Zechariah 4:5
New International Version
He answered, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I replied.

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

English Standard Version
Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel. “No, my lord,” I answered.

King James Bible
Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

New King James Version
Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

New American Standard Bible
So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

NASB 1995
So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

NASB 1977
So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

Amplified Bible
Then the angel who was speaking with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

Christian Standard Bible
“Don’t you know what they are? ” replied the angel who was speaking with me. I said, “No, my lord.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t you know what they are?” replied the angel who was speaking with me. I said, “No, my lord.”

American Standard Version
Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

Contemporary English Version
Then he asked, "Don't you know?" "No sir," I replied.

English Revised Version
Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the angel asked me, "Don't you know what they mean?" "No, sir," I answered.

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

International Standard Version
The angel who had been speaking with me answered by asking, "You don't know what these mean, do you?" So I responded, "No, sir."

Majority Standard Bible
“Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel. “No, my lord,” I answered.

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

New Heart English Bible
Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the angel that talked with me answered and said to me, Knowest thou not what these are? and I said, No, my lord.

World English Bible
Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Don’t you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the messenger who is speaking with me answers and says to me, “Have you not known what these [are]?” And I say, “No, my lord.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the messenger who is speaking with me answereth and saith unto me, 'Hast thou not known what these are?' And I say, 'No, my lord.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the messenger speaking with me will answer and say to me, Knewest thou not what these are? And saying, No, my lord.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the angel that spoke in me answered, and said to me: Knowest thou not what these things are? And I said: No, my lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the angel who was speaking with me answered, and he said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

New American Bible
And the angel who spoke with me replied, “Do you not know what these things are?” I said, “No, my lord.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, Do you not know what these are? and I said, No, my lord, I do not know.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The Angel who spoke with me answered and he said to me: “Do you not know what these are?” and I said: “I do not know, my Lord”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then the angel that spoke with me answered and said unto me: 'Knowest thou not what these are?' And I said: 'No, my lord.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the angel that talked with me answered, and spoke to me, saying, Knowest thou not what these things are? And I said, No, my lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Vision of the Lampstand and Olive Trees
4“What are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was speaking with me. 5“Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel. “No, my lord,” I answered. 6So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.…

Cross References
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 11:4
These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

1 Kings 6:19-20
Solomon also prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there. / The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.

Exodus 25:31-40
Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. / Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. / There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extend from the lampstand. ...

Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

1 Corinthians 2:10-12
But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. / For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. / We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Ephesians 1:17-18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. / I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,

Daniel 2:22
He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.

John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

1 John 2:20
You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

1 John 2:27
And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.

Isaiah 42:1
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Acts 2:17-18
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. / Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.


Treasury of Scripture

Then the angel that talked with me answered and said to me, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

Knowest.

Zechariah 4:13
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

Mark 4:13
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

No.

Genesis 41:16
And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Psalm 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Daniel 2:30
But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

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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
This phrase is a rhetorical question posed by the angel, emphasizing the expectation of understanding spiritual truths. In the Hebrew context, the word for "know" (יָדַע, yada) implies an intimate, experiential knowledge rather than mere intellectual awareness. This reflects the biblical theme that spiritual insight often requires divine revelation and guidance, as human understanding is limited without God's illumination.

what they are?
The "they" refers to the vision of the lampstand and olive trees that Zechariah has just seen. In the historical and scriptural context, these symbols are rich with meaning. The lampstand, or menorah, is a significant symbol in Jewish worship, representing the light of God and His presence among His people. The olive trees symbolize anointing and the Spirit of God, as olive oil was used for anointing kings and priests. This imagery points to the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers and the church.

replied the angel
The angel serves as a divine messenger, a common role in biblical narratives where angels communicate God's will and provide understanding. The presence of the angel highlights the importance of divine intervention in revealing spiritual truths. In the Hebrew tradition, angels are seen as God's servants, executing His commands and assisting His people, underscoring the belief in God's active involvement in the world.

No, my lord
Zechariah's response is one of humility and acknowledgment of his need for divine insight. The term "my lord" (אֲדֹנִי, adoni) is a respectful address, recognizing the authority and superior knowledge of the angel. This reflects a posture of submission and readiness to learn, which is essential for receiving spiritual wisdom. It also illustrates the biblical principle that God reveals His mysteries to those who approach Him with humility and reverence.

I answered
Zechariah's answer signifies his engagement in the prophetic vision and his desire to understand God's message. This interaction between Zechariah and the angel is a model of how believers are to seek understanding from God. It encourages an active pursuit of knowledge and a willingness to ask questions, trusting that God will provide clarity and insight through His Word and Spirit.

Verse 5. - Knowest thou not? The angel speaks not so much in surprise at the prophet's slowness of comprehension (comp. John 3:10) as desirous of calling his most serious attention to the coming explanation.

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

they are?”
הֵ֣מָּה (hêm·māh)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

replied
וַ֠יַּעַן (way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

the angel.
הַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ (ham·mal·’āḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

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


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OT Prophets: Zechariah 4:5 Then the angel who talked with me (Zech. Zec Zc)
Zechariah 4:4
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