Zechariah 4:12

Authorized King James Version

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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?

Original Language Analysis

וָאַ֣עַן And I answered H6030
וָאַ֣עַן And I answered
Strong's: H6030
Word #: 1 of 16
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
שֵׁנִ֔ית again H8145
שֵׁנִ֔ית again
Strong's: H8145
Word #: 2 of 16
properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again
וָאֹמַ֖ר and said H559
וָאֹמַ֖ר and said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 3 of 16
to say (used with great latitude)
אֵלָ֑יו H413
אֵלָ֑יו
Strong's: H413
Word #: 4 of 16
near, with or among; often in general, to
מַה H4100
מַה
Strong's: H4100
Word #: 5 of 16
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
שְׁנֵי֙ the two H8147
שְׁנֵי֙ the two
Strong's: H8147
Word #: 6 of 16
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
שִׁבֲּלֵ֣י branches H7641
שִׁבֲּלֵ֣י branches
Strong's: H7641
Word #: 7 of 16
a stream (as flowing); also an ear of grain (as growing out); by analogy, a branch
הַזֵּיתִ֗ים olive H2132
הַזֵּיתִ֗ים olive
Strong's: H2132
Word #: 8 of 16
an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry
אֲשֶׁר֙ H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's: H834
Word #: 9 of 16
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בְּיַ֗ד which through H3027
בְּיַ֗ד which through
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 10 of 16
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
שְׁנֵי֙ the two H8147
שְׁנֵי֙ the two
Strong's: H8147
Word #: 11 of 16
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
צַנְתְּר֣וֹת pipes H6804
צַנְתְּר֣וֹת pipes
Strong's: H6804
Word #: 12 of 16
a tube
הַזָּהָֽב׃ golden H2091
הַזָּהָֽב׃ golden
Strong's: H2091
Word #: 13 of 16
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky
הַֽמְרִיקִ֥ים empty H7324
הַֽמְרִיקִ֥ים empty
Strong's: H7324
Word #: 14 of 16
to pour out (literally or figuratively), i.e., empty
מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם H5921
מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 15 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַזָּהָֽב׃ golden H2091
הַזָּהָֽב׃ golden
Strong's: H2091
Word #: 16 of 16
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky

Analysis & Commentary

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?—Zechariah's second question probes deeper. Not satisfied with understanding the trees generally, he asks specifically about the shibbolē hazzētīm (שִׁבֹּלֵי הַזֵּיתִים, 'olive branches/clusters'), the fruit-bearing portions. The shənē tsantərōt hazzāhāb (שְׁנֵי צַנְתְּרוֹת הַזָּהָב, 'two golden pipes/spouts') channel oil from branches directly to lampstand.

The verb hamerikīm mē'ălēhem et-hazzāhāb (הַמְרִיקִים מֵעֲלֵיהֶם אֶת־הַזָּהָב, 'emptying from themselves the golden [oil]') depicts active pouring out—the branches don't hoard oil but continuously dispense it. 'Golden oil' emphasizes purity and value. The vision's mechanics matter: not just that oil exists, but HOW it flows—directly from source (olive trees) through channels (golden pipes) to receiver (lampstand). This pictures how God's Spirit flows through anointed servants (Joshua and Zerubbabel, then ultimately Christ the Priest-King) to empower God's people for light-bearing witness. The self-emptying branches foreshadow Christ who 'emptied himself' (Philippians 2:7, ekenōsen) to supply life to His body the Church. Ministry requires self-expenditure, pouring out anointing to others.

Historical Context

The vision encouraged the post-exilic community that God had provided Spirit-anointed leaders (Joshua and Zerubbabel) through whom divine enablement flowed. They weren't resourceless orphans but recipients of golden oil channeled through God's appointed servants. The Church continues to receive Spirit-anointing through Christ and His under-shepherds who expend themselves in service (2 Corinthians 12:15).

Questions for Reflection