Zechariah 1:21

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.”

20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

“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.”

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

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.”
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.
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.”
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.
DARBY
And I said, What come these to do? And he spoke, saying, Those are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head; but these are come to affright them, to cast out the horns of the nations, which lifted up the horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.
BLB
And I said, “What [are] these coming to do?” And He answered, saying, “These [are] the horns that scattered Judah so that not a person could lift up his head; and these are coming to make them tremble, to cast down the horns of the nations [who] have lifted up the horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
ÅB
Da spurte jeg: Hva kommer disse her for? Han svarte: Hornene har adspredt Juda, slik at ingen vågde å løfte sitt hode, og nå er disse kommet for å forferde dem og slå av hornene på de hedningefolk som har løftet horn mot Juda land for å adsprede det.
OTB
Jeg spurte: "Hva kommer disse for å gjøre?" Og han sa: "Dette er hornene som har spredt Juda så ingen løfter hodet; men håndverkerne har kommet for å skremme dem, for å kaste ned hornene til de nasjonene som har løftet opp sine horn mot Judas land for å spre det."
B1930
Da spurte jeg: Hvad kommer disse her for? Han svarte: Hornene har adspredt Juda, således at ingen vågde å løfte sitt hode, og nu er disse kommet for å forferde dem og slå av hornene på de hedningefolk som har løftet horn mot Juda land for å adsprede det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 75:10

    “All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous will be exalted.”

    Read in context
  • Psalms 75:4–5

    I say to the proud, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.”

    Read in context
  • 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.”

    Read in context