Old Testament
Zechariah 3
Overview
The fourth vision moves from the city to the sanctuary, where Joshua the high priest stands before the angel of the LORD with Satan at his right hand to accuse him. But the LORD silences the accuser — "Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" — and then performs a stunning courtroom reversal: Joshua's filthy garments, the very emblem of guilt, are stripped away and replaced with clean robes and a fresh turban. Cleansed and restored, Joshua is charged to walk in God's ways and promised access among the angels. The chapter climaxes with a gleaming messianic pledge: God will bring His servant "the Branch," set a stone with seven eyes before Joshua, and "remove the iniquity of this land in a single day."
1He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before Yahweh’s angel, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.
2Yahweh said to Satan, “Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh 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 Yahweh’s angel was standing by.
6Yahweh’s angel solemnly assured Joshua, saying,
7“Yahweh 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 Yahweh of Armies, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10In that day,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘you will invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.’”