Zechariah 6:7

As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses the strong horses within Zechariah’s vision immediately after directing them toward the north, west, and south. He issues a direct command to patrol the earth while the prophet observes the scene.

The words — The term אֲמֻצִּים (a.mu.Tzim) translates literally to "strong," describing the horses’ readiness, while הִתְהַלֵּךְ (hit.ha.Lekh) means "to go about," denoting their active patrol. These verbs frame the horses not as passive mounts but as agents executing divine surveillance.

The thread — This patrol motif appears in Zechariah 1:10, where the angel identifies the horses as those the LORD has sent to watch the earth, and in 2 Chronicles 16:9, which states the LORD’s eyes roam over all the earth. The command to survey the land also echoes Genesis 13:17, where God instructs Abraham to walk its length and breadth.

Why it lands — The text records a divine command for systematic observation of the earth, followed by immediate obedience. It requires the reader to recognize that God’s knowledge and governance operate through active, widespread surveillance rather than passive waiting.

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

וְהָאֲמֻצִּ֣יםve./ha./'a.mu.Tzimand/ the/ strong [horses]יָצְא֗וּya.tze.'Uthey have gone out וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙va/y.vak.Shuand/ they have sought לָלֶ֙כֶת֙la./Le.khetto/ go לְהִתְהַלֵּ֣ךle./hit.ha.Lekhto/ go about בָּאָ֔רֶץba./'A.retzon the/ earth וַיֹּ֕אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said לְכ֖וּle.Khugo הִתְהַלְּכ֣וּhit.ha.le.Khugo about בָאָ֑רֶץva./'A.retzon the/ earth וַתִּתְהַלַּ֖כְנָהva./tit.ha.Lakh.nahand/ they went about בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ba./'A.retzon the/ earth

King James Version

And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
Zechariah 1:10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”
Genesis 13:17 Get up and walk around the land, through its length and breadth, for I will give it to you.”
Job 1:6 One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.
Job 2:1 On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.
Daniel 7:19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left.
Daniel 7:24 And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings.