Zechariah 4, A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees

Zechariah has had four visions. The last one involved the High Priest Joshua, a stone with seven eyes and a future "Branch" that will redeem Israel. Here is Zechariah's fifth vision.

Zechariah 4:1-3, Golden lampstand

Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. He asked me, "What do you see?" 

I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."

Zechariah is "awakened" as if he were sleeping. A supernatural being asks him to describe what he sees. A golden menorah of seven candles was to be placed in the temple (Exodus 25:31-40.) Here Zechariah sees a similar gold lampstand with seven lights and a bowl at its top, with "channels" to the lights. He also sees two olive trees, one on each side of the lampstand.

Zechariah 4:4-6, By His spirit

I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"

He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" 

"No, my lord," I replied.

So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: `Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

Zechariah does not understand the meaning of these images. He is told to tell Zerubbabel that God will act out of the power of His Spirit (ruah), instead of some physical might. 

Zechariah 4:7-10, Zerubbabel lays a foundation
"What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of `God bless it! God bless it!'"

Then the word of the LORD came to me: 

"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.

"Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "

(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)"

Zerubbabel is ordained to bring forward the capstone of the temple. Zerubbabel will lay the foundation of the temple and see it completed. There will be rejoicing when something as simple as the plumb line is being carried by Zerubbabel.

Apparently the Hebrew of verse 10 is difficult. This version of the NIV translates the Hebrew bedil (meaning "tin") as "plumb line". But a different edition of the NIV, here, translates that word as "capstone". The sentence about eyes is also confusing. This version of the NIV treats it as a parenthetical statement, appearing to come out of the blue. But one could also assume that the seven eyes (roaming the earth) are rejoicing at the capstone being laid. That fits with the previous vision in which there is a stone with seven eyes (3:9.)

Zechariah 4:11-14, Two Olive Trees

Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?" Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"

He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" 

"No, my lord," I said.

So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."

The chiastic structure of the eight visions of Zechariah places emphasis on the middle two visions, the visions making up chapters 3 and 4 of the book. In those two chapters, God has chosen two men to bring forth His plans with the second temple in Jerusalem.  Apparently these anointed men are Joshua and Zerubbabel. They are represented, in this vision, as olive trees or olive branches. These two men have been anointed (with oil) to serve God, as both governor and high priest. 

Leaning on the explanation in 3:8, it is easy to see this passage as a continuation of earlier messianic messages and Zerubbabel and Joshua as forerunners of the future Messiah. Baldwin says that the Qumran community (of the Dead Sea Scrolls) expected two Messiahs, one a ruler in David's line, the other a high priest. Christians see these two roles carried out by the single Messiah Yeshua.

First published December 13, 2025; updated December 13, 2025