Bible Strands
Zechariah 1:8
I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet Zechariah records this vision on the twenty-fourth day of Shebat in the second year of Darius, addressing the angel who interprets his dreams.
The words — אָדֹם ('a.Dom) translates literally as red, and ס֣וּס (sus) means a horse, directly describing the mounted figure and the animals following him.
The thread — The red horse motif echoes Revelation 6:4, while the myrtle trees connect to the restoration imagery in Isaiah 41:19 and Isaiah 55:13.
Why it lands — The vision requires the reader to recognize divine surveillance over historical events and to accept that God communicates through concrete, observable signs rather than abstract concepts.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
Cross-references
- Revelation 6:4 Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword.
- Isaiah 55:13 Instead of the thornbush, the cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, the myrtle will spring up; this will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”
- Isaiah 41:19 I will plant cedars in the wilderness, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. I will set cypresses in the desert, elms and boxwood together,
- Zechariah 13:7 Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.
- Revelation 2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
- Genesis 20:3 One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
- Joshua 5:13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?”
- 1 Kings 3:5 One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
- Job 4:13 In disquieting visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
- Psalms 45:3 Strap your sword at your side, O mighty warrior; appear in your majesty and splendor.