Zechariah 3:9 See the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave on it an inscription, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.

◄ Zechariah 3:9 ►

New International Version
See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.

New Living Translation
Now look at the jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets. I will engrave an inscription on it, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.

English Standard Version
For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.

Berean Standard Bible
See the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave on it an inscription, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.

King James Bible
For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

New King James Version
For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

New American Standard Bible
For behold, the stone that I have put before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I am going to engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the LORD of armies, ‘and I will remove the guilt of that land in one day.

NASB 1995
‘For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

NASB 1977
‘For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Legacy Standard Bible
For behold, the stone that I have put before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares Yahweh of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Amplified Bible
For behold, the stone which I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes (symbolizing infinite intelligence, omniscience). Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the wickedness and guilt of this land in a single day.

Christian Standard Bible
Notice the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. I will engrave an inscription on it”—this is the declaration of the LORD of Armies—“and I will take away the iniquity of this land in a single day.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Notice the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. I will engrave an inscription on it"—this is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts—"and I will take away the guilt of this land in a single day.

American Standard Version
For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; upon one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Contemporary English Version
Joshua, I have placed in front of you a stone with seven sides. I will engrave something on that stone, and in a single day I will forgive this guilty country.

English Revised Version
For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; upon one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Look at the stone I have set in front of Joshua. That one stone has seven eyes. I am engraving an inscription on it," declares the LORD of Armies. "I will remove this land's sin in a single day.

Good News Translation
I am placing in front of Joshua a single stone with seven facets. I will engrave an inscription on it, and in a single day I will take away the sin of this land.

International Standard Version
Look, the stone that I put in place in Joshua's presence—on that one stone are seven eyes. And look, I will do the engraving myself,' declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, 'and I will remove the perversity of that land in a single day.

Majority Standard Bible
See the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave on it an inscription, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.

NET Bible
As for the stone I have set before Joshua--on the one stone there are seven eyes. I am about to engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'to the effect that I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.

New Heart English Bible
For, look, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: look, I will engrave its engraving,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Webster's Bible Translation
For behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes; behold, I will engrave the graving of it saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

World English Bible
For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua: on one stone are seven eyes; behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
For behold, the stone that I put before Joshua, "" On one stone [are] seven eyes, "" Behold, I am engraving its engraving, "" A declaration of YHWH of Hosts, "" And I have removed the iniquity of that land in one day.

Young's Literal Translation
For lo, the stone that I put before Joshua, On one stone are seven eyes, Lo, I am graving its graving, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts, And I have removed the iniquity of that land in one day.

Smith's Literal Translation
For behold the stone which I gave before Joshua; upon one stone seven eyes: behold me engraving its engraving, says Jehovah of armies, and I removed the iniquity of that land in one day.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For behold the stone that I have laid before Jesus: upon one stone there are seven eyes: behold I will grave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will take away the iniquity of that land in one day.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For behold, the stone that I have bestowed before Jesus. Upon one stone, there are seven eyes. Behold, I will carve its engraving, says the Lord of hosts. And I will take away the iniquity of that land in one day.

New American Bible
Look at the stone that I have placed before Joshua. On this one stone with seven facets I will engrave its inscription—oracle of the LORD of hosts—and I will take away the guilt of that land in one day.

New Revised Standard Version
For on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven facets, I will engrave its inscription, says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the guilt of this land in a single day.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven facets; behold, I will open its gates, says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in that day.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because, behold, The Stone that I have put before Yeshua, on The One Stone are seven eyes; behold, I open his gates, says LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts, and I shall feel the evil of that land in that day

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone are seven facets; behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts: And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For as for the stone which I have set before the face of Jesus, on the one stone are seven eyes: behold, I am digging a trench, saith the Lord Almighty, and I will search out all the iniquity of that land in one day.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Vision of Joshua the High Priest
…8Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch. 9 See the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave on it an inscription, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, you will each invite your neighbor to sit under your own vine and fig tree.’ ”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.

Psalm 118:22
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Isaiah 8:14
And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.

Daniel 2:34-35
As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. / Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Daniel 2:44-45
In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever. / And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

Jeremiah 33:15
In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

Isaiah 11:1
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.

Isaiah 4:2
On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors.

Ezekiel 34:23-24
I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd. / I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken.

Ezekiel 37:24-25
My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My ordinances and keep and observe My statutes. / They will live in the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They will live there forever with their children and grandchildren, and My servant David will be their prince forever.

1 Peter 2:6-8
For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” / To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” / and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

Romans 9:33
as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Treasury of Scripture

For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; on one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the engraving thereof, said the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

the stone.

Psalm 118:22
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Isaiah 8:14,15
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem…

Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

seven.

Zechariah 4:10
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Revelation 5:6
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

I will engrave.

Exodus 28:11,21,36
With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold…

John 6:27
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

2 Corinthians 1:22
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

remove.

Zechariah 13:1
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

Isaiah 53:4-12
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted…

Jeremiah 31:34
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Jump to Previous

Armies Engrave Engraving Eyes Graving Hosts Iniquity Inscription Joshua Laid Remove Seven Stone Thereof

Jump to Next

Armies Engrave Engraving Eyes Graving Hosts Iniquity Inscription Joshua Laid Remove Seven Stone Thereof

Zechariah 3

1. Under the type of Joshua, the high priest, receiving clean garments,
6. and a covenant of promise,
8. Christ the Branch and Cornerstone is promised.

Berean Study Bible

See the stone
The "stone" in this context is often interpreted as a symbol of Christ, the cornerstone of the Church. In Hebrew, the word for stone is "eben," which can also signify strength and stability. This stone is set before Joshua, the high priest, indicating a divine foundation upon which the priesthood and, by extension, the people of God are to be built. The stone represents God's plan and purpose, a foundation that is unshakeable and eternal.

I have set before Joshua
Joshua, the high priest, represents the leadership of God's people. The setting of the stone before him signifies God's direct involvement and initiative in establishing His covenant and promises. Historically, Joshua's role was crucial during the post-exilic period as he helped lead the people in rebuilding the temple and restoring worship. This phrase underscores God's sovereignty and His active role in guiding His people through their leaders.

on that one stone are seven eyes
The "seven eyes" symbolize divine omniscience and perfect wisdom. In Hebrew, the number seven often represents completeness or perfection. The eyes on the stone suggest that God sees all and knows all, providing assurance that His plans are perfect and His oversight is complete. This imagery reassures the faithful that God is fully aware of their circumstances and is actively watching over His creation.

Behold, I will engrave on it an inscription
The act of engraving signifies permanence and authority. In ancient times, inscriptions were used to convey important messages or decrees. Here, God Himself declares that He will inscribe the stone, indicating a divine promise or covenant. This act of engraving is a powerful reminder of God's unchanging word and His commitment to His people.

declares the LORD of Hosts
The title "LORD of Hosts" emphasizes God's supreme authority and command over the heavenly armies. It is a reminder of His power and majesty, reinforcing the certainty of His promises. This declaration assures the people that the message comes from the highest authority, the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

and I will remove the iniquity of this land
The removal of iniquity signifies forgiveness and purification. In the Hebrew context, iniquity refers to sin and moral corruption. God's promise to remove iniquity highlights His mercy and grace, offering redemption and restoration to His people. This act is a foreshadowing of the ultimate atonement through Christ, who takes away the sins of the world.

in a single day
The phrase "in a single day" underscores the immediacy and completeness of God's action. It points to a decisive moment of transformation and renewal. Historically, this could refer to the Day of Atonement, but prophetically, it looks forward to the redemptive work of Christ on the cross, where sin was dealt with once and for all. This promise offers hope and assurance of God's power to bring about swift and total redemption.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - For behold. This gives the reason why the "Branch" is brought forth; the Church is to be firmly established and all iniquity to be abolished. The stone that I have laid (set) before Joshua. In the vision a stone is seen lying at the feet of Joshua, either the foundationstone of the temple, say the commentators, or the cornerstone, or the coping; or, as the Talmud testifies, a stone that rose some three fingers' measure above the ground, and upon which the high priest used to set the censer of incense. But it was more probably none of these, but some rough, unhewed block, not yet polished or fitted into its place. What does it represent? Many critics of note answer at once, the Messiah. He who was above called "Branch" is now called the "Stone." And certainly this term in applied unto him in prophetical language, as in Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22; and references are made to the appellation is the New Testament as to a well known title, e.g. Matthew 21:42; Ephesians 2:20. But there are objections to taking this as the primary sense. As Knabenbauer points out, it is not likely that in one verse the Lord's Servant Branch is said to be destined to be brought forth, and in the next the same is called the stone which is set before Joshua and has to be graven by a hand Divine. Besides, if both terms mean Messiah, we have the very lame conclusion: I will bring Messiah because I have already placed him before Joshua. The stone, too, is represented as somewhat under the management of Joshua, and needing graving and polishing, neither of which facts apply to the Messiah. Putting out of sight other interpretations which are all more or less inadmissible, we shall be safest in considering the stone to represent the theocracy, the spiritual kingdom of Israel, now indeed lying imperfect and unpolished before Joshua, but ordained to become beautiful and extensive and admirable. So Daniel (Daniel 2:35, 45) speaks of the stone cut out of the mountains without hands, which filled the whole earth, a figure of the Church and kingdom of God, small in its beginning, but in the end establishing its rule over the world. Upon one stone; LXX., ἐπὶ τὸν λίθον τὸν ἕνα, "upon the one stone." The stone is termed "one" in contrast with the number seven that follows. Shall be (are) seven eyes. Upon this stone the eyes of God are directed in watchful care (comp. Zechariah 4:10; and for the phrase, see 1 Kings 8:29; Psalm 33:18; Psalm 34:15; Jeremiah 39:12). "Seven" is the number of perfection, and may denote here the infinite care which God takes of his Church, even as St. John in the Revelation (Revelation 1:4; Revelation 5:6) beheld the Lamb "having seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." The expression is metaphorical, and we are not to suppose, with Ewald, that the eyes were graven on the stone, or that Zechariah derived his notion from the tenets of Zoroaster or the degrees of rank in the Persian court. There may be an allusion to the seven gifts of the Spirit with which Messiah is anointed (Isaiah 11:2), and which animate and strengthen his body, the Church. I will engrave the graving thereof. As God engraved the tables of the Law (Exodus 32:16). I will out and polish this rough stone to fit it for its place in the temple. The verb is used of the bold engraving and ornamentation of stonework, the finishing which it undergoes to perfect its preparation (comp. 1 Kings 7:36; 2 Chronicles 2:7; 2 Chronicles 3:7). Those who regard the stone as typifying the Messiah, see in this clause an intimation of the Passion of Christ, who "was wounded for our transgressions." The LXX. has, "I dig a trench," which Jerome explains of the wounds of Christ on the cross. I will remove the iniquity of that land. The shaping of the stone involves the bestowal of purity and holiness. God will pardon the inhabitants of the land of Israel, and make them a holy nation (Jeremiah 33:7, 8). But the promise stretches far beyond the limits primarily assigned to it. In one day. The day when Christ died for the sins of men. There is an allusion to the great Day of Atonement, when the high priest went once a year into the holy of holies with the blood of sacrifice. This, however, was an imperfect reconciliation, and had to be repeated annually. "But Christ being come an High Priest of the good things to come... through his own blood entered in once for all (ἐφάπαξ) into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption Now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Hebrews 9:11-26; comp. Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 10:10).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

See
הִנֵּ֣ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

the stone
הָאֶ֗בֶן (hā·’e·ḇen)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 68: A stone

I have set
נָתַ֙תִּי֙ (nā·ṯat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

before
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

Joshua;
יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

that one
אַחַ֖ת (’a·ḥaṯ)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

stone
אֶ֥בֶן (’e·ḇen)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 68: A stone

are seven
שִׁבְעָ֣ה (šiḇ·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

eyes.
עֵינָ֑יִם (‘ê·nā·yim)
Noun - cd
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

Behold,
הִנְנִ֧י (hin·nî)
Interjection | first person common singular
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

I will engrave on it
מְפַתֵּ֣חַ (mə·p̄at·tê·aḥ)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

an inscription,’
פִּתֻּחָ֗הּ (pit·tu·ḥāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6603: An engraving

declares
נְאֻם֙ (nə·’um)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

of Hosts,
צְבָא֔וֹת (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

‘and I will remove
וּמַשְׁתִּ֛י (ū·maš·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4185: To depart, remove

the iniquity
עֲוֺ֥ן (‘ă·wōn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

of this
הַהִ֖יא (ha·hî)
Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

land
הָאָֽרֶץ־ (hā·’ā·reṣ-)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

in a single
אֶחָֽד׃ (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

day.
בְּי֥וֹם (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

Links

Zechariah 3:9 NIV
Zechariah 3:9 NLT
Zechariah 3:9 ESV
Zechariah 3:9 NASB
Zechariah 3:9 KJV

Zechariah 3:9 BibleApps.com
Zechariah 3:9 Biblia Paralela
Zechariah 3:9 Chinese Bible
Zechariah 3:9 French Bible
Zechariah 3:9 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Zechariah 3:9 For behold the stone that I have (Zech. Zec Zc)