And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.
Parallel translations
- WEB in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot dappled horses, all of them powerful.
- BSB the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong.
- NKJV with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses—strong steeds.
- NASB with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong spotted horses.
- NLT the third by white horses, and the fourth by powerful dappled-gray horses.
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 remaining chariots have white and dappled horses, all of them powerful. The detail underscores that God's instruments are strong and fully equipped for their mission.
Overview
Completing the description of the four chariots, the verse stresses the vigor of the horses, emphasizing the readiness and might of the heavenly hosts. As in earlier visions, the precise meaning of each color is debated, but the thrust is clear: God commands forces able to carry out His purposes everywhere. The picture reassures a weak, rebuilding people that omnipotent power stands behind God's promises.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Rev 6:2And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
- Rev 6:8And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
- 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.
- Rev 19:11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
- Rev 20:11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
- Dan 2:33His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
- Dan 2:40–41And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
- Zech 6:6–7The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.
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 6:3 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.