Bible Strands
Zechariah 6:11
Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The prophet delivers a divine command to place a crafted crown on the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak during a symbolic act involving returning exiles from Babylon. This instruction occurs immediately before the announcement of the coming Branch who will build the temple of the LORD.
The words — עֲטָר֑וֹת (a.ta.Rot) translates to crowns, and יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ (ye.ho.Shu.a') means Joshua. These terms anchor the physical act of placing a crafted crown on the high priest's head.
The thread — The placement of a crown on a head appears in Psalms 21:3 and Song of Solomon 3:11, while Joshua the high priest is introduced in Zechariah 3:1. These references establish a pattern of royal and priestly honor that points toward a future figure.
Why it lands — The text commands the physical preparation of a crown for Joshua, which the surrounding passage interprets as a sign pointing to the Branch who will build the temple. A reader must recognize that earthly priestly honor serves as a temporary symbol for God's future architectural and redemptive work.
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 take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
Cross-references
- Psalms 21:3 For You welcomed him with rich blessings; You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
- 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.
- Song of Solomon 3:11 Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding—the day of his heart’s rejoicing.
- Exodus 39:30 They also made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and they engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
- Leviticus 8:9 Moses also put the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the holy diadem, on the front of the turban, as the LORD had commanded him.
- Haggai 1:1 In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating
- Zechariah 3:5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So a clean turban was placed on his head, and they clothed him, as the angel of the LORD stood by.
- Revelation 19:12 He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows.
- Haggai 1:14 So the LORD stirred the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and began the work on the house of the LORD of Hosts, their God,
- Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.