Zechariah 4

1 Then the angel [messenger of God, heavenly representative] who was speaking [communicating, conveying a message] with me returned [came back, turned back] and woke [roused, stirred] me, as a man [human being, individual] is awakened [stirred, alerted] from his sleep [state of rest, slumber]. word study 2 “What [in the spiritual realm, or in the physical world] do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid [pure, unalloyed] gold lampstand [candlestick],” I replied, “with a bowl [a round container, a fountain] at the top [the head, the chief part] and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts [pipes, channels] to the lamps [the light-bearers]. word study 3 There are also [exactly] two olive trees [an olive berry] beside it, one on the right [south] side of the bowl [a round container, like a fountain] and the other on its left [north].” word study 4 “What [exactly, I ask] are these [things, objects, or visions], my [Heavenly] lord [Master, Sovereign]?” I [in response, as an answer] asked [spoke to, inquired of] the angel [messenger, heavenly being] who was speaking [talking, communicating] with me. word study 5 “Do you not know [be aware of, understand] what they [these, those things] are?” replied the angel [messenger, heavenly being]. “No [not], my lord [master, ruler],” I answered. word study 6 So he said to me, “This [the prophetic message] is the word [divine utterance, revelation] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] to Zerubbabel: Not by might [human strength, military power] nor by power [ability, capability], but by My Spirit [the divine breath], says the LORD [the sovereign God] of Hosts [the armies of heaven, the heavenly forces]. word study 7 What are you, O great [mighty, powerful] mountain? Before Zerubbabel [the leader of Judah] you will become a plain [level, flat area]. Then he will bring forth the capstone [top stone, headstone] accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace [loving-kindness, mercy] to it!’” word study 8 Then the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] came [was given, occurred] to me, saying [to speak, to command], word study 9 “The hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] of Zerubbabel [a leader of Judah] have laid the foundation [established, begun construction] of this house [a dwelling place, the temple], and his hands [strength, ability] will complete [finish, bring to fulfillment] it. Then you will know [ascertain, understand] that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, a large group] has sent [dispatched, commissioned] me to you. word study 10 For who has despised [looked down on, underestimated] the day of small things [insignificant events, humble beginnings]? But these seven eyes [watchful guardians, omniscient observers] of the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God], which scan [examine, oversee] the whole earth [all the land, every nation], will rejoice [be glad, take delight] when they see the plumb line [a weighted measuring line] in the hand of Zerubbabel [a leader of Judah, a servant of God].” word study 11 Then I [answered and] asked the angel, “What [are these] are the two [pair of] olive trees [an olive berry] on the right [side, direction] and left [side, direction] of the lampstand [candlestick]?” word study 12 And I questioned [answered again, spoke a second time] him further, “What [are these, signify] are the two [a pair, dual] olive branches [of the olive trees] beside the two [a pair, dual] gold [valuable, precious] pipes [or spouts, through which the oil flows] from which [out of themselves, as a source] the golden [precious, valuable] oil pours [is emptied, flows out]?” word study 13 “Do you [not have knowledge of] not know what these [these things, these objects] are [these symbols, these signs]?” he inquired [said, spoke]. “No [not at all, I am unaware], my [master, lord] lord,” I replied [said, answered]. word study 14 So he said, “These [the two specified ones] are the two [a pair, dual] anointed ones [sons of oil, having God’s nature] who are standing [in a strong sense, firmly] beside [near, in the presence of] the Lord [Master, Ruler] of all [the whole, entire] the earth [land, territory].” word study