Bible Strands
Zechariah 4:14
So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The angel responds to Zechariah’s direct question about the vision’s symbols, identifying the two figures in the dream.
The words — The Hebrew phrase בְנֵי־הַיִּצְהָר (benei ha-yitzhar) literally renders “sons of fresh oil,” while עַל־אֲדֹן (al-Adon) places them “at the Lord” of the earth.
The thread — Standing before God appears in Revelation 11:4, which identifies the two witnesses as two olive trees and two lampstands. Anointing oil for consecration appears in Exodus 40:15, and Spirit-empowered anointing for mission appears in Isaiah 61:1.
Why it lands — The text states that designated agents stand ready before God’s authority, deriving their role from divine appointment rather than human merit. It requires readers to recognize Spirit-qualified service and submit to God’s chosen instruments without demanding human origin or visible power.
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
Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
Cross-references
- Revelation 11:4 These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
- Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
- Exodus 40:15 Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may also serve Me as priests. Their anointing will qualify them for a permanent priesthood throughout their generations.”
- Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
- Zechariah 3:1 Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
- Zechariah 6:13 Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’
- Exodus 29:7 Then take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.
- Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.
- Joshua 3:11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.
- 1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?