The Meaning of Zechariah 3:2 Explained

Zechariah 3:2

KJV: And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

YLT: And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary: 'Jehovah doth push against thee, O Adversary, Yea, push against thee doth Jehovah, Who is fixing on Jerusalem, Is not this a brand delivered from fire?'

Darby: And Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan! Yea, Jehovah that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee! Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

ASV: And Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan; yea, Jehovah that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

Discover Zechariah 3:2

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Zechariah 3:2?

MEANING: What does Zechariah 3:2 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Zechariah 3:2 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Zechariah 3:2?

What is the context of Zechariah 3:2?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

What does Zechariah 3:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord then spoke to the accuser citing His own authority as Yahweh who had chosen Jerusalem. This is one indication that Joshua represented Israel since God linked Joshua with Jerusalem. Joshua was secure from Satan"s accusations because of the Lord"s sovereign choice of Jerusalem (cf. Zechariah 12:2; Romans 8:33). The Lord may be distinct from the angel of the Lord, but they seem to be synonymous. Most conservative commentators equate them and believe the angel of the Lord is the second person of the Trinity. In other contexts, adversaries argue their cases before God, not before His representatives (e.g, Job 1-2). The Lord rebuked Satan twice, the repetition adding force to the initial rebuke (cf. Jude 1:9).

The Lord then referred to Joshua as a burning stick plucked from the fire, evidently for His future use (cf. Amos 4:11). If Joshua represents Israel, then the fire must refer to the Babylonian captivity from which Israel had come almost destroyed, and the stick refers to the surviving remnant. Israel had experienced another brush with extinction at the Exodus ( Deuteronomy 4:20; Deuteronomy 7:7-8; Jeremiah 11:4), and she will do so again in the Tribulation ( Zechariah 13:8-9; Jeremiah 30:7; Revelation 12:13-17).

Context Summary

Zechariah 3:1-10 - Purified For God's Service

The regulation for the maintenance of the priesthood had fallen into disuse, and they had neither robes, vessels, nor proper provision of offerings. Probably also the spiritual life of the priests was at a very low ebb, Malachi 1:1-14; Malachi 2:1-17. Satan is always discovering the weak spots in character and thrusting at them. He is keen as steel and cruel as hell. But we have One who pleads. As the priest Melchizedek, He ever lives to make intercession for us. "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan."

We are as brands scorched and charred with the burning. But we have been plucked out of the consuming flame. Surely then we are being kept for some high and useful purpose. All the past is an argument for faith. That God has done so much is a pledge that He will perfect that which concerneth us, because His mercy endureth forever. It is not enough to be cleansed from sin, we need the miter of the divine anointing that we may have a place of access among the saints. Whom He justifies, He also glorifies. Let us be content with nothing short of God's best. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 3

¹ Under the type of Joshua, the high priest, receiving clean garments,
⁶ and a covenant of promise,
⁸ Christ the Branch and Cornerstone is promised

What do the individual words in Zechariah 3:2 mean?

And said Yahweh to Satan rebuke you Satan and rebuke Yahweh you who has chosen Jerusalem [Is] not this a firebrand plucked from the fire

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־ הַשָּׂטָ֗ן יִגְעַ֨ר בְּךָ֙ הַשָּׂטָ֔ן וְיִגְעַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ בְּךָ֔ הַבֹּחֵ֖ר בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם הֲל֧וֹא זֶ֦ה א֖וּד מֻצָּ֥ל ؟ מֵאֵֽשׁ

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	And said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֜ה	Yahweh
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יהוה Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַשָּׂטָ֗ן	Satan
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: שָׂטָן Sense: adversary, one who withstands.
יִגְעַ֨ר	rebuke
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: גָּעַר Sense: (Qal) to rebuke, reprove, corrupt.
הַשָּׂטָ֔ן	Satan
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: שָׂטָן Sense: adversary, one who withstands.
וְיִגְעַ֤ר	and rebuke
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: גָּעַר Sense: (Qal) to rebuke, reprove, corrupt.
יְהוָה֙	Yahweh
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יהוה Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַבֹּחֵ֖ר	who has chosen
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular Root: בָּחוּר Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם	Jerusalem
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
הֲל֧וֹא	[Is] not
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle Root: הֲלֹא Sense: not, no.
זֶ֦ה	this
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular Root: זֶה Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
א֖וּד	a firebrand
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: אוּד Sense: brand, fire brand.
מֻצָּ֥ל	plucked
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Participle, masculine singular Root: נָצַל Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
؟ מֵאֵֽשׁ	from the fire
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common singular Root: אֵשׁ Sense: fire.

What are the major concepts related to Zechariah 3:2?

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Similar Scriptures for Zechariah 3:2

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