Zechariah 3

In a vision, Joshua the high priest stands before God in filthy clothes while Satan accuses him. God silences the accuser, takes away Joshua’s sin, and dresses him in clean robes. The chapter ends with a promise of the coming Branch and a day when sin is removed and the land has peace.

Zechariah 3:1

Joshua the high priest represents the whole returned people. He stands in God’s court, and Satan stands at his right hand, the place of an accuser, to bring charges against him. Sinners have an enemy who accuses them before God.

BSA: Satan (“the adversary, opponent of God”): The name means adversary, so he acts here as a prosecutor against God’s people. accuse (“resist, oppose”): His accusing is active opposition to Joshua and to what God is doing through him.

Hebrew: שָׂטָן (satan, H7854) — “adversary, accuser.” The word describes a role, one who stands against another in a legal dispute. Here it names the enemy who brings charges.

See also: Revelation 12:10; Job 1:6.

Zechariah 3:2

The LORD himself answers the accuser, and he does not argue that Joshua is innocent. He rests his case on his own choice of Jerusalem and his own rescue. Joshua is a half-burned stick pulled from the fire, saved by mercy and not by merit.

BSA: rebukes (“to reprove or correct”): God’s rebuke shuts the accuser’s mouth and stops his charges. snatched (“rescued or delivered”): Joshua was pulled out of judgment by God’s own hand, perhaps recalling the exile.

See also: Amos 4:11; Romans 8:33-34.

Zechariah 3:3

Joshua stands before the angel in filthy clothes. A priest was meant to appear in clean, holy garments, so his clothing shows sin, his own and his people’s. He cannot clean himself and simply stands there as he is.

BSA: filthy (“soiled, unclean”): The word suggests garments that are foul and not fit for God’s presence.

See also: Isaiah 64:6.

Zechariah 3:4

The command is given: take off the filthy clothes. God then says he has removed Joshua’s iniquity and will clothe him with splendid robes. Forgiveness comes first, then the new clothing. Both are gifts and neither is earned.

BSA: removed (“taken away, caused to pass from”): Sin is made to pass away from Joshua, as something carried off. splendid robes (“rich, splendid, change of”): The new robes are a fresh change of clothing, rich and honorable.

Hebrew: הֶעֱבַרְתִּי (he’evarti, H5674) — “I have caused to pass over.” God says the guilt has already been made to pass away. It is stated as done, not as something Joshua must work toward.

See also: Isaiah 61:10; Colossians 3:12.

Zechariah 3:5

Zechariah speaks up and asks for the clean turban too, the priest’s headwear. So the cleansing is made complete from head to foot. The angel of the LORD stands by, watching over the restoration.

BSA: clean (“pure”): The turban is purely clean, free of every stain. stood by (“stood watch, was present”): The Lord personally oversees the work and does not leave it to others.

See also: Exodus 28:36-38.

Zechariah 3:6-7

Restored, Joshua is given a charge with a promise attached. If he is faithful to walk in God’s ways and keep his instructions, he will govern the temple and its courts. He will also have access among the heavenly attendants standing there.

BSA: walk (“follow, live according to”): Obedience is a whole way of living, a daily walk. charge (“keep, care for”): Joshua is trusted with caring for God’s courts.

See also: Deuteronomy 10:12-13.

Zechariah 3:8

Joshua and his fellow priests are a sign, a pointer to something greater. God will bring his servant, the Branch. Christians have long seen Jesus here, the coming One who brings the true priesthood and kingship.

BSA: sign (“token, wonder”): The priests are living pictures of a promise that God will keep. Branch (“sprout, new growth”): The Branch is new life growing from what looked like a cut-down tree.

Hebrew: צֶמַח (tsemach, H6780) — “sprout, shoot.” It names a shoot that springs up from a stump. It was a title for the promised king from David’s line.

See also: Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5.

Zechariah 3:9

God sets before Joshua a single stone with seven eyes, a picture of complete watchfulness and insight. He will engrave it himself. Then, in one day, he will take away the land’s sin. This points to a decisive act of cleansing.

BSA: eyes (“sources of insight, spiritual perception”): Seven eyes picture God’s full and perfect sight over his work. single (“one, unified”): The cleansing comes in one decisive act, not by slow stages.

See also: Zechariah 4:10; Hebrews 10:12.

Zechariah 3:10

When sin is removed, peace follows. Neighbors will freely invite one another to rest beneath their own vine and fig tree, a picture of security, plenty and friendship. Forgiveness leads to a restful, shared life.

BSA: invite (“call, summon”): Peace overflows into hospitality as neighbors call one another to share it. sit (“dwell, rest”): The picture is of quiet rest without fear.

See also: Micah 4:4; 1 Kings 4:25.