Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
Parallel translations
- WEB I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four horns.
- BSB Then I looked up and saw 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 mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
- 2 Kgs 24:1–20In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
- Josh 5:13And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
- Zech 5:9Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
- Zech 2:1I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
- Dan 7:3–8And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
- 2 Kgs 15:29In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
- Zech 5:1Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.
- Dan 2:37–43Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
- 2 Kgs 17:1–6In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
- Zech 5:5Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
- Dan 11:28–35Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
- 2 Kgs 18:9–12And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up 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.