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
1Zechariah exhorts to repentance 7The vision of the horses 12At the prayer of the angel comfortable promises are made to Jerusalem 18The vision of the four horns and the four carpenters
What do the individual words in Zechariah 1:18 mean?
And I raised-my eyesand lookedand there [were]fourhorns
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.