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Zechariah 1:21

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Zechariah 1:21 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

“What are these coming to do?” I asked. And He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head; but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations that have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

King James Version KJV

Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

American Standard Version ASV

Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head; but these are come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations, which lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.

Bible in Basic English BBE

Then I said, What have these come to do? And he said, These are the horns which sent Judah in flight, and kept him from lifting up his head: but these men have come to send fear on them and to put down the nations who are lifting up their horns against the land of Judah to send it in flight.

Free Bible Version FBV

“What are these men coming to do?” I asked. The angel replied, “The four horns—these nations—scattered Judah, humbling the people so that they could not lift up their heads. These craftsmen have to come to terrify these nations, and to destroy them—those who used their power against the land of Judah, scattering the people.”

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Then said I, What come these to doe? And he answered, and said, These are the hornes, which haue scattered Iudah, so that a man durst not lift vp his head: but these are come to fray them, and to cast out the hornes of the Gentiles, which lift vp their horne ouer the land of Iudah, to scatter it.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

And I say, 'What [are] these coming in to do?' And He speaketh, saying: 'These [are] the horns that have scattered Judah, so that no one hath lifted up his head, and these come in to trouble them, to cast down the horns of the nations who are lifting up a horn against the land of Judah — to scatter it.'

World English Bible WEB

Then I asked, “What are these coming to do?” He said, “These are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head; but these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

Noah Webster Bible WBS

Then said I, What come these to do? And he spoke, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head: but these are come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

And I said: What come these to do? and he spoke, saying: These are the horns which have scattered Juda every man apart, and none of them lifted up his head: and these are come to fray them, to cast down the horns of the nations, that have lifted up the horn upon the land of Juda to scatter it.

Translation for Translators T4T

I asked, “What are those men coming to do?” He replied, “The armies represented by those horns caused the people of Judah to be scattered, with the result that they suffered greatly. But the craftsmen have come to cause those who attacked [IDM] Judah to be terrified and crushed.”

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Zechariah 1:21

BAB
Word Study

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Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Study Notes — Zechariah 1:21

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context — The Vision of the Horns and the Craftsmen

19So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he told me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” 20Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

21“What are these coming to do?” I asked. And He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head; but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations that have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Psalms 75:10 “All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous will be exalted.”
2 Zechariah 1:19 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he told me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”
3 Psalms 75:4–5 I say to the proud, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn. Do not lift up your horn against heaven or speak with an outstretched neck.’”
4 Lamentations 2:17 The LORD has done what He planned; He has accomplished His decree, which He ordained in days of old; He has overthrown you without pity. He has let the enemy gloat over you and exalted the horn of your foes.
5 Daniel 12:7 And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”

Zechariah 1:21 Summary

[Zechariah 1:21 tells us that God is concerned about the nations that have opposed His people, Judah, and that He will send agents to deliver them. This is a reminder that God is always working to protect and care for His people, just like He did for the Israelites in the book of Exodus. As we trust in God's deliverance, we can 'raise our heads' in faith, knowing that He is our rock and salvation, as seen in Psalm 18:2 and Isaiah 41:10. By trusting in God's power and love, we can cooperate with His plan to bring hope and redemption to those around us.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the horns that scattered Judah in Zechariah 1:21?

The horns represent the nations that have opposed and scattered the people of Judah, as seen in Zechariah 1:19, which mentions that these horns have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem, much like the nations that oppressed Israel in Judges 2:10-3:6.

Who are the craftsmen in Zechariah 1:21 and what is their role?

The craftsmen are agents of God who have come to terrify and throw down the horns of the nations, symbolizing God's judgment and deliverance of His people, similar to the way God used prophets and judges in the book of Judges to rescue Israel from their oppressors.

What does it mean for the craftsmen to 'terrify' the horns of the nations in Zechariah 1:21?

To terrify the horns means that God's agents will strike fear into the hearts of the nations that have opposed Judah, causing them to lose their power and influence, much like the fear that fell upon the enemies of Israel when God fought for them in Exodus 14:13-14 and Isaiah 41:10-16.

How does Zechariah 1:21 relate to God's overall plan of redemption?

Zechariah 1:21 shows God's concern for His people and His desire to protect and deliver them from their enemies, which is a theme that runs throughout the Bible, from the Exodus in Exodus 1-18 to the ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ in Revelation 21:1-4.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are the 'horns' in my life that are causing me to feel scattered or oppressed, and how can I trust God to deliver me from them?
  2. How can I, like the craftsmen in Zechariah 1:21, be an agent of God's deliverance and hope to those around me who are struggling?
  3. What does it mean for me to 'raise my head' in faith and trust in God's deliverance, as implied in Zechariah 1:21, and how can I apply this to my daily life?
  4. In what ways can I cooperate with God's plan to 'terrify' the forces of darkness that oppose His people, and what role can I play in His larger story of redemption?

Gill's Exposition on Zechariah 1:21

Then said I, What come these to do?.... That is, these four carpenters; for, being artificers or workmen, as the Targum renders the word, the prophet concluded there was some work for them to do: And

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Zechariah 1:21

Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. The power of the Jews' foes shall be dissipated. Verse 18. Behold, four horns.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Zechariah 1:21

Then, so soon as I could propose the question, immediately upon sight of the carpenters, said I, Zechariah, What come these to do? he saw they were men, inquires not who they were, but what was their business and design; perhaps it is fittest for us to rest also in the knowledge of what they are to do, and inquire no further who they were. And he spake; the Lord Christ informed the prophet. These are the horns which have scattered Judah: Christ doth in order to satisfy the inquiry first point to the four horns, of which ,19, as if he should have said, Look you, there are four horns which have done mischief to Judah. So that no man did lift up his head; kept them so under, none had either strength or courage to lift up the head, and thus these horns proudly and cruelly destroyed my people. But these, these carpenters, or smiths, are emblems of those instruments God will employ in breaking these destroyers. Here are four carpenters to break the four horns. To fray them; to strike a fear into them first; these kingdoms, signified by horns, shall lose their courage. To cast out the horns; then their authority and power shall be cast out easily. The Gentiles; heathen round about Judea. Which lifted up their horn over, have employed their arms and strength against, the land of Judah, the whole kingdom of Judah, God’ s people, to scatter it, to drive them out of God’ s inheritance, See .

Trapp's Commentary on Zechariah 1:21

Zechariah 1:21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up [their] horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.Ver. 21. What come these to do?] He asketh not what they were? for by their tools or weapons he perceived they were carpenters or smiths (as some think), with iron instruments to break these iron horns; confer 1 Kings 22:11. He inquireth, therefore, of their employment only. Futilous and foolish questions should be avoided, Titus 3:9. So that no man did lift up his head] Turn head, or look cheerfully, as Luke 21:28. But these are come to fray them] Deterere, saith the Vulgate; better deterrere, to frighten them, now that they had pushed Israel to the Lord. To cast out, &c.] Thus Omne sub regno graviore regnum est. See Ecclesiastes 5:7.

Ellicott's Commentary on Zechariah 1:21

(21) Many commentators suppose that this vision refers to the future as well as the past, and that in it the objects are combined together so as to form one complete picture, without any regard to the time of their appearing in historical reality. And so they take the “four horns” to symbolise the four empires—the Assyrian, the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, and the Græco-Macedonian. But such is not the case, as is clearly shown by this verse. It is true that the word “scattered” might, if standing alone, be taken as discharging the duties of historic and, at the same time, of prophetic perfect. But since in the dependent clause we have, “so that no man did lift up his head”—in the perfect—the word “have scattered” can refer only to the actual past. We must, therefore, reject all reference to the four monarchies which we have enumerated, because the Græco-Macedonian had not yet come into existence. If, then, the “four horns” do symbolise four monarchies, they can only be the Assyrian, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Medo-Persian. Some commentators have gone so far as to identify the four workmen with Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Cambyses, and Alexander the Great. (Comp. and contrast Haggai 2:22.) But it seems more probable that here (as in Zechariah 1:8) we must not draw too close a comparison between the symbol and the thing symbolised, and should understand the “four workmen” as merely figuring the destruction of these nations for the good of the Jewish nation, without the manner of its accomplishment being accurately defined. We may remark, in passing, that some commentators do not take the vision as referring to four distinct nations, but suppose the number four to be used in reference to all the powers hostile to Judah, from whatever quarter they may have come. The vision, a natural consequent of the preceding, is one of comfort, its object being to assure the people that as the former nations which had been hostile to Israel and Judah had been destroyed, so the present Medo-Persian monarchy, which also had at times oppressed them, should have the horn of its hostility utterly cast out, and should protect them and encourage the re-building of Jerusalem.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Zechariah 1:21

Verse 21. These are come to fray them] To break, pound, and reduce them to powder. Fray, from the French, frayer, to rub. חרשים charashim signifies either carpenters or smiths; probably the latter are here intended, who came with hammers, files, and such like, to destroy these horns, which no doubt seemed to be of iron. From a sensible correspondent I have received the following note: - "The word we translate carpenters, חרשים charashim, is a root which, according to Mr. Parkhurst, denotes silent thought or attention; and in kal and hiphil, to contrive, devise secretly, or in silence; hence applied as a noun to an artificer of any kind, and to any work which disposes to silent attention. Thus, to potters' ware, Leviticus 6:28; Job 2:8; and in many other places. So also to ploughing, Deuteronomy 22:10; Proverbs 20:4, which requires constant attention to make 'the right-lined furrow.' Let it be remembered that in ancient times such works were more esteemed than the useless ones we have learned to admire. So again, in Genesis 24:21, and elsewhere, it implies to be silent, as in deep thought or great attention. "Now it is evident that the purport of this vision is the same with the gracious declarations which precede it, viz., to express the return of the protecting mercies of God to his people, delivering them from their enemies. I should therefore be inclined to render חרשים charashim here, watchers or inspectors, in the sense which our translators have rendered the Chaldee עיר ir, a watcher, in the fourth chapter of Daniel, Daniel 4:13; understanding thereby 'spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth,' Zechariah 6:5, and are described in the first vision as 'sent to walk to and fro through the earth.' This gives to the whole narrative a sublime and important sense, affording us some glimpse of the Divine government by the ministration of angels, such as Jacob was favoured with in his vision at Beth-el, and which our Saviour himself informed Nathanael constituted part of the glory of his mediatorial kingdom." - M. A. B.

Cambridge Bible on Zechariah 1:21

21. he spake] i.e. the interpreting angel. have scattered] Rather, scattered, R.V. to fray them] Either the wild animals bearing the horns, or more probably the nations symbolised by them, are here spoken of as being “frayed,” or “panic-stricken.” In the following word, “to cast out,” the figure of the horns is perhaps resumed. The Third Vision. The man with the measuring line. Zechariah 2:1-13. (Heb., 2:5–17.) The vision which describes the destruction of her enemies is followed by another, in which the consequent growth and prosperity of Jerusalem are depicted, and which in the largeness of its predictions extends into the more distant future. The prophet sees now upon the stage, or field of view, a young man with a measuring line in his hand, Zechariah 1:1. He asks him where he is going, and is answered, that he is going to measure Jerusalem, Zechariah 1:2. Upon this, the interpreting angel quits the prophet’s side and “goes forth” upon the stage in pursuit, as it would seem, of the man with the measuring line, to bid him desist from his purpose. As he does so, he is met by another angel, to whom he delegates the errand on which he himself had started, and whom he commissions in the hearing of the prophet (thus fulfilling his office as “interpreter” of the visions, and removing the false impression which the man’s answer, Zechariah 1:2, had created) to go and bid the “young man” cease from measuring, because Jerusalem, in its coming populousness and security, should neither admit of nor require walls, Zechariah 1:3-5. The exiles still remaining in Babylon are now summoned to leave her, Zechariah 1:6-7, for God’s judgments are about to fall upon her, Zechariah 1:8-9; whereas in Zion, to which they are invited to return, He will dwell, Zechariah 1:10-11, making it again His portion and His choice, Zechariah 1:12, extending its blessings to the Gentiles, Zechariah 1:11, confirming by the happy event the truth of this prediction, Zechariah 1:9; Zechariah 1:11, and manifesting Himself as the Judge of all the earth, Zechariah 1:13.

Sermons on Zechariah 1:21

SermonDescription
Henry Law Psalm 75 by Henry Law Henry Law preaches on the importance of giving thanks to God for His wondrous works, emphasizing that our souls are robbed of delight when we do not engage in this joyful exercise.
John Nelson Darby The Object of Prophecy by John Nelson Darby John Nelson Darby emphasizes that the common interpretation of prophecy, which equates the church with Israel, is fundamentally flawed. He argues that God's ultimate purpose is cen
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