Zechariah 4:13
New International Version
He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said.

New Living Translation
“Don’t you know?” he asked. “No, my lord,” I replied.

English Standard Version
He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Do you not know what these are?” he inquired. “No, my lord,” I replied.

King James Bible
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

New King James Version
Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

New American Standard Bible
So he answered me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

NASB 1995
So he answered me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

NASB 1977
So he answered me saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So he spoke to me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

Amplified Bible
And he answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then he inquired of me, “Don’t you know what these are? ” “No, my lord,” I replied.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then he inquired of me, “Don’t you know what these are?"” No, my lord,” I replied.”

American Standard Version
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

Contemporary English Version
"Don't you know?" he asked. "No sir, I don't," was my answer.

English Revised Version
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He asked me, "Don't you know what these things mean?" "No, sir," I answered.

Good News Translation
He asked me, "Don't you know?" "No, I don't, sir," I answered.

International Standard Version
The angel replied, "You don't know what these are, do you?" I responded to him, "No, sir."

Majority Standard Bible
?Do you not know what these are?? he inquired. ?No, my lord,? I replied.

NET Bible
He replied, "Don't you know what these are?" And I said, "No, sir."

New Heart English Bible
He answered me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

World English Bible
He answered me, “Don’t you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he speaks to me, saying, “Have you not known what these [are]?” And I say, “No, my lord.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he speaketh unto me, saying, 'Hast thou not known what these are?' And I say, 'No, my lord.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to me, saying, Knewest thou not what these are? And saying, No, my lord.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he spoke to me, saying: Knowest thou not what these are? And I said: No, my lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he spoke to me, saying, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

New American Bible
He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I answered, “No, my lord.”

New Revised Standard Version
He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to me, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to me: Do you not know what these are? And I said: “No, my Lord.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he answered me and said: 'Knowest thou not what these are?' And I said: 'No, my lord.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to me, Knowest thou not what these are? and I said, No, my lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees
12And I questioned him further, “What are the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes from which the golden oil pours?” 13“Do you not know what these are?” he inquired. “No, my lord,” I replied. 14So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”…

Cross References
Revelation 11:3-4
And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” / These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Revelation 1:20
This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 15:5
I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

Romans 11:17-24
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, / do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. / You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ...

1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Ephesians 2:20-22
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. / In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. / And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 42:6
“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Jeremiah 1:11-12
And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied. / “You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.”

Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones. / He led me all around among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, and indeed, they were very dry. / Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” “O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.” ...

Daniel 12:3
Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.


Treasury of Scripture

And he answered me and said, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

Knowest.

Zechariah 4:5
Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

Hebrews 5:11,12
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing…

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Zechariah 4
1. By the golden candlestick is foreshown the good success of Zerubbabel's foundation;
11. by the two olive trees the two anointed ones.














“Do you not know what these are?”
This question is posed by the angel to Zechariah, highlighting the importance of understanding divine visions. In the context of Zechariah 4, the vision involves a golden lampstand and two olive trees, symbolizing God's provision and the anointing of His leaders. The question emphasizes the need for spiritual insight and discernment, which is a recurring theme in prophetic literature. This mirrors other instances in Scripture where God or His messengers ask questions to provoke thought and deeper understanding, such as in Genesis 3:9 when God asks Adam, "Where are you?" It underscores the importance of seeking wisdom and understanding from God, as seen in James 1:5.

he inquired.
The angel serves as a divine messenger, a common role in biblical narratives, tasked with delivering God's messages and clarifying His visions. Angels often appear in the Old Testament to guide, instruct, or deliver messages, as seen with Gabriel's appearance to Daniel (Daniel 9:21-22). The inquiry here suggests a teaching moment, where the angel is guiding Zechariah to a deeper comprehension of God's plans. This interaction reflects the relational aspect of God's communication with His people, where He invites them into a dialogue to reveal His purposes.

“No, my lord,” I replied.
Zechariah's response indicates humility and a willingness to learn, acknowledging his lack of understanding. The term "my lord" is a respectful address, recognizing the authority of the angelic messenger. This humility is essential for receiving divine revelation, as seen in other biblical figures like Solomon, who asked for wisdom (1 Kings 3:7-9). Zechariah's admission of not knowing opens the door for further revelation, illustrating the principle that God reveals His mysteries to those who are humble and teachable. This interaction also highlights the prophetic role of Zechariah, who, like other prophets, serves as a conduit for God's messages to His people, requiring both revelation and interpretation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zechariah
A prophet of the post-exilic period, Zechariah is the recipient of visions and messages from God, intended to encourage the Jewish people during the rebuilding of the temple.

2. The Angel
A divine messenger who communicates God's visions to Zechariah, guiding him through the symbolic imagery and ensuring he understands the messages.

3. The Vision
This particular vision involves a golden lampstand and two olive trees, symbolizing God's provision and the anointing of His Spirit.

4. The Temple
The context of Zechariah's visions is the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship and a symbol of God's presence among His people.

5. Zerubbabel
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Zerubbabel is a key figure in the surrounding passages, representing leadership and the empowerment of God's Spirit to accomplish His purposes.
Teaching Points
Understanding God's Symbols
Just as Zechariah needed guidance to understand the vision, we too should seek divine wisdom and guidance to comprehend God's messages in our lives.

The Role of the Holy Spirit
The vision emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit's empowerment in accomplishing God's work, reminding us that spiritual endeavors require divine strength.

God's Encouragement in Difficult Times
Zechariah's visions were meant to encourage the Israelites during a challenging period. Similarly, we can find hope and motivation in God's promises during our own trials.

The Importance of Obedience
Zechariah's willingness to admit his lack of understanding and seek clarification is a model of humility and obedience, encouraging us to seek God's wisdom in our uncertainties.

The Continuity of God's Plan
The connection between Zechariah's vision and other scriptures highlights the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout history, encouraging us to trust in His sovereign purposes.Verse 13. - Knowest thou not? (comp. ver. 5). The angel wishes to impress upon the prophet whence came the power of the theocracy and the Divine order manifested therein.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Do you not
הֲל֥וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

know
יָדַ֖עְתָּ (yā·ḏa‘·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

what
מָה־ (māh-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

these are?”
אֵ֑לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

he inquired.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“No,
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

my lord,”
אֲדֹנִֽי׃ (’ă·ḏō·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

I replied.
וָאֹמַ֖ר (wā·’ō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT Prophets: Zechariah 4:13 He answered me Don't you know what (Zech. Zec Zc)
Zechariah 4:12
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