The Meaning of Zechariah 6:8 Explained

Zechariah 6:8

KJV: Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

YLT: And he calleth me, and speaketh unto me, saying, 'See, those coming forth unto the land of the north have caused My Spirit to rest in the land of the north.'

Darby: And he cried unto me, and spoke unto me, saying, See, these that go forth towards the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

ASV: Then cried he to me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, they that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then cried  he upon  me, and spake  unto me, saying,  Behold,  these that go  toward the north  country  have quieted  my spirit  in the north  country. 

What does Zechariah 6:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord then called out to Zechariah that the horses that had gone out into the north had appeased His wrath in the land of the north. This probably represents judgment on Babylonia specifically, but it probably hints at the total destruction of all enemies of Israel. Babylon had fallen to the Persians20 years earlier, in539 B.C.
Zechariah"s Eight Night VisionsNumberReferenceSubjectLesson1 Zechariah 1:7-17The horseman among the myrtle treesYahweh"s sovereignty over Israel"s restoration2 Zechariah 1:18-21The four horns and the four smithsThe triumph of Israel over her enemies3 Zechariah 2The surveyorPreparations for Israel"s future restoration4 Zechariah 3The cleansing and restoration of JoshuaThe renewal of Israel"s priestly ministry5 Zechariah 4The gold lampstand and the two olive treesIsrael"s testimony under Messiah as priest and king6 Zechariah 5:1-4The flying scrollJudgment on Israel for covenant disobedience7 Zechariah 5:5-11The woman in the basketThe return of evil to Babylon8 Zechariah 6:1-8The four chariotsJudgment on Israel"s enemies

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 6:8 mean?

And He called to me and spoke to me saying See those who go toward the country north have given rest - to My Spirit in the country north -
וַיַּזְעֵ֣ק אֹתִ֔י וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלַ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר רְאֵ֗ה הַיּֽוֹצְאִים֙ אֶל־ אֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן הֵנִ֥יחוּ אֶת־ רוּחִ֖י בְּאֶ֥רֶץ צָפֽוֹן ס

וַיַּזְעֵ֣ק  And  He  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָעַק  
Sense: to cry, cry out, call, call for help.
אֹתִ֔י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר  and  spoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אֵלַ֖י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
רְאֵ֗ה  See 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הַיּֽוֹצְאִים֙  those  who  go 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
אֶל־  toward 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֶ֣רֶץ  the  country 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
צָפ֔וֹן  north 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָפֹון  
Sense: north (of direction), northward.
הֵנִ֥יחוּ  have  given  rest 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: נוּחַ 
Sense: to rest.
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.
רוּחִ֖י  to  My  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ  in  the  country 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
צָפֽוֹן  north 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָפֹון  
Sense: north (of direction), northward.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation