Zechariah 4:8-9

[8] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [9] The hands of Zerubbabel of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent

What is the context of Zechariah 4:8-9?

The Lord’s Second Charge to Zerubbabel (Zechariah 4:8-10 true)
Fifth Vision: Gold Lampstand (Zechariah 4:1-14 true)
The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees (Zechariah 4:1-14 true)
Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees (Zechariah 4:1-14 true)
A Vision of a Golden Lampstand (Zechariah 4:1-14 true)
The Golden Lampstand and Olive Trees (Zechariah 4:1-14 true)
A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees (Zechariah 4:1-14 true)
Zechariah’s Fifth Vision (Zechariah 4:1-14 true)

What does Zechariah 4:8-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Another word from the Lord also came to Zechariah about Zerubbabel. This appears to be another oracle that the writer inserted here because it is appropriate at this point. He promised that as Zerubbabel had laid the foundation of the temple ( Ezra 3:8-11; Ezra 5:16), so he would also complete it (cf. Ezra 6:14-18). Construction began on the foundation of the temple in536 B.C. and the last stone went in place in515 B.C. The date of this oracle is unclear, but it probably came in519 B.C. or perhaps shortly before that (cf. Zechariah 1:7). Ezra 5:16 credits Sheshbazzar with laying the foundation, but Ezra 3:8 and Zechariah 4:9 give Zerubbabel the credit for doing it. Probably Zerubbabel finished the work that Sheshbazzar had started. The Lord promised that when the temple was complete the people would know that it was indeed the Lord who had sent the messenger who brought this message to Zechariah. The messenger in view appears to be the angel of the Lord (cf. Zechariah 1:11-12; Zechariah 2:8-9; Zechariah 2:11; Zechariah 3:1; Zechariah 3:5-6).