Zechariah 4:12 Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"

◄ Zechariah 4:12 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"

English Standard Version
And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?”

New American Standard Bible
And I answered the second time and said to him, "What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?"

King James Bible
And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And I questioned him further, "What are the two olive branches beside the two gold conduits, from which golden oil pours out?"

International Standard Version
I also asked him a second question: "What are these two olive branches on either side of the two golden feeder channels that carry the golden oil to the seven lights?"

American Standard Version
And I answered the second time, and said unto him, What are these two olive-branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden oil out of themselves?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I answered again, and said to him: What are the two olive branches, that are by the two golden beaks, in which are the funnels of gold?

Darby Bible Translation
And I answered the second time and said unto him, What are the two olive-branches which are beside the two golden tubes that empty the gold out of themselves?

Young's Literal Translation
And I answer a second time, and say unto him, 'What are the two branches of the olive trees that, by means of the two golden pipes, are emptying out of themselves the oil?'

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

4:11-14 Zechariah desires to know what are the two olive trees. Zerubbabel and Joshua, this prince and this priest, were endued with the gifts and graces of God's Spirit. They lived at the same time, and both were instruments in the work and service of God. Christ's offices of King and Priest were shadowed forth by them. From the union of these two offices in his person, both God and man, the fullness of grace is received and imparted. They built the temple, the church of God. So does Christ spiritually. Christ is not only the Messiah, the Anointed One himself, but he is the Good Olive to his church; and from his fulness we receive. And the Holy Spirit is the unction or anointing which we have received. From Christ the Olive Tree, by the Spirit the Olive Branch, all the golden oil of grace flows to believers, which keeps their lamps burning. Let us seek, through the intercession and bounty of the Saviour, supplies from that fulness which has hitherto sufficed for all his saints, according to their trials and employments. Let us wait on him in his ordinances, desiring to be sanctified wholly in body, soul, and spirit.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. through—literally, "by the hand of," that is, by the agency of.

branches—literally, "ears"; so the olive branches are called, because as ears are full of grain, so the olive branches are full of olives.

golden oil—literally, "gold," that is, gold-like liquor.

out of themselves—Ordinances and ministers are channels of grace, not the grace itself. The supply comes not from a dead reservoir of oil, but through living olive trees (Ps 52:8; Ro 12:1) fed by God.