The Meaning of Zechariah 4:7 Explained

Zechariah 4:7

KJV: Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

YLT: Who art thou, O great mountain Before Zerubbabel -- for a plain! And he hath brought forth the top-stone, Cries of Grace, grace -- are to it.'

Darby: Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou dost become a plain; and he shall bring forth the head-stone with shoutings: Grace, grace unto it!

ASV: Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of Grace, grace, unto it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who [art] thou, O great  mountain?  before  Zerubbabel  [thou shalt become] a plain:  and he shall bring forth  the headstone  [thereof with] shoutings,  [crying], Grace,  grace  unto it. 

What does Zechariah 4:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

A great mountain would become a plain before Zerubbabel. Mountains epitomize large obstacles (cf. Isaiah 40:4; Isaiah 41:15; Isaiah 49:11; Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:21; Mark 11:23; 1 Corinthians 13:2). They are also symbols of kingdoms (cf. Isaiah 41:15; Jeremiah 51:25; Daniel 2:35; Daniel 2:45; et al), but that is not the meaning here. The whole process of temple restoration seemed like a mountainous job to the few exiles who returned from captivity. In addition, there was much opposition to building ( Ezra 4:1-5; Ezra 4:24), and the Israelites themselves proved unwilling to persevere in the task ( Haggai 1:14; Haggai 2:1-9). Nevertheless, God would reduce this mountain to a flat plain by assisting the workers.
Furthermore Zerubbabel would bring forth the top stone, the final stone on the project, with shouts of "Grace, grace to it." The joyful cry of the people as they saw the last stone put in place would voice their prayer that God"s blessing would now rest on the beautiful structure that His grace had made possible.
"There is nothing that makes the heart of God"s people more ready to overflow with the truest joy than to witness success or the fulfillment of God"s promises in the work of the kingdom." [1]

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 4:7 mean?

Who [are] you mountain great Before Zerubbabel [you shall become] a plain and he shall bring forth - stone the capstone with shouts of Grace grace to it -
מִֽי־ אַתָּ֧ה ؟ הַֽר־ הַגָּד֛וֹל לִפְנֵ֥י זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל לְמִישֹׁ֑ר וְהוֹצִיא֙ אֶת־ הָאֶ֣בֶן הָרֹאשָׁ֔ה תְּשֻׁא֕וֹת חֵ֥ן חֵ֖ן לָֽהּ פ

מִֽי־  Who  [are] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
؟ הַֽר־  mountain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
הַגָּד֛וֹל  great 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
לִפְנֵ֥י  Before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל  Zerubbabel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: זְרֻבָּבֶל  
Sense: the grandson of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles from Babylon.
לְמִישֹׁ֑ר  [you  shall  become]  a  plain 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִישֹׁור  
Sense: level place, uprightness.
וְהוֹצִיא֙  and  he  shall  bring  forth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
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.
הָאֶ֣בֶן  stone 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
הָרֹאשָׁ֔ה  the  capstone 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: רֹאשָׁה  
Sense: top, topmost.
תְּשֻׁא֕וֹת  with  shouts 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: תְּשֻׁאָה 
Sense: noise, clamour.
חֵ֥ן  of  Grace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֵן  
Sense: favour, grace, charm.
חֵ֖ן  grace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵן  
Sense: favour, grace, charm.
לָֽהּ  to  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation