 6:5–8The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of the sky, which go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
- Heb 1:14Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
- Job 2:1–2Again, on the day when the God’s sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahweh.
- Zech 1:8“I had a vision in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in a ravine; and behind him there were red, brown, and white horses.
- Ps 103:20–21Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.
- Job 1:7Yahweh said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”
- Zech 4:10Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are Yahweh’s eyes, which run back and forth through the whole earth.”
- Ezek 1:5–14Out of its center came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
- Zech 13:7“Awake, sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is close to me,” says Yahweh of Armies. “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 took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God.
- Gen 32:24–31Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there 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.