Zechariah 6:1-8 Commentary: The Four Chariots

¹And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze.

²The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses,

³the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong.

⁴So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

⁵And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.

⁶The one with the black horses is going toward the land of the north, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”

⁷As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.

⁸Then the LORD summoned me and said, “Behold, those going to the land of the north have given rest to My Spirit in the land of the north.”

¹Again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of bronze.

²In the first chariot were red horses. In the second chariot were black horses.

³In the third chariot were white horses. In the fourth chariot were dappled horses, all of them powerful.

⁴Then I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

⁵The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of the sky, which go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

⁶The one with the black horses goes out toward the north country; and the white went out after them; and the dappled went out toward the south country.”

⁷The strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the earth. He said, “Go around and through the earth!” So they walked back and forth through the earth.

⁸Then he called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.”

¹And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.

²In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

³And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.

⁴Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

⁵And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

⁶The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.

⁷And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.

⁸Then 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.

¹And again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.

²In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

³and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grizzled strong horses.

⁴Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

⁵And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

⁶The chariot wherein are the black horses goeth forth toward the north country; and the white went forth after them; and the grizzled went forth toward the south country.

⁷And the strong went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.

⁸Then 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.

¹And I turn back, and lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, four chariots are coming forth from between two of the mountains, and the mountains are mountains of brass.

²In the first chariot are red horses, and in the second chariot brown horses,

³and in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot strong grisled horses.

⁴And I answer and say unto the messenger who is speaking with me, `What are these, my lord?'

⁵And the messenger answereth and saith unto me, `These are four spirits of the heavens coming forth from presenting themselves before the Lord of the whole earth.

⁶The brown horses that are therein, are coming forth unto the land of the north; and the white have come forth unto their hinder part; and the grisled have come forth unto the land of the south;

⁷and the strong ones have come forth, and they seek to go to walk up and down in the earth;' and he saith, `Go, walk up and down in the earth;' and they walk up and down in the earth.

⁸And 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.'

¹And I lifted up mine eyes again, and saw, and behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.

²In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

³and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled, strong horses.

⁴And I spoke and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

⁵And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

⁶That in which are the black horses goeth forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth towards the south country;

⁷and the strong go forth, and seek to go that they may walk to and fro through the earth. And he said, Go, walk to and fro through the earth. And they walked to and fro through the earth.

⁸And 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.

¹And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and saw: and behold four chariots came out from the midst of two mountains: and the mountains were mountains of brass.

²In the first chariot were red horses, and in the second chariot black horses.

³And in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot grisled horses, and strong ones.

⁴And I answered, and said to the angel that spoke in me: What are these, my lord?

⁵And the angel answered, and said to me: These are the four winds of the heaven, which go forth to stand before the Lord of all the earth.

⁶That in which were the black horses went forth into the land of the north, and the white went forth after them: and the grisled went forth to the land the south.

⁷And they that were most strong, went out, and sought to go, and to run to and fro through all the earth. And he said: Go, walk throughout the earth: and they walked throughout the earth.

⁸And he called me, and spoke to me, saying: Behold they that go forth into the land of the north, have quieted my spirit in the land of the north.