Zechariah 3, Another Joshua

Zechariah has described three visions, one of horses, one of four horns and the third a vision of Jerusalem being measured by a supernatural being. His fourth vision involves a local figure named Joshua.

Zechariah 3:1-5, Joshua and an Accuser
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.

The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." 

Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you."

Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." 

So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.

Joshua is a high priest at the beginning of the Second Temple period, at the end of the exile. In Ezra 5:1-2. Joshua, Zerubbabel and Haggai form a partnership attempting to build this new temple.

In this vision, Joshua the High Priest, stands before an angel of YHWH and one called "the Accuser" (or "adversary", Hebrew satan) accuses Joshua. Yet YHWH defends Joshua and calls him a "burning stick". Joshua is honored, with dirty clothes replaced by clean ones. A clean turban is placed on his head. His filth is replaced by honor and righteousness. He is ready to lead Israel.

The burning stick snatched from the fire describes something precious, quickly saved from destruction in the fireplace. An earlier prophet, Amos (Amos 4:11) uses this same metaphor.

Zechariah 3:6-7, Return to Me
The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 

`If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.

 

Joshua is charged to lead a revival as people turn back to God.

Zechariah 3:8-10, The Branch

"`Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, `and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.

 

"`In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' 

declares the LORD Almighty."

As Joshua is honored, we hear a message in which God promises to bring a Servant, the Branch, as a sign of things to come. Indeed, in this future Day, sin will be removed from the land. 

A stone with seven eyes (or openings) is in front of Joshua and an inscription will be placed on the stone. The rock may represent Israel or the coming Messiah or a foundation stone for the temple. The Hebrew word ayin, translated "eye" here, can be an eye, an opening, or even a spring of water. (A sudden explanatory comment is made on eyes in the next chapter, in 4:10.) The seven eyes may represent God's all seeing power or springs of water refreshing the land. Regardless, in a single day, sin will be removed from the land.

Sitting under one's own vine and fig tree was the image of peace and prosperity in the ancient Near East. The future Day will bring prosperity.

First published December 12, 2025; updated December 12, 2025