NOT BY MIGHT NOR POWER BUT BY MY SPIRIT
Key verse: 6
NIV
The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees
4 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke(A) me up, like someone awakened from sleep.(B) 2 He asked me, “What do you see?”(C)
I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand(D) with a bowl at the top and seven lamps(E) on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees(F) by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I replied.(G)
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:(H) ‘Not(I) by might nor by power,(J) but by my Spirit,’(K) says the Lord Almighty.
7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.(L) Then he will bring out the capstone(M) to shouts(N) of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation(O) of this temple; his hands will also complete it.(P) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me(Q) to you.
10 “Who dares despise the day(R) of small things,(S) since the seven eyes(T) of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone[a] in the hand of Zerubbabel?”(U)
11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees(V) on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”
13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I said.
14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed(W) to[b] serve the Lord of all the earth.”
Footnotes
- Zechariah 4:10 Or the plumb line
- Zechariah 4:14 Or two who bring oil and
Cross references
- Zechariah 4:1 : S Da 8:18
- Zechariah 4:1 : Jer 31:26
- Zechariah 4:2 : S Jer 1:13
- Zechariah 4:2 : S Ex 25:31; Rev 1:12
- Zechariah 4:2 : Rev 4:5
- Zechariah 4:3 : ver 11; S Ps 1:3; S Rev 11:4
- Zechariah 4:5 : S Zec 1:9
- Zechariah 4:6 : S 1Ch 3:19; S Ezr 5:2
- Zechariah 4:6 : S 1Sa 13:22; S 1Ki 19:12
- Zechariah 4:6 : S 1Sa 2:9
- Zechariah 4:6 : S Ne 9:20; Isa 11:2-4; S Da 2:34; Hos 1:7
- Zechariah 4:7 : S Ps 26:12; Jer 51:25
- Zechariah 4:7 : S Ps 118:22
- Zechariah 4:7 : S 1Ch 15:28
- Zechariah 4:9 : S Ezr 3:11
- Zechariah 4:9 : Ezr 3:8; S 6:15; Zec 6:12
- Zechariah 4:9 : S Zec 2:9
- Zechariah 4:10 : S Hag 2:23
- Zechariah 4:10 : Hag 2:3
- Zechariah 4:10 : S 2Ch 16:9; Rev 5:6
- Zechariah 4:10 : S Ezr 5:1; S Ne 12:1; S Job 38:5
- Zechariah 4:11 : S ver 3; S Rev 11:4
- Zechariah 4:14 : Ex 29:7; 40:15; S Ps 45:7; S Isa 20:3; S Da 9:24-26
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
A Vision of a Golden Lampstand
4 And (A)the angel who talked with me came again (B)and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, (C)a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and (D)seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are (E)two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to (F)the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, (G)“Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to (H)Zerubbabel: (I)Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, (J)O great mountain? Before (K)Zerubbabel (L)you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward (M)the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 (N)“The hands of (O)Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also (P)complete it. (Q)Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 (R)For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see (S)the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
(T)“These seven (U)are the eyes of the Lord, (V)which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these (W)two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these (X)two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil[a] is poured out?” 13 He said to me, (Y)“Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, (Z)“These are the two anointed ones[b] who stand by (AA)the Lord of the whole earth.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Zechariah 4:12 Hebrew lacks oil
- Zechariah 4:14 Hebrew two sons of new oil
Cross references
- Zechariah 4:1 : ch. 1:9, 19
- Zechariah 4:1 : Dan. 8:18; 10:9, 10
- Zechariah 4:2 : See Ex. 25:31
- Zechariah 4:2 : Ex. 25:37; [Rev. 1:12; 4:5]
- Zechariah 4:3 : [ver. 11; Rev. 11:4]
- Zechariah 4:4 : [See ver. 1 above]; ch. 1:9, 19
- Zechariah 4:5 : ver. 12
- Zechariah 4:6 : See 1 Chr. 3:19
- Zechariah 4:6 : [Hos. 1:7]
- Zechariah 4:7 : [Jer. 51:25]
- Zechariah 4:7 : [See ver. 6 above]; See 1 Chr. 3:19
- Zechariah 4:7 : Isa. 40:4
- Zechariah 4:7 : See ch. 3:9
- Zechariah 4:9 : [Ezra 3:10]
- Zechariah 4:9 : [See ver. 6 above]; See 1 Chr. 3:19
- Zechariah 4:9 : [ch. 1:16]
- Zechariah 4:9 : See ch. 2:9
- Zechariah 4:10 : [Hag. 2:3]
- Zechariah 4:10 : [ch. 1:16]
- Zechariah 4:10 : ch. 3:9
- Zechariah 4:10 : ch. 3:9
- Zechariah 4:10 : 2 Chr. 16:9; [Prov. 15:3]
- Zechariah 4:11 : [See ver. 3 above]; [ver. 11; Rev. 11:4]
- Zechariah 4:12 : [See ver. 3 above]; [ver. 11; Rev. 11:4]
- Zechariah 4:13 : ver. 5
- Zechariah 4:14 : Rev. 11:4
- Zechariah 4:14 : ch. 6:5
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Zechariah saw a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven channels from the bowl to the lamps (2). Two olive trees, one on each side of the lampstand, supplied oil for the lamps (12). The vision was related to rebuilding the temple (7-10). Zerubbabel led the people in laying the foundation of the temple (Ez 3:8-10). But a mountain of work remained. Furthermore, what had already been accomplished seemed so small that many despised the work (Haggai 2:1-9).
The vision was an encouragement for Zerubbabel. All obstacles would be cleared, and one day, he would set the temple capstone (7-9). People would one day see the capstone in Zerubbabel’s hands and rejoice (10). This would not happen by human strength or ingenuity. God’s Spirit would empower Zerubbabel for this important work. As the olive trees continually supplied oil for the lampstand to burn bright, so God would supply all that was needed for the temple work. Like the lamp, God’s presence would shine brightly into a dark world.
What work does God have for you? It cannot be done by human might, power, or zeal. Ask God’s Spirit to work through you today.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the promised Holy Spirit for all who believe in Jesus. Please work through us by your Spirit to accomplish your will!
One Word: By God’s Spirit
