The Meaning of Zechariah 6:3 Explained

Zechariah 6:3

KJV: And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.

YLT: and in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot strong grisled horses.

Darby: and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled, strong horses.

ASV: and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grizzled strong horses.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And in the third  chariot  white  horses;  and in the fourth  chariot  grisled  and bay  horses. 

What does Zechariah 6:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Zechariah 6:1-15 - The Vision Of The Chariots
This is a vision of protection and deliverance. Four chariots issue from the mountains around Jerusalem. The colors of the horses represent the commission that the drivers were to execute against the nations. Black denoted defeat and despair; the bay acted as a patrol of defence. Note the closing incident, which foreshadowed the union of the offices of priesthood and kingship in the person of our Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 6

1  The vision of the four chariots
9  By the crowns of Joshua are shown the temple and kingdom of Christ the Branch

What do the individual words in Zechariah 6:3 mean?

And with chariot the third horses white and with chariot the fourth horses spotted strong [steeds]
וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָ֥ה הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֖ית סוּסִ֣ים לְבָנִ֑ים וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָה֙ הָרְבִעִ֔ית סוּסִ֥ים בְּרֻדִּ֖ים אֲמֻצִּֽים

וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָ֥ה  And  with  chariot 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֶרְכָּבָה  
Sense: chariot.
הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֖ית  the  third 
Parse: Article, Number, ordinal feminine singular
Root: שְׁלִישִׁי 
Sense: third, one third, third part, third time.
סוּסִ֣ים  horses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: סוּס 
Sense: swallow, swift.
לְבָנִ֑ים  white 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: לָבָן  
Sense: white.
וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָה֙  and  with  chariot 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֶרְכָּבָה  
Sense: chariot.
הָרְבִעִ֔ית  the  fourth 
Parse: Article, Number, ordinal feminine singular
Root: רְבִיעִי 
Sense: fourth.
סוּסִ֥ים  horses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: סוּס 
Sense: swallow, swift.
בְּרֻדִּ֖ים  spotted 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: בָּרֹד  
Sense: spotted, marked.
אֲמֻצִּֽים  strong  [steeds] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אָמֹץ  
Sense: strong.