Zechariah 6:12

Translations

Modern

And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.

Traditional

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord:

Literal

…and you shall speak to him, saying, thus says YHWH of Hosts, saying: ‘Behold, a man—the Branch is his name—and from underneath him, he will branch forth and will build the temple of YHWH.

Latin

…et loqueris ad eum, dicens: Hæc ait Dominus exercituum, dicens: Ecce vir, Oriens nomen ejus, et subter eum orietur, et ædificabit templum Domino.

Original

Hebrew

English

And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.

Notes

Zechariah 6:12–13

The Branch is a title for the Messiah (see Zechariah 3:8), whom Jeshua represents.
build the temple of the LORD: Jeshua the high priest helped build the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 3:1–2, 8–9; 5:2). Similarly, Jesus the Messiah would build the eternal heavenly temple through his death, burial, and resurrection (John 2:19–22; 4:23–24; Ephesians 2:19–22; Hebrews 8:1–2).
The Messiah would rule as king, a role linked to David and the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 7:12–16).
He will be a priest on His throne: The Messiah’s priestly role is linked to Aaron and the tribe of Levi (Exodus 29:44).
Jeshua’s crown represents his two roles. Melchizedek also had the dual roles of priest and king (Genesis 14:17–20), as does the Messiah (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:1–3, 15–17).

Zechariah 6:9–15

This important message comes with Zechariah’s eighth vision (Zechariah 6:1–8). Jeshua’s symbolic crowning as both king and priest was not a real political setup for Judah. It likely represents the coming of the Messiah, God's chosen king.

In Zechariah, the Branch is a title for this coming Messiah. The image describes new growth from what seemed dead, like a shoot growing from a cut-down tree. This shows that, even after exile and failure, God will raise up a new ruler from David’s line. The Branch will build the temple of the Lord and unite kingship and priesthood in one person (Zechariah 6:12; compare 3:8).

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

The Church as God’s Temple

Events

Prophecies of Zechariahc. 520 BC

Related verses

Jeremiah 33:15
In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
Zechariah 3:8
Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.
Isaiah 4:2
On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors.
Isaiah 11:1
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
Isaiah 53:2
He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.
Zechariah 4:6–9
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 of Hosts.
Acts 17:31
For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Psalm 80:15–17
…the root Your right hand has planted, the son You have raised up for Yourself.
John 1:45
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Ezra 3:10
When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed.

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Apocalyptic Branch Crown Jedaiah Josiah Postexilic Period Root of Jesse Servant of the Lord Tobijah Zechariah, Book of Zephaniah (Person) Zerubbabel

Topics

Branch: A Title of Christ Branch: Symbolic Name of Joshua Jeshua: Symbolical: Prophecies Concerning Joshua: Symbolical of the Restoration of God's People Temple: The Second: Prophecies of Its Restoration Titles and Names of Christ: Branch Types of the Saviour: High Priest, Typical of the Mediatorship

Zechariah 6:12

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