translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: ZEC

label: NET translator note

text: See the note on the expression “angelic messenger” in 1:9 .


label: NET textual note

text: The present translation (along with most other English versions) follows the reading of the Qere and many ancient versions, “I said,” as opposed to the MT Kethib “he said.”


text: The word “temple” has been supplied in the translation to clarify the referent (cf. NLT “final stone of the Temple”).


text: Heb “house” (so NAB, NRSV).


text: Heb “these seven.” Eyes are clearly intended in the ellipsis as v. 10 b shows. As in 3:9 the idea is God’s omniscience. He who knows the end from the beginning rejoices at the completion of his purposes.


text: This term is traditionally translated “plumb line” (so NASB, NIV, NLT; cf. KJV, NRSV “plummet”), but it is more likely that the Hebrew בְּדִיל ( bÿdil ) is to be derived not from בָּדַל ( badal ), “to divide,” but from a root meaning “tin.” This finds support in the ancient Near Eastern custom of placing inscriptions on tin plates in dedicatory foundation deposits.


text: The usual meaning of the Hebrew term שְׁבֹּלֶת ( shÿbolet ) is “ears” (as in ears of grain). Here it probably refers to the produce of the olive trees, i.e., olives. Many English versions render the term as “branches,” but cf. NAB “tufts.”


text: The usual word for “anointed (one),” מָשִׁיַח ( mashiakh ), is not used here but rather בְנֵי־הַיִּצְהָר ( vÿne-hayyitshar ), literally, “sons of fresh oil.” This is to maintain consistency with the imagery of olive trees. In the immediate context these two olive trees should be identified with Joshua and Zerubbabel, the priest and the governor. Only the high priest and king were anointed for office in the OT and these two were respectively the descendants of Aaron and David.