Then I looked up and saw four horns.
Parallel translations
- WEB I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four horns.
- KJV Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
- NKJV Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns.
- NASB Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there were four horns.
- NLT Then I looked up and saw four animal horns.
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
Zechariah's second vision: he sees four horns. They symbolize hostile powers that scattered God's people.
Overview
Horns in Scripture commonly represent strength and political or military power. The number four may suggest the totality of nations from every direction that oppressed Israel. This brief vision introduces the theme of God confronting the powers that harmed His people, assuring the remnant that their oppressors will not have the last word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Dan 8:3–14Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a ram with two horns standing beside the canal. The horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one grew up later.
- 2 Kgs 24:1–20During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded. So Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, until he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
- Josh 5:13Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?”
- Zech 5:9Then I lifted up my eyes and saw two women approaching, with the wind in their wings. Their wings were like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.
- Zech 2:1Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.
- Dan 7:3–8Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:
- 2 Kgs 15:29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.
- Zech 5:1Again I lifted up my eyes and saw before me a flying scroll.
- Dan 2:37–43You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory.
- 2 Kgs 17:1–6In the twelfth year of the reign of Ahaz over Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria nine years.
- Zech 5:5Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and told me, “Now lift up your eyes and see what is approaching.”
- Dan 11:28–35The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant; so he will do damage and return to his own land.
- 2 Kgs 18:9–12In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it.
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 1:18 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.