Skip to content
Journey Through the Bible

Zechariah 1:1-21

1 A Call to Return to the Lord
In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo:

2 “The Lord was very angry with your forefathers.

3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.

4 Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.

5 Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever?

6 But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your forefathers?
“Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’”

7 The Man Among the Myrtle Trees
On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.

8 During the night I had a vision—and there before me was a man riding a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.

9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?”
The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.”

10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.”

11 And they reported to the angel of the Lord, who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.”

12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?”

13 So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion,

15 but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they added to the calamity.’

16 “Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

17 “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”

18 Four Horns and Four Craftsmen
Then I looked up—and there before me were four horns!

19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?”
He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”

20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen.

21 I asked, “What are these coming to do?”
He answered, “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 who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

Cross References for Zechariah 1:1-21

Luke 11:51 - from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanc... Click to read the verse Luke 11:51 Click to read the verse Luke 11:51

Matthew 23:35 - And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood o... Click to read the verse Matthew 23:35 Click to read the verse Matthew 23:35

Hosea 1:1 - The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz ... Click to read the verse Hosea 1:1 Click to read the verse Hosea 1:1

Ezra 6:14-15 - So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prop... Click to read the verse Ezra 6:14-15 Click to read the verse Ezra 6:14-15

Haggai 1:1 - A Call to Build the House of the Lord In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of th... Click to read the verse Haggai 1:1 Click to read the verse Haggai 1:1

Nehemiah 12:4 - Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah, Click to read the verse Nehemiah 12:4 Click to read the verse Nehemiah 12:4

Zechariah 7:1 - Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to ... Click to read the verse Zechariah 7:1 Click to read the verse Zechariah 7:1

Haggai 2:10 - Blessings for a Defiled People On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year ... Click to read the verse Haggai 2:10 Click to read the verse Haggai 2:10

Haggai 1:3 - Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: Click to read the verse Haggai 1:3 Click to read the verse Haggai 1:3

Haggai 2:20 - Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twen... Click to read the verse Haggai 2:20 Click to read the verse Haggai 2:20

Haggai 1:15-1 - on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius. Click to read the verse Haggai 1:15-1 Click to read the verse Haggai 1:15-1

Ezra 4:24-1 - Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of th... Click to read the verse Ezra 4:24-1 Click to read the verse Ezra 4:24-1

Nehemiah 12:16 - of Iddo’s, Zechariah; of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam; Click to read the verse Nehemiah 12:16 Click to read the verse Nehemiah 12:16

Zechariah 1:7 - The Man Among the Myrtle Trees On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of She... Click to read the verse Zechariah 1:7 Click to read the verse Zechariah 1:7

Zechariah 6:9 - A Crown for Joshua The word of the Lord came to me: Click to read the verse Zechariah 6:9 Click to read the verse Zechariah 6:9