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Zechariah 3

Joshua clothed with change

Joshua the high priest stands before the angel; Satan resists him, but the Lord rebukes Satan and causes Joshua's iniquity to pass; he is clothed with change of raiment and the BRANCH is brought forth.

10 verses. The 3rd of 14 chapters in Zechariah, in The Minor Prophets.

1He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the LORD’s angel, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.

2The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Yes, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?”

3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel.

4He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, “Take the filthy garments off him.” To him he said, “Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing.”

5I said, “Let them set a clean turban on his head.” So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and the LORD’s angel was standing by.

6The LORD’s angel solemnly assured Joshua, saying,

7“The LORD of Armies says: ‘If you will walk in my ways, and if you will follow my instructions, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by.

8Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign; for, behold, I will bring out my servant, the Branch.

9For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua: on one stone are seven eyes; behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ says the LORD of Armies, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

10In that day,’ says the LORD of Armies, ‘you will invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.’”

Matthew Henry on Zechariah 3

4,921 words, in 2 passages.

  1. Verses 1–7Joshua resisted and Upheld; Joshua Purified from Pollution; Joshua Reinstalled in His Office. (b. c. 520.)
  2. Verses 8–10Advent of Christ Predicted; Prediction Relating to Christ. (b. c. 520.)

World English Bible. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.