Zechariah 3:2

Translations

Modern

And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”

Traditional

And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

Literal

And YHWH said to Satan, “YHWH rebukes you, Satan! And may YHWH who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you. Is not this a firebrand snatched from the fire?”

Latin

Et dixit Dominus ad Satan: Increpet Dominus in te, Satan! et increpet Dominus in te, qui elegit Jerusalem! numquid non iste torris est erutus de igne?

Original

Hebrew

English

And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”

Notes

Zechariah 3:2–3

The Lord takes both roles in the vision. He speaks in defense of Jeshua and also gives the final decision. He rejects the accusations, ends the case, and declares Jeshua innocent because God has chosen and cleansed him.
Like a burning stick snatched from the fire, God saved Jeshua and other Hebrew exiles from near destruction in Babylon.
Jeshua’s filthy clothes symbolize the guilt and pollution of sin that led to the divine judgment of exile (Zechariah 3:4). Satan's accusations likely suggested that, just as an unclean priest was unfit for temple service, the Hebrews were unfit to be God's chosen people.

Zechariah 3:1–10

The prophet’s vision shows a heavenly court scene. Satan accuses Jeshua the high priest and claims that he is not fit to serve in his priestly role.

Zechariah 1:7–6:15

These eight visions helped the Judeans overcome their fears and trust in God's promises. The visions happened two months after Haggai's last two messages (Haggai 2:10–19, 20–23). They suggest that Haggai's prophecies were coming true.

Theme notes and profiles

Satan Jesus and Satan

Events

Prophecies of Zechariahc. 520 BC

Related verses

Amos 4:11
“Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.
Jude 1:23
…save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
Jude 1:9
But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Romans 8:33
Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
1 John 3:8
The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
Zechariah 1:17
Proclaim further that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”
Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Zechariah 2:12
And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem.
Revelation 12:9–10
And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
2 Chronicles 6:6
But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’
John 13:18
I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’
Romans 11:4–5
And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

People

Satan: The adversary, the devil, the tempter of humanity

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Apocalyptic Jeshua (Person) Joshua (Person) Satan Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Angel (A Spirit): Appearances of To Zechariah, in a Vision Firebrand: Figurative Righteous: Described Satan: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Vision of Zechariah of the High Priest

Zechariah 3:2

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