Zechariah 1:20
New International Version
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

New Living Translation
Then the LORD showed me four blacksmiths.

English Standard Version
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

King James Bible
And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.

New King James Version
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

NASB 1995
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

NASB 1977
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh showed me four craftsmen.

Amplified Bible
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah showed me four smiths.

English Revised Version
And the LORD shewed me four smiths.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

Good News Translation
Then the LORD showed me four workers with hammers.

International Standard Version
Then the LORD showed me four artisans.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

NET Bible
Next the LORD showed me four blacksmiths.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD showed me four craftsmen.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD showed me four carpenters.

World English Bible
Yahweh showed me four craftsmen.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH shows me four artisans.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah doth shew me four artisans.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah caused me to see four artificers.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord shewed me four smiths.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord showed me four workmen.

New American Bible
Then the LORD showed me four workmen.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD showed me four blacksmiths.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD showed me four carpenters.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH showed me four Carpenters
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD showed me four craftsmen.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord shewed me four artificers.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Vision of the Horns
19So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he told me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” 20Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21“What are these coming to do?” I asked. And He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head; but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations that have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”…

Cross References
Zechariah 1:18-19
Then I looked up and saw four horns. / So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he told me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

Zechariah 1:21
“What are these coming to do?” I asked. And He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head; but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations that have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

Daniel 7:2-3
Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea. / Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:

Daniel 7:17
‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.

Revelation 7:1
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree.

Revelation 17:12
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast.

Revelation 17:16
And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Jeremiah 49:36
I will bring the four winds against Elam from the four corners of the heavens, and I will scatter them to all these winds. There will not be a nation to which Elam’s exiles will not go.

Ezekiel 37:9
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!”

Isaiah 11:12
He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Isaiah 41:16
You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 54:16
Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc.

Jeremiah 50:23
How the hammer of the whole earth lies broken and shattered! What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!

Jeremiah 51:20
“You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD showed me four carpenters.

four.

Zechariah 9:12-16
Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; …

Zechariah 10:3-5
Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle…

Zechariah 12:2-6
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem…

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Carpenters Craftsmen Four Metal-Workers Shew Shewed Showed Smiths Vision
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Carpenters Craftsmen Four Metal-Workers Shew Shewed Showed Smiths Vision
Zechariah 1
1. Zechariah exhorts to repentance.
7. The vision of the horses.
12. At the prayer of the angel comfortable promises are made to Jerusalem.
18. The vision of the four horns and the four carpenters.














Then the LORD showed me
This phrase indicates divine revelation, a common theme in prophetic literature where God communicates directly with the prophet. The LORD, Yahweh, is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel. This revelation is part of a series of visions given to Zechariah, a post-exilic prophet, to encourage the Jewish people during the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The act of God showing something to a prophet underscores the idea that true understanding and insight come from God alone.

four craftsmen.
The term "craftsmen" refers to skilled workers, possibly metalworkers or builders, who are often associated with construction and creation. In the context of Zechariah's vision, these craftsmen are symbolic agents of God's judgment and restoration. The number four is significant, often representing universality or completeness in biblical literature, suggesting that these craftsmen have a comprehensive role in God's plan. This vision follows the one of the four horns, which represented the nations that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. The craftsmen are seen as those who will counteract or overthrow these oppressive powers. This imagery can be connected to other biblical passages where God raises up deliverers or agents to fulfill His purposes, such as the judges in the Book of Judges or the anointed leaders like Cyrus in Isaiah 45. The craftsmen can also be seen as a type of Christ, who is the ultimate restorer and builder of God's kingdom, overcoming the forces of evil and establishing peace.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zechariah
A prophet who received visions from God during the post-exilic period, encouraging the Israelites to rebuild the temple and renew their covenant with God.

2. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who reveals His plans and purposes to Zechariah through visions.

3. Four Craftsmen
Symbolic figures shown to Zechariah, representing God's agents of change and restoration. The Hebrew word for "craftsmen" is (charash), which can mean artisans or skilled workers.

4. The Vision
Part of a series of visions given to Zechariah, this one follows the vision of the four horns, which represent powers that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

5. Post-Exilic Jerusalem
The setting of Zechariah's prophecies, where the Jewish people are returning from Babylonian exile and are tasked with rebuilding the temple and their community.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Restoration
God is actively involved in the restoration of His people. The vision of the craftsmen shows that God has a plan to counteract the forces that oppose His people.

Divine Intervention
Just as God raised up craftsmen to deal with the horns, He raises up individuals and circumstances in our lives to bring about His purposes and to protect us from harm.

Hope in Times of Opposition
The vision encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate plan, even when faced with powerful adversaries. God equips and sends His agents to bring about justice and restoration.

Role of Skilled Workers in God's Plan
The term "craftsmen" highlights the importance of skills and talents in God's work. Believers are called to use their God-given abilities for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

Encouragement for Rebuilding
Just as the Israelites were called to rebuild the temple, believers are encouraged to participate in the spiritual rebuilding of their communities, trusting in God's provision and guidance.Verse 20. - Four carpenters; craftsmen; Revised Version, smiths, in which case "the horns" would be made of iron. The word is applied to workers in wood, stone, and metal; therefore an ambiguous rendering seems most suitable here. LXX., τέκτονας; Vulgate, fabros. They represent the human agencies employed by God to overthrow the powers hostile to the Church. Their number is the same as that of the "horns," thus showing their adequacy for the work which they have to execute. It is quite unnecessary to attempt to identify the four "craftsmen." Some take them to be Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah; or Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Cambyses, and Alexander the Great; or the four evangelists; or generally, angels. We shall be safer if we look upon them merely as God's instruments and servants without further identification.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

showed
וַיַּרְאֵ֣נִי (way·yar·’ê·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

me four
אַרְבָּעָ֖ה (’ar·bā·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 702: Four

craftsmen.
חָרָשִֽׁים׃ (ḥā·rā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2796: A fabricator, any material


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OT Prophets: Zechariah 1:20 Yahweh showed me four craftsmen (Zech. Zec Zc)
Zechariah 1:19
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