Zechariah 6:12
And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
Original Language Analysis
כֹּ֥ה
H3541
כֹּ֥ה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
4 of 18
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָֽה׃
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֖וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֖וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
7 of 18
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
אִ֞ישׁ
Behold the man
H376
אִ֞ישׁ
Behold the man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
10 of 18
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
צֶ֤מַח
is The BRANCH
H6780
צֶ֤מַח
is The BRANCH
Strong's:
H6780
Word #:
11 of 18
a sprout (usually concrete), literal or figurative
שְׁמוֹ֙
whose name
H8034
שְׁמוֹ֙
whose name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
12 of 18
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
וּמִתַּחְתָּ֣יו
H8478
וּמִתַּחְתָּ֣יו
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
13 of 18
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
יִצְמָ֔ח
and he shall grow up
H6779
יִצְמָ֔ח
and he shall grow up
Strong's:
H6779
Word #:
14 of 18
to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative)
וּבָנָ֖ה
out of his place and he shall build
H1129
וּבָנָ֖ה
out of his place and he shall build
Strong's:
H1129
Word #:
15 of 18
to build (literally and figuratively)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
16 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Zechariah 3:8Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.Isaiah 11:1And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:Isaiah 4:2In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.Jeremiah 33:15In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.Isaiah 53:2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.Jeremiah 23:5Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.Acts 17:31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.Matthew 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Historical Context
Zerubbabel was building the Second Temple (completed 516 BC), but this prophecy leaps beyond physical architecture to spiritual reality. The 'man whose name is Branch' wouldn't appear for five centuries—Jesus of Nazareth from David's line. His 'building the temple' occurred through His death, resurrection (rebuilding His body-temple in three days), and Pentecost (birthing the Spirit-indwelt church-temple). The modest Second Temple pointed beyond itself to the greater temple the Branch would build.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the title 'Branch' combine imagery of living growth with Davidic royalty?
- In what multiple senses did Jesus 'build the temple of the LORD' (His body, the church, the New Jerusalem)?
- How does recognizing yourself as part of Christ's temple change your sense of identity and purpose?
Analysis & Commentary
And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH—While crowning Joshua, Zechariah must declare this isn't about Joshua but about the man whose name is THE BRANCH (hinnēh-īsh Tsemach shəmō, הִנֵּה־אִישׁ צֶמַח שְׁמוֹ, 'Behold the man, Branch is his name'). Tsemach (צֶמַח, 'branch/sprout/shoot') appears as a messianic title in Isaiah 4:2, Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15, and Zechariah 3:8. The Branch is from David's line (Jeremiah 23:5), sprouting from Jesse's stump (Isaiah 11:1), embodying both divine and human nature.
And he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD—Ūmitachtāyw yitsmāch ūḇānāh et-hēyḵal Yahweh (וּמִתַּחְתָּיו יִצְמָח וּבָנָה אֶת־הֵיכַל יְהוָה, 'and from his place he shall sprout/branch out, and he shall build the temple of the LORD'). The Branch grows organically from his place—not imported or imposed but arising from within Israel. He will build the temple of the LORD—not merely Zerubbabel's physical temple but the true, ultimate temple. Jesus declared, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up'—speaking of His body (John 2:19-21). Paul calls the church 'the temple of God' (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:19-22). The Branch builds God's dwelling place: His body, His church, and ultimately the New Jerusalem where God dwells with humanity (Revelation 21:3, 22).