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The Book of Zechariah

“Yahweh will be King over all the earth.”Zechariah 14:9 — WEB
Where It Fits

A Prophet of the Return

The Seven Acts

IInnocence
IIConscience
IIIGovernment
IVPromise
VLaw
VIGrace
VIIKingdom

Zechariah preached in Act 5, after the return from Babylon, to encourage the people to finish the temple (Ezra 5:1–2; 6:14). His last chapters look far ahead: to the King’s first coming, His rejection, and His return to reign over the earth in Act 7. See where he fits among the Persian kings in Esther in Context.

At a Glance

WhoZechariah, a priest and prophet who preached alongside Haggai, with Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor1:1
WhatEight night visions, four messages and two burdens that urge the returned exiles to finish the temple and look ahead to the coming King
WhereJerusalem, among the exiles who had come home from BabylonEzra 5:1
When520–518 BC under Darius I for chapters 1–8; chapters 9–14 probably after 480 BC
WhyGod has not forgotten His people. He will cleanse Israel and send the Messiah, the humble King on a donkey who will one day reign over all the earth9:9
HowTwo halves: dated visions and messages for the present (1–8), then two undated burdens about the King rejected and the King reigning (9–14)
Chart

The Structure of Zechariah

Drawn to scale by verses. Chapters 1–8 encourage the builders of the second temple; chapters 9–14 look ahead to the Messiah’s two comings.

The Book of Zechariah at a glanceChart of Zechariah's fourteen chapters drawn to scale by verses: the call to return (1:1–6), the eight night visions (1:7–6:8), the crowning of the Branch (6:9–15), four messages about fasting (7–8), the first burden about the King rejected (9–11), and the second burden about the King reigning (12–14), with the dates the prophet gives. Oct–Nov 520 BC Month 8, year 2 of Darius · 1:1 Feb 519 BC Month 11, day 24 · 1:7 Dec 518 BC Month 9, day 4, year 4 · 7:1 No date given Probably after 480 BC · 9:1 Written while the temple was being rebuilt Written after the temple was finished Four messages Fasting turned to feasting · 7–8 The King rejected First burden · 9–11 The King reigns Second burden · 12–14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Eight night visions 1:7–6:8 “Return to me” Call to repent · 1:1–6 The Branch crowned King and Priest · 6:9–15 Ch. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 “My house shall be built” 1:16 “Let your hands be strong” 8:9 “Behold, your King comes” 9:9 “Holy to Yahweh” 14:20

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Visions and the BranchMessages for the presentThe King rejectedThe King reigns
Timeline

The Eight Night Visions

All eight visions came in one night (Zechariah 1:8), three months after the work on the temple resumed.

  1. 11:7–17

    Rider among the myrtle trees

    God is angry with the nations at ease and has returned to Jerusalem with mercy. “My house shall be built in it” (1:16).

  2. 21:18–21

    Four horns and four craftsmen

    The powers that scattered Judah will themselves be cast down.

  3. 32:1–13

    A man with a measuring line

    Jerusalem will overflow its walls, and Yahweh will be a wall of fire around her (2:5).

  4. 43:1–10

    Joshua the high priest

    Satan accuses, but God removes the priest’s filthy garments: a picture of Israel cleansed. “I will bring out my servant, the Branch” (3:8).

  5. 54:1–14

    The golden lampstand and two olive trees

    The temple will be finished, “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” (4:6).

  6. 65:1–4

    The flying scroll

    God’s curse goes out against thieves and those who swear falsely.

  7. 75:5–11

    The woman in the basket

    Wickedness is shut in a measuring basket and carried off to Shinar (Babylon).

  8. 86:1–8

    Four chariots

    God’s judgment patrols the whole earth, and His Spirit is at rest.

  9. ★6:9–15
    The climax

    The Branch crowned

    A crown is set on Joshua the high priest as a sign of the coming Branch, who “will be a priest on his throne” (Zechariah 6:13). In Israel the offices of king and priest were kept apart; the Messiah will hold both (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:1–3).

Chart

The Two Comings of the King

Zechariah sees both comings of the Messiah without the time between them, just as the Old Testament prophets did not see the Church Age. The New Testament shows which prophecies are already fulfilled.

First coming · fulfilled

The King comes riding on a donkey

Zech. 9:9 → Matthew 21:4–5; John 12:14–15

Valued at thirty pieces of silver, thrown to the potter

Zech. 11:12–13 → Matthew 26:15; Matthew 27:9–10

The Shepherd struck, the sheep scattered

Zech. 13:7 → Matthew 26:31

Pierced

Zech. 12:10 → John 19:37
The Church Age

Second coming · still future

Israel looks on Him whom they pierced and mourns

Zech. 12:10 → Revelation 1:7

A fountain opened for sin and uncleanness

Zech. 13:1 → Romans 11:26–27

His feet stand on the Mount of Olives

Zech. 14:4 → Acts 1:11–12

Yahweh King over all the earth

Zech. 14:9 → Revelation 11:15

The nations come up to keep the Feast of Booths

Zech. 14:16
Timeline

The Day of the Lord in Zechariah 14

The book closes with the battle for Jerusalem at the end of the Tribulation, the return of Christ, and His kingdom. See The Order of Future Events.

  1. 14:2

    The nations gather

    All nations come against Jerusalem, and the city is taken.

    Zechariah 14:1–2
  2. 14:3

    The Lord fights

    Yahweh goes out and fights against those nations.

    Zechariah 14:3
  3. 14:4

    The Mount of Olives splits

    His feet stand on the Mount of Olives, and it splits from east to west.

    Zechariah 14:4–5
  4. 14:8

    Living waters

    Living waters flow out from Jerusalem to the eastern and western seas.

    Zechariah 14:8
  5. 14:9

    The King over all the earth

    Yahweh will be King over all the earth.

    Zechariah 14:9
  6. 14:16

    The Feast of Booths

    Survivors of the nations go up year by year to worship the King.

    Zechariah 14:16–19
  7. 14:20

    Holy to Yahweh

    Even the bells on the horses and the cooking pots are holy.

    Zechariah 14:20–21

Notes & Sources

  1. Dates are reckoned from Darius I’s reign: his second year runs from spring 520 to spring 519 BC, and his fourth year from 518 to 517 BC.
  2. Chapters 9–14 carry no date. The mention of Greece as a rising power (Zechariah 9:13) leads many conservative scholars to date them after 480 BC, late in Zechariah’s life. Critical scholars often assign them to a later “Second Zechariah,” but the book presents itself as one prophet’s work.
  3. Matthew 27:9–10 credits the thirty pieces of silver to “Jeremiah.” Matthew is likely combining Zechariah 11:12–13 with Jeremiah’s potter and field (Jeremiah 19:1–2; 32:6–9) and naming the better-known prophet.
  4. Word counts are from the World English Bible, which renders “the LORD of hosts” as “Yahweh of Armies.”
  5. The outline of the book is adapted from Irving L. Jensen’s survey chart of Zechariah.

Related Articles

The Seven Acts framework is adapted from Philippe R. Sterling’s Bible survey notes, used with permission.