Zechariah 4 explained: Not by Might but by Spirit

Lampstand and olive trees (vv. 1-5)

Zechariah sees a gold lampstand, like the one that once lit Israel's place of worship, with a bowl of oil on top feeding its seven lamps through channels. An olive tree stands on each side, but at first he does not understand what any of it means.

Not by might (vv. 6-7)

The vision is a message for Zerubbabel, the governor leading the returned exiles in rebuilding the temple: the work will succeed through God's Spirit, not through armies or human power. The 'mountain' stands for the huge obstacles in his way, which will be flattened until he sets the final stone in place to shouts of blessing.

Small beginnings (vv. 8-10)

Zerubbabel laid the temple's foundation and is promised he will finish it, which happened around 516 BC, even though some looked down on how modest it seemed. The 'seven eyes' picture God watching over the whole earth and delighting in the work; the object in Zerubbabel's hand is unclear in the Hebrew and may be a capstone or a plumb line, a weight builders used to keep walls straight.

Two anointed ones (vv. 11-14)

Zechariah now notices branches pouring golden oil, and the angel calls the two trees two who are anointed, literally 'sons of oil', to serve God, most often understood as Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. Christians later read Revelation's 'two witnesses', also pictured as two olive trees, as picking up this image.

Key verse: Zechariah 4:6

Where Christians differ

Christians agree the core message is that God's work rests on his Spirit, but differ on whether the two anointed ones mean only Zerubbabel and Joshua or also point ahead to later figures.

Something to think about

When have you seen something that started small or unimpressive turn out to matter, and what do you think made the difference?