Bible Strands
Zechariah 4:9
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks through the prophet Zechariah to Zerubbabel and the post-exilic community during the Jerusalem temple reconstruction. This declaration follows a vision of a golden lampstand and occurs at the moment the rebuilding project faces discouragement.
The words — יִסְּד֛וּ (yi.se.Du) means "they have founded," and תְּבַצַּ֑עְנָה (te.va.Tza'.nah) translates as "they will finish [it]." Both verbs anchor the verse in the physical construction process.
The thread — The foundation-laying motif runs to Ezra 5:16 and Ezra 6:14, where the elders complete the work under prophetic direction. The completion promise links to Zechariah 6:12, which places Zerubbabel’s task within the broader "Branch" oracle.
Why it lands — The text states that Zerubbabel’s hands will both begin and finish the house, proving the LORD of Hosts sent the prophet. A reader must acknowledge that divine authorization operates through steady, observable human labor rather than immediate spectacle.
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
The 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.
Cross-references
- Ezra 6:14 So the Jewish elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.
- Zechariah 6:12 And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.
- Ezra 5:16 So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”
- Zechariah 6:15 Even those far away will come and build the temple of the LORD, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”
- Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Ezra 3:8 In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the construction of the house of the LORD.
- Zechariah 2:8 For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—
- John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
- John 17:21 that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
- Isaiah 48:16 Come near to Me and listen to this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time it happened, I was there.” And now the Lord GOD has sent me, accompanied by His Spirit.