Zechariah 4:7
Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Original Language Analysis
מִֽי
H4310
מִֽי
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
1 of 15
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
הַֽר
mountain
H2022
הַֽר
mountain
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
3 of 15
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
הַגָּד֛וֹל
Who art thou O great
H1419
הַגָּד֛וֹל
Who art thou O great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
4 of 15
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
לִפְנֵ֥י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֥י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
5 of 15
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
לְמִישֹׁ֑ר
thou shalt become a plain
H4334
לְמִישֹׁ֑ר
thou shalt become a plain
Strong's:
H4334
Word #:
7 of 15
a level, i.e., a plain (often used (with the article prefix) as a proper name of certain districts); figuratively, concord; also straightness, i.e., (
וְהוֹצִיא֙
and he shall bring forth
H3318
וְהוֹצִיא֙
and he shall bring forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
8 of 15
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
חֵ֖ן
crying Grace
H2580
חֵ֖ן
crying Grace
Strong's:
H2580
Word #:
13 of 15
graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)
Cross References
Jeremiah 51:25Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.Micah 4:1But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.Zechariah 4:9The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.Isaiah 41:15Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.Acts 4:11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.Psalms 118:22The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.Psalms 114:4The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.1 Peter 2:7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
Historical Context
Temple work had been halted for 16 years (536-520 BC) due to opposition documented in Ezra 4:1-5, 24. The obstacles seemed insurmountable. Zerubbabel faced enemy accusations to Persian authorities, lack of resources, popular discouragement, and skeptics who despised the modest scale ('day of small things,' v. 10). Yet God promised: the mountain will become a plain, and Zerubbabel will finish what he started. The temple was completed in 516 BC (Ezra 6:15), four years after this prophecy.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'great mountains' in your life seem immovable apart from God's Spirit?
- How does the shouting of 'Grace, grace!' reframe obstacles from achievements earned to gifts received?
- Why is it significant that the same person (Zerubbabel) lays the foundation and places the capstone?
Analysis & Commentary
Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain—Following the famous 'not by might nor by power' declaration (v. 6), God addresses the obstacles facing temple-builder Zerubbabel. The har haggādōl (הַר הַגָּדוֹל, 'great mountain') symbolizes massive opposition—political resistance from Samaritan adversaries (Ezra 4), economic hardship, discouragement, and the seemingly impossible task of completing the temple with meager resources. God mocks the mountain: mī-'attāh (מִי־אַתָּה, 'who are you?')—what are you compared to My Spirit?
Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain—Lemīshōr (לְמִישׁוֹר, 'into level ground') promises divinely-flattened terrain. What human strength couldn't budge, God's Spirit levels effortlessly. And he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it—Vehōtsī et-hā'eḇen hārōshāh (וְהוֹצִיא אֶת־הָאֶבֶן הָרֹאשָׁה, 'and he shall bring out the top/capstone'). The 'eḇen rōshāh is the final, crowning stone completing the building. Zerubbabel who laid the foundation (v. 9) will place the capstone. The shouting chēn chēn lāh (חֵן חֵן לָהּ, 'Grace! Grace to it!') celebrates that grace alone accomplished what seemed impossible. This anticipates Christ the cornerstone rejected by builders yet chosen by God (Psalm 118:22; 1 Peter 2:6-7).