The Meaning of Zechariah 3:8 Explained

Zechariah 3:8

KJV: Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

YLT: Hear, I pray thee, Joshua, the high priest, Thou and thy companions sitting before thee, (For men of type are they,) For lo, I am bringing in My servant -- a Shoot.

Darby: Hear now, Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee for they are men of portent for behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.

ASV: Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.

Discover Zechariah 3:8

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Zechariah 3:8?

MEANING: What does Zechariah 3:8 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Zechariah 3:8 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Zechariah 3:8?

What is the context of Zechariah 3:8?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they [are] men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

What does Zechariah 3:8 Mean?

Study Notes

BRANCH
.

branch

A name of Christ, used in fourfold way:

(1) "The Branch of Jehovah" ( Isaiah 4:2 ), that is, the "Immanuel" character of Christ Isaiah 7:14 to be fully manifested to restored and converted Israel after His return in divine glory Matthew 25:31 .

(2) the "Branch of David" Isaiah 11:1 ; Jeremiah 23:5 ; Jeremiah 33:15 that is, the Messiah, "of the seed of David according to the flesh" Romans 1:3 revealed in His earthly glory as King of kings, and Lord of lords;

(3) Jehovah's "Servant, the Branch" Zechariah 3:8 Messiah's humiliation and obedience unto death according to; Isaiah 52:13-15 ; Isaiah 53:1-12 ; Philippians 2:5-8 .

(4) the "man whose name is the Branch" Zechariah 6:12 ; Zechariah 6:13 that is His character as Son of man, the "last Adam," the "second Man" 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 reigning, as Priest-King, over the earth in the dominion given to and lost by the first Adam. Matthew is the Gospel of the "Branch of David"; Mark of "Jehovah's Servant, the Branch"; Luke of "the man whose name is the Branch"; John of "the Branch of Jehovah."

Verse Meaning

Evidently Zechariah also saw in his vision other priests, Joshua"s friends, sitting in front of him. The Lord continued to address Joshua , identifying him as the high priest. He called the friends sitting in front of Joshua men who were symbols (Heb. mopheth, tokens of future events, prophetic signs; cf. Isaiah 8:18). It was not just Joshua individually who represented Israel, but the other priests also represented the priesthood within Israel.

"The miracle, which is to be seen in Joshua and his priests, consists ... in the fact that the priesthood of Israel is laden with guilt, but by the grace of God it has been absolved, and accepted by God again, as the deliverance from exile shows, and Joshua and his priests are therefore brands plucked by the omnipotence of grace from the fire of merited judgment. This miracle of grace which has been wrought for them, points beyond itself to an incomparably greater and better act of the sin-absolving grace of God, which is still in the future." ^[1]

The Lord also said that He planned to bring into the picture His Servant, the Branch. This is a double title of Messiah (cf. Zechariah 6:12; Psalm 132:17; Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 53:2; Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:15). As Yahweh"s servant ( Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 49:3; Isaiah 49:5; Isaiah 52:13; Isaiah 53:11; Ezekiel 34:23-24), Messiah would come into the world to do His Father"s will, including redeeming, cleansing, and restoring Israel to God"s intended place for her.

"As Branch, the Messiah is represented in the OT in four different aspects of his character (King, Servant, Prayer of Manasseh , and God). These aspects are developed in the NT in the four Gospels: (1) in Matthew as the Branch of David, i.e, as the Davidic messianic King ( Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:15); (2) in Mark as the Lord"s Servant, the Branch ( Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 50:10; Isaiah 52:13; Ezekiel 34:23-24; Zechariah 3:8); (3) in Luke as the Man whose name is the Branch ( Zechariah 6:12); and (4) in John as the Branch of the Lord ( Isaiah 4:2)." ^[2]

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 3:8 mean?

Hear now Joshua the priest high You and your companions who sit before you for men a [wondrous] sign they [are] for behold I am bringing forth - My Servant the BRANCH

שְֽׁמַֽע־ נָ֞א יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ ׀ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֗וֹל אַתָּה֙ וְרֵעֶ֙יךָ֙ הַיֹּשְׁבִ֣ים לְפָנֶ֔יךָ כִּֽי־ אַנְשֵׁ֥י מוֹפֵ֖ת הֵ֑מָּה כִּֽי־ הִנְנִ֥י מֵבִ֛יא אֶת־ עַבְדִּ֖י צֶֽמַח

שְֽׁמַֽע־	Hear
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular Root: שָׁמַע Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
נָ֞א	now
Parse: Interjection Root: נָא Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ ׀	Joshua
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יְהֹושֻׁעַ Sense: son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan.
הַכֹּהֵ֣ן	the priest
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: כֹּהֵן Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הַגָּד֗וֹל	high
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular Root: גָּבֹול Sense: great.
וְרֵעֶ֙יךָ֙	and your companions
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular Root: רֵעַ Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
הַיֹּשְׁבִ֣ים	who sit
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural Root: יָשַׁב Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ	before you
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular Root: לִפְנֵי Sense: face.
אַנְשֵׁ֥י	men
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct Root: אִישׁ Sense: man.
מוֹפֵ֖ת	a [wondrous] sign
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: מֹופֵת Sense: wonder, sign, miracle, portent.
הֵ֑מָּה	they [are]
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural Root: הֵם Sense: they, these, the same, who.
הִנְנִ֥י	behold
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular Root: הֵן Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
מֵבִ֛יא	I am bringing forth
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular Root: בֹּוא Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
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.
עַבְדִּ֖י	My Servant
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular Root: עֶבֶד Sense: slave, servant.
צֶֽמַח	the BRANCH
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: צֶמַח Sense: sprout, growth, branch.

What are the major concepts related to Zechariah 3:8?

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Similar Scriptures for Zechariah 3:8

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