Zechariah 4:4
New International Version
I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

New Living Translation
Then I asked the angel, “What are these, my lord? What do they mean?”

English Standard Version
And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

Berean Standard Bible
“What are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was speaking with me.

King James Bible
So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

New King James Version
So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”

New American Standard Bible
Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”

NASB 1995
Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?”

NASB 1977
Then I answered and said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I answered and said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?”

Amplified Bible
So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

Christian Standard Bible
Then I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?"”

American Standard Version
And I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

Contemporary English Version
But, sir, what do these mean?"

English Revised Version
And I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I asked the angel who was speaking with me, "What do these things mean, sir?"

Good News Translation
Then I asked the angel, "What do these things stand for, sir?"

International Standard Version
Then I asked the angel who had been speaking with me, "Sir, what are these?"

Majority Standard Bible
?What are these, my lord?? I asked the angel who was speaking with me.

NET Bible
Then I asked the messenger who spoke with me, "What are these, sir?"

New Heart English Bible
I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?"

Webster's Bible Translation
So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

World English Bible
I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I answer and speak to the messenger who is speaking with me, saying, “What [are] these, my lord?”

Young's Literal Translation
And I answer and speak unto the messenger who is speaking with me, saying, 'What are these, my lord?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And I shall answer and say to the messenger speaking with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I answered, and said to the angel that spoke in me, saying: What are these things, my lord?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I answered and spoke to the angel who was speaking with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”

New American Bible
Then I said to the angel who spoke with me, “What are these things, my lord?”

New Revised Standard Version
I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I answered and I said to the Angel who spoke with me: ”What are these, my Lord?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I answered and spoke to the angel that spoke with me, saying: 'What are these, my lord?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I inquired, and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these things, my lord?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees
3There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4“What are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was speaking with me. 5“Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel. “No, my lord,” I answered.…

Cross References
Revelation 11:4
These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Revelation 1:12-13
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, / and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest.

Revelation 1:20
This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Matthew 25:1-4
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. / Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. / The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. ...

1 John 1:5-7
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. / If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. / But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Ephesians 5:8-14
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, / for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. / Test and prove what pleases the Lord. ...

Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 42:6
“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Exodus 25:31-40
Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. / Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. / There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extend from the lampstand. ...

1 Kings 7:49
the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left; the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs;

2 Chronicles 4:20
the lampstands of pure gold and their lamps, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary as prescribed;


Treasury of Scripture

So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

What.

Zechariah 4:12-14
And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? …

Zechariah 1:9,19
Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be

Zechariah 5:6
And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.

Jump to Previous
Angel Messenger Speak Speaking Talked Talking
Jump to Next
Angel Messenger Speak Speaking Talked Talking
Zechariah 4
1. By the golden candlestick is foreshown the good success of Zerubbabel's foundation;
11. by the two olive trees the two anointed ones.














Then I asked the angel
The phrase begins with the prophet Zechariah actively engaging in dialogue with a divine messenger. The Hebrew root for "angel" is "מַלְאָךְ" (mal'akh), which means "messenger." In the context of the Old Testament, angels often serve as intermediaries between God and humans, delivering divine messages or guidance. This interaction highlights the importance of seeking understanding and wisdom from God, as Zechariah does not rely on his own insight but turns to the angel for clarification. It underscores the humility and openness required to receive divine revelation.

who was speaking with me
This phrase emphasizes the ongoing communication between Zechariah and the angel. The continuous tense suggests an active and personal relationship, where the angel is not merely a distant figure but one who engages directly with the prophet. This reflects the nature of God's communication with His people—personal, direct, and relational. Historically, prophets were seen as chosen vessels through whom God communicated His will, and this interaction exemplifies that divine-human connection.

'What are these, my lord?'
Zechariah's question reveals his curiosity and desire to understand the vision he is witnessing. The term "my lord" is a respectful address, indicating Zechariah's recognition of the angel's authority and the weight of the message being conveyed. The Hebrew word for "lord" here is "אָדוֹן" (adon), which can denote respect and acknowledgment of a higher status. This inquiry reflects a broader biblical theme of seeking wisdom and understanding from God. It encourages believers to approach God with questions and a teachable spirit, trusting that He will provide clarity and insight. The historical context of Zechariah's time, post-exilic Judah, was a period of rebuilding and renewal, making the quest for divine guidance particularly pertinent as the people sought to understand God's plans for their future.

Verse 4. - What are these, my lord? The question may refer to the two olive trees, which were a novelty to the prophet, who, of course, was well acquainted with the form and use, if not the symbolism, of the candelabrum. But it may also be taken as desiring information about the whole vision.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“What
מָה־ (māh-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

are these,
אֵ֖לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

my lord?”
אֲדֹנִֽי׃ (’ă·ḏō·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

I asked
וָאַ֙עַן֙ (wā·’a·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

the angel
הַמַּלְאָ֛ךְ (ham·mal·’āḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

who was speaking with me.
הַדֹּבֵ֥ר (had·dō·ḇêr)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue


Links
Zechariah 4:4 NIV
Zechariah 4:4 NLT
Zechariah 4:4 ESV
Zechariah 4:4 NASB
Zechariah 4:4 KJV

Zechariah 4:4 BibleApps.com
Zechariah 4:4 Biblia Paralela
Zechariah 4:4 Chinese Bible
Zechariah 4:4 French Bible
Zechariah 4:4 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Zechariah 4:4 I answered and spoke to the angel (Zech. Zec Zc)
Zechariah 4:3
Top of Page
Top of Page