Zechariah 3:4

So the angel said to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The angel of the LORD commands the accusatory spirits standing before him to strip Joshua of his filthy garments, then turns to Joshua himself to announce the removal of his iniquity and the gift of splendid robes.

The words — הָסִירוּ (hāsīrū), "remove!" (H5493), is a sharp imperative directed at the standing figures; the action is ordered, not offered, and it is not Joshua's to perform.

The thread — The pattern of sin removed and righteous garment given recurs in Isaiah 61:10 ("garments of salvation"), Ezekiel 36:25 (cleansing and renewal), and Luke 15:22 ("bring the best robe").

Why it lands — The verse presents a transaction the reader did not initiate and cannot replicate: iniquity is removed by a divine word, and the replacement garment is a gift, not an achievement. It asks the reader to stop auditing their own garment and look at who is doing the changing.

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

וַיַּ֣עַןva/i.Ya.'anand/ he answered וַיֹּ֗אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said אֶל־'el-to הָעֹמְדִ֤יםha./'o.me.Dimthose/ [who] were standing לְפָנָיו֙le./fa.Na/v<to>/ before/ him לֵאמֹ֔רle./Mor<to>/ saying הָסִ֛ירוּha.Si.ruremove הַבְּגָדִ֥יםha./be.ga.Dimthe/ garments הַצֹּאִ֖יםha./tzo.'Im<the>/ filthy מֵעָלָ֑יוme./'a.La/vfrom/ on <the>/ him וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said אֵלָ֗יו'e.La/vto/ him רְאֵ֨הre.'Ehsee הֶעֱבַ֤רְתִּיhe.'e.Var.tiI have taken away מֵעָלֶ֙יךָ֙me./'a.Lei./khafrom/ on <the>/ you עֲוֹנֶ֔ךָ'a.vo.Ne./khainiquity/ your וְהַלְבֵּ֥שׁve./hal.Beshand/ I will clothe אֹתְךָ֖'o.te./Kha<obj.>/ you מַחֲלָצֽוֹת׃ma.cha.la.Tzotrobes

King James Version

And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

Cross-references

Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Ezekiel 36:25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
Revelation 7:14 “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.
Isaiah 43:25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
Isaiah 61:3 to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
Zechariah 3:7 “This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘If you walk in My ways and keep My instructions, then you will govern My house and will also have charge of My courts; and I will give you a place among these who are standing here.
Psalms 51:9 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.