The Meaning of Zechariah 4:13 Explained

Zechariah 4:13

KJV: And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

YLT: And he speaketh unto me, saying, 'Hast thou not known what these are?' And I say, 'No, my lord.'

Darby: And he spoke to me, saying, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

ASV: And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he answered  me and said,  Knowest  thou not what these [be]? And I said,  No, my lord. 

What does Zechariah 4:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Again the interpreting angel expressed surprise that Zechariah needed an explanation of these things (cf. Zechariah 4:5). He did not want to give an interpretation if Zechariah could figure it out himself. Normally God does not provide additional information until we have done all we can to discover His meaning. To do so would discourage human effort Godward.

Context Summary

Zechariah 4:1-14 - "not By Might Nor By Power"
Zerubbabel had faltered in the great work of reconstruction and had practically lost heart. Here he is encouraged to renew his efforts and persevere to the top-stone. He might be weak and flexible as a wick but none of his deficiencies could hinder him from finishing his life-work, if only his spirit was kindled with the divine fire and fed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 4

1  By the golden candlestick is foreshown the good success of Zerubbabel's foundation;
11  by the two olive trees the two anointed ones

What do the individual words in Zechariah 4:13 mean?

And he answered me and said do not you know what [are] these and I said No my lord
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלַי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הֲל֥וֹא יָדַ֖עְתָּ מָה־ אֵ֑לֶּה וָאֹמַ֖ר לֹ֥א אֲדֹנִֽי

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  And  he  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלַי֙  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
לֵאמֹ֔ר  and  said 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הֲל֥וֹא  do  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָדַ֖עְתָּ  you  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
מָה־  what  [are] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
אֵ֑לֶּה  these 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
וָאֹמַ֖ר  and  I  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לֹ֥א  No 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אֲדֹנִֽי  my  lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.

What are the major concepts related to Zechariah 4:13?

Loading Information...