The Meaning of Zechariah 1:18 Explained

Zechariah 1:18

KJV: Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.

YLT: And I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, four horns.

Darby: And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.

ASV: And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, four horns.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then lifted I up  mine eyes,  and saw,  and behold four  horns. 

What does Zechariah 1:18 Mean?

Study Notes

horn
A "horn" is the symbol of a Gentile king Daniel 7:24 ; Revelation 17:12 and the vision is of the four world empires; Daniel 2:36-44 ; Daniel 7:3-7 which have "scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem" ( Zechariah 1:19 )

Verse Meaning

Zechariah 1:18 begins chapter2in the Hebrew Bible. Zechariah then saw another scene in his vision. He observed four animal horns. Presumably they were on living animals since they could feel terror ( Zechariah 1:21), though there is no mention of animals. Horns were a common figure for power in biblical and ancient Near Eastern iconography, specifically, of a Gentile king or world empire (e.g, Deuteronomy 33:17; Psalm 18:2; Psalm 75:10; Psalm 89:17; Daniel 2:36-44; Daniel 7:3-7; Daniel 7:24; Daniel 8:20-21; Revelation 17:12).

Context Summary

Zechariah 1:18-21 - The Redemption Of Jerusalem
The work of Temple-building had ceased for fifteen years and the new resolve to arise and build might meet with a similar fate. But the four horns met with four carpenters. For Babylon the carpenter was Cyrus; for Persia, Alexander the Great; for Greece, the Roman; for Rome, the Gaul. No weapon that is formed to thwart God's purposes can prosper. The young man with the measuring line embodied the new spirit animating the returned exiles. But God was intending to give more prosperity and increase than could be contained in walls. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 1

1  Zechariah exhorts to repentance
7  The vision of the horses
12  At the prayer of the angel comfortable promises are made to Jerusalem
18  The vision of the four horns and the four carpenters

What do the individual words in Zechariah 1:18 mean?

And I raised - my eyes and looked and there [were] four horns
וָאֶשָּׂ֥א אֶת־ עֵינַ֖י וָאֵ֑רֶא וְהִנֵּ֖ה אַרְבַּ֥ע קְרָנֽוֹת

וָאֶשָּׂ֥א  And  I  raised 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֵינַ֖י  my  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וָאֵ֑רֶא  and  looked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְהִנֵּ֖ה  and  there  [were] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
אַרְבַּ֥ע  four 
Parse: Number, feminine singular construct
Root: אַרְבַּע  
Sense: four.
קְרָנֽוֹת  horns 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: קֶרֶן 
Sense: horn.