Zechariah 6:5
3 the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong.
4 So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”
And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The one with the black horses is going toward the land of the north, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”
7 As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.
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
- And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.
- KJV
- And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
- WEB
- The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of the sky, which go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
- ASV
- And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
- DARBY
- And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
- BLB
- And the angel answered and said to me, “These [are] the four spirits of the heavens going forth from the standing next to the Lord of all the earth.
- ÅB
- Engelen svarte: Dette er himmelens fire vinder, som nå farer ut etter at de har fremstilt seg for all jordens herre.
- OTB
- Engelen svarte: "Dette er himmelens fire ånder, som drar ut etter å ha stått foran Herren over hele jorden.
- B1930
- Engelen svarte: Dette er himmelens fire vinder, som nu farer ut efterat de har fremstilt sig for all jordens herre.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ezekiel 10:9–19
Then I looked and saw four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub. And the wheels gleamed like a beryl stone.
Read in contextHebrews 1:7
Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.”
Read in contextEzekiel 37:9
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!”
Read in contextHebrews 1:14
Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Read in contextPsalms 104:3–4
laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.
Read in context2 Chronicles 18:18–19
Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.
Read in contextRevelation 7:1
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree.
Read in contextDaniel 7:10
A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
Read in context