Click here for PDF version

26th of the 1^st month 2022/2023.

Shalom,

As I was going through the book of Zeḵaryah, I decided to share again, as I have done before, some wonderful insights from some of the visions and words of יהוה that were given to Zeḵaryah, in Chapter 6.

There are many great insights and prophetic pictures of Messiah, and His coming reign, that are contained in this wonderful chapter and we can link it to some of the clear revelation that Yoḥanan was given in Ḥazon/Revelation.

Therefore, in a message called, REVELATIONS TO REMEMBER! Let us take a closer look at Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6, and explore this incredible ‘revelation packed’ chapter, that we would do well to remember and be caused to make sure that we are keeping our eyes fixed on our Master and encouraging each other in His Truth, all the more as we see His Day drawing near!.

While I have spoken before, on the wonderful insights that we see in this Chapter 6 of Zeḵaryah/Zechariah, I thought it best to once again go through this chapter completely, so as to not miss out on the wonderful flow that we see being presented here..

When one spends time digging into the Word, we are able to find valuable insights and exciting revelations, even when looking at the various meanings of the names that are being presented to us.

In this message, I will highlight some key aspects that we able to find in this chapter, equipping the reader to enjoy expanding upon their own discovery, through the texts that I am presenting within this message, with the clear hope that a greater understanding of this passage, along with others, will be gained..

Please read Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6.

The name of זְכַרְיָה Zeḵaryah – Strong’s H2148 means, ‘יהוה remembers’.

And we are told in Chapter 1:1 that he was the son of בֶּרֶכְיָה Bereḵyah – Strong’s H1296 which means, ‘Yah Blesses’, who was the son of the prophet named עִדּוֹ Iddo – Strong’s H5714 which, ‘His witness’. .

This is very powerful, as we see the witness of Zeḵaryah, was to be to an exiled people, reminding them that יהוה remembers those whom He blesses and does not forget!

Zeḵaryah prophesied in the days of Ezra, the scribe, at the time of the return of the southern kingdom of Yehuḏah, from Baḇelonian captivity (Ezra 5:1).

When the leaders listened to Zeḵaryah’s and Ḥaggai’s prophecies, they prospered and were successful, in completing the reconstruction of the temple (Ezra 6:14). .

Zeḵaryah wrote to those who were still in Baḇelon and his prophecies have a constant flavour of victory for Yerushalayim and speak of ‘another day’, when the city would be surrounded by her enemies, yet יהוה will again prove to be triumphant.

The Day of יהוה is coming soon, and this book of Zeḵaryah is meant to encourage us to be strong and keep the expectation of our Master’s soon return, alive, as we hold fast to His Truth and guard righteousness, as a faithful remnant Bride!.

In this very powerful prophetic book of Zeḵaryah/Zechariah, we are able to see from Chapter 1:7-6:8 that Zeḵaryah had 8 visions, after encouraging Yehuḏah to repent and turn back to being obedient to יהוה.

Without going into greater detail of all of these visions, I will simply, for the purposes of this message that focuses on Chapter 6, just give a quick summary of the outline of these..

The 8 visions that Zeḵaryah had from Chapter 1:7-6:8, are recorded as follows:

1 – Man among the myrtle tress (1:7-17)

2 – 4 horns and 4 blacksmiths (1:18-21)

3 – Man with measuring line (2:1-13)

4 – Cleansing and clothing of Yehoshua the high priest (3:1-10)

5 – Gold lampstand and 2 olive trees (4:1-14)

6 – The flying scroll (5:1-4)

7 – A woman in a basket (5:5-11)

8 – 4 chariots (6:1-8)

In Chapter 6:9-15 we see further visions of the crowning of Yehoshua, who was the high priest and then from Chapters 7 to14 Zeḵaryah deals with the clarity of the need for Yisra’ěl to be obedient to the Torah of Elohim and he expands on the clear prophesies of the 2 comings of Messiah!

That is, in a summary form, the basic outline of the book of Zeḵaryah/Zechariah. .

Let us now therefore take an in-depth look at Chapter 6:

In this 8^th vision (6:1-8), Zeḵaryah lifted his eyes and saw 4 chariots coming from between two mountains, which were mountains of bronze.

The expression, ‘I lifted up my eyes’ expresses a clear response to looking to the Master and being attentive to His voice, and is also a great metaphor for us today, teaching us to be looking intently into the mirror of The Word!.

When you look intently into the Word who do you see?

Especially as we consider the times that we are living in, when it seems as though the strength of so many is being diminished by the chaos of this world? .

‘Looking up’, can be a metaphor, or picture, of having a proper expectation and longing for our Master and Elohim, accompanied by the proper belief that works out one’s deliverance, with fear and trembling.

It can also represent for us a picture of humility and a proper submission, as we look up to our Master and Elohim for direction and protection! .

The opposite of looking up, is ‘looking down’!

The question I ask is simply this:

‘Are you looking up or looking down?’.

‘Looking down’, can be a metaphor for depression and anxiety, where one’s eyes are drooped down, without any expectation or hope, and it can also picture for us a form of ‘pride’, in the sense of when someone ‘looks down’ on another, without showing a proper respect or regard for them!

Have you ever had someone ask you the following:

‘Why are you looking down?’

Looking down, in that sense, can picture for us ‘a loss of hope’ and a position of being anxious and afraid and having no help, or rather, not finding help and feeling hopeless and in despair. .

When we are ‘looking up’, on the other hand, we are, in a manner of speaking, exercising true belief and seeking our Master and Elohim, as we seek first His Reign and His righteousness, amidst what may certainly be desperate and worrisome times, where the strength of so many has failed or is busy failing!.

Tehillah/Psalm 121:1 “I lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from?”

Tehillah/Psalm 123:1 “I shall lift up my eyes unto You who dwell in the heavens.”

In both of these Psalms, we see the psalmist making it abundantly clear where, and who, His eyes were being fixed upon!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘lift up, lifted up’ comes from the root verb נָשָׂא nasa – Strong’s H5375 which means ‘lift up, carry, take up, exalt, and accept’.

This word, we also see being used, in describing Dawiḏ’s ability of lifting up his being to יהוה:

Tehillah/Psalm 25:1 “A psalm of Dawiḏ. To You, O יהוה, I lift up my being.”

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘being’ is נֶפֶשׁ nephesh – Strong’s H5315 which is ‘a soul, a living being, the inner being of a man’.

The clear image that we are given here, is that Dawiḏ lifted up his whole being unto Elohim, revealing that he was intentionally turning his thoughts, emotions, desires, cares, anxieties, doubts and fears over to יהוה, by ‘looking up’ and fixing his eyes on יהוה and the Truth of His Word!.

In a clear call for a called–out and set-apart people to return to Elohim, Zeḵaryah lifted up his eyes, to see and be attentive to that which יהוה would reveal to him!.

The image of the 4 chariots is explained in verse 5, as being the 4 spirits of the heavens. And in this vision of the 4 chariots coming from between two mountains of bronze, we are able to see a clear vision of judgement that was being given.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘bronze’ is the word נְחשֶׁת neḥosheth – Strong’s H5178. Bronze was used in in those places where exceptional strength and heat resistance was important. Bronze has a melting point of 1,985 degrees.

It was important in the Slaughter-Place where intense heat was present.

They brought bronze not brass.

Brass comes from a mixture of copper and zinc, whereas bronze comes from copper and usually tin as an additive. .

Bronze, in Scripture, is often that which represents judgment.

When Mosheh raised the bronze serpent, it spoke of the power of the serpent being judged through the raising of the Son of Elohim:

Bemiḏbar/Numbers 21:9 “So Mosheh made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole. And it came to be, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”

Bronze typifies the divine character of Messiah, who took upon Himself the fire of Elohim’s wrath, and justice by becoming a sin offering and making atonement for us.

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of Elohim.”.

Bronze is also symbolic of the suffering that יהושע would face for us and speaks of that which is beaten.

The tent pegs of the Tabernacle were also made of bronze and are also symbolic of his complete work for us, in that the pegs would be half in the ground and half out – showing us that He has, in fact, defeated death and the grave and has conquered sin, as He was led as a Lamb to the slaughtering.

Bronze was used to make mirrors in ancient times, as opposed to glass and would be made of fine beaten work and polished up.

The bronze laver for washing, would be like a mirror that the priests would be able to see their reflection in and see if they were clean or not, before entering in to the Set-Apart Place.

So here, we again see the bronze also being figurative for us, in being The Word that we look into, like a mirror, that we may see what we need to change in order to become clean and not forget what we look like but continually look into the mirror of The Word, and allow The Word to shape us and ‘form’ us into His image.

In this vision of “between the two mountains of bronze”, from which the 4 chariots came, highlights a clear working of the judgement of Elohim that was coming forth!.

In verse 2 we are told that with the 1^st chariot there were ‘red horses’, with the 2^nd there were ‘black horses’, with the 3^rd there were white horses and with the 4^th there were ‘speckled horses’.

These 4 chariots with their horses are, in many ways, similar to the 4 horses that we see being given to us in:

Ḥazon/Revelation 6:2-8 “And I looked and saw a white horse, and he who sat on it holding a bow. And a crown was given to him, and he went out overcoming and to overcome. 3 And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” 4 And another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was given to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another. And a great sword was given to him. 5 And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” And I looked and saw a black horse, and he who sat on it holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius. And do not harm the oil and the wine.” 7 And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 And I looked and saw a green horse. And he who sat on it had the name Death, and She’ol followed with him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”.

The Hebrew word for ‘horse’ is סוּס sus – Strong’s H5483 and carries a very clear symbol of power and strength, in Scripture.

This can have both positive as well as negative connotations, as we take note that we are not to put our trust in horses and chariots but that we are to trust in יהוה.

The ultimate picture of strength in battle, is seen in the return of our King, The Word of יהוה, who is coming on a white horse, which we will take a closer look at shortly!.

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘red’ comes from the root word אָדֹם aḏom – Strong’s H122 which means, ‘red, ruddy’ and, in Hebrew, the term suggests an earth-tone like that of red clay and we know that Aḏam was made from the dust of the earth.

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘black’ comes from the root word שָׁחֹר shaḥor – Strong’s H7838

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘white’ comes from the root word לָבָן Laḇan – Strong’s H3836

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘speckled’ comes from the root word בָּרֹד baroḏ – Strong’s 1261.

In Ḥazon/Revelation 6:

The Greek word that is translated as ‘white’ comes from the root word λευκός leukos – Strong’s G3022

The Greek word that is translated as ‘fiery red’ comes from the root word πυρρός purros – Strong’s G4450

The Greek word that is translated as ‘black’ comes from the root word μέλας melas – Strong’s G3189

The Greek word that is translated as ‘green’ comes from the root word χλωρός chlōros – Strong’s G5515.

As you may notice, the order of the colours of the horses are not exactly the same, yet we can certainly identify the clear message of judgement being poured out, and we can see a clear link between the horses that Zeḵaryah saw and the horses that Yoḥanan saw, as the messages being given are primarily the same, in regards to the decree and pouring out of the judgement of Elohim, in the last days, before He comes to set up His reign here on earth!.

As we consider these horses that Zeḵaryah saw in his vision, along with the horses that Yoḥanan saw in his vision, we are able to grasp the clear message of judgement and deliverance that is coming and is being declared from heaven and the horse and the rider on earth shall lay stunned, as the horses of יהוה shall come in the greatness of His power and might!

Tehillah/Psalm 76:6-9 “At Your rebuke, O Elohim of Ya‛aqoḇ, both the rider and horse lay stunned. 7 You, You are to be feared; and who would stand in Your presence when You are displeased? 8 From heaven You shall cause judgment to be heard; the earth shall fear, and shall be still, 9 when Elohim arises to right-ruling, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.”.

There are a number of pictures that we are able to see from these horses that go out with the chariots of the 4 spirits of the heavens.

In Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6:6 we are told that the one with black horses is going out to the land of the north, and the white horses have gone out after them, and the speckled ones have gone out to the land of the south!

In Hebrew, the word for ‘north’ is צְפוֹן Tsephon – Strong’s H6828, which comes from the primitive root word צָפַן tsaphan – Strong’s H6845 which means, ‘to hide, treasure up, ambush, concealed’. .

In Scripture, the concept or image of that which comes from the north, has a twofold message. One of judgement and destruction, as well as being hidden and protected from such judgement and destruction.

It was typically from the north that the enemies of Yisra’ěl would come from, in judgement from יהוה, as we take note that Ashshur and Baḇelon are pictured as coming from the north to destroy, and take captive, Yisra’ěl, because of their turning away from Elohim!

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 4:6 “Lift up the banner toward Tsiyon. Be strong, do not stand still! For I am bringing evil from the north, and great destruction.”

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 6:1 “O children of Binyamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Yerushalayim! Blow a shophar in Teqowa, and set up a signal-fire in Běyth Hakkerem, for evil has been seen from the north, and great destruction.”

Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 26:7 “For thus said the Master יהוה, ‘See, I am bringing against Tsor from the north Neḇuḵaḏretstsar sovereign of Baḇel, a sovereign of sovereigns, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, even an assembly, and many people.”.

What is also worth taking note of, in regards to the encampments of the children of Yisra’ěl, in the Wilderness, is that on the north side was the banner of the camp of Dan, and as we know, the Hebrew name דָּן Dan – Strong’s H1835 means, ‘judge’.

While we are able to recognise the picture of judgement coming from the north, we also take note that those who are found to be hidden in יהוה, shall be sheltered and protected in the day of His wrath!.

The name of the prophet צְפַנְיָה Tsephanyah – Strong’s H6846 means ‘Hidden by יהוה’ or ‘Treasured by יהוה’ and comes from the word צָפַן tsaphan – Strong’s H6845 which means, ‘to hide, treasure, store, conceal’, from which we get the word that means, ‘north’..

Tsephanyah is often a book regarded by many as being the ‘hottest book’ in Scripture, as it speaks more about the coming Day of יהוה than any other prophet.

In fact, the entire book’s message is centred on the coming Day of יהוה, with the call to repentance clearly being given to all who are walking in darkness, through their rebellious and lustful living. .

The more I read through this book, the more I come to grips with just how alive it is for us today, and how we ought to give careful thought as to how we look, when looking intently in to the mirror of The Word and hear the very striking words that are given through this prophet. .

We need to recognise how important it is for us, as sons and daughters of Elohim, to be found treasuring up The Word of יהוה in our hearts!

Now, treasuring up does not signify a collection of wisdom that is hidden away and never used, but rather, it symbolises the devotion that a true child of Elohim has toward the hearing, guarding and doing of His Word, for the treasuring up of His Word in our hearts will equip us to walk humbly before Him and live set-apart lives according to His treasured Word, with the firm hope of us being hidden in Him and by Him on the day of His wrath!.

Being ‘Treasured by יהוה’ is a great picture of encouragement to us, as we see the promise of protection for those who are hidden in יהוה.  

Tehillah/Psalm 27:5 “For in the day of evil He hides me in His booth; in the covering of His Tent He hides me; on a rock He raises me up.”.

With the encouragement of the promise of protection, also comes responsibility!

A responsibility of being confident in our Master and being bold and courageous to speak His pure message of Truth, even if it means proclaiming the ear piercing ‘woe’ that many need to hear, lest they find themselves being destroyed for rebellion and the defilement of set-apartness!.

With the picture of the black horses going out the north and the white ones going out after them, we can see a clear message of destruction and overcoming, as it highlights a clear destruction that was coming upon Baḇelon and the victory and triumph of the conqueror’s overs it!.

The Speckled horses that have gone out to the south, signifies a judgement towards that which was in the south, such as Edom and Mitsrayim, as we take note that the image of the north and the south is symbolic of the whole earth and the enemies or powers that are against the true Yisra’ěl, the treasured possession of Elohim!.

As we consider the colour of each of these horses that are mentioned, we are able to recognise some very clear warnings of the judgement of Elohim that is coming upon the earth, and those who are not found to be ‘in’ Him, are going to face the fierceness of His wrath and there shall be no escape for the disobedient....

Looking at these horses in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6 and the parallel passage in Ḥazon/Revelation 6, I want to take a closer look at each of these colours that are mentioned, and for the purposes of this message, I will simply present it in the order of what is given in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6, and expand on its presentation by mirroring it with what we see in Ḥazon/revelation 6..

RED HORSES

The image of red horses highlights for us the idea of the judgement that is coming upon mankind, as we know that the root word for red – אָדֹם aḏom – Strong’s H122 comes from the root verb אָדֹם aḏom – Strong’s H119 which means, ‘to be red, ruddy’ and from this root verb we also get the Hebrew noun/name for ‘man’ or ‘mankind’, which is אָדָם Aḏam – Strong’s H120 which means, ‘man, mankind, human, person’ and this collectively refers to both men and women!

Another word that is derived from the root verb אָדֹם aḏom – Strong’s H119 is the word אֱדוֹם Eḏom – Strong’s H123 which means, ‘to be red, ruddy’ and the Eḏomites were descendants of Ěsaw, and as we know from Scripture, Ěsaw is a picture of those who walk according to the flesh..

Why I am mentioning this, is to simply present the clear idea of the judgement that is coming upon those who walk according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit!.

The image of a red horses is also given to us in:

Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 1:8 “I looked at night and saw a man riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees in the shade. And behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white.”

Zeḵaryah sees a man riding on a red horse and standing among the myrtle trees.

I firmly believe that this was יהושע, as we see in verse 7 the reference to the term ‘The Word of יהוה’ came to him, and this is a title given to יהושע, and in verse 9 Zeḵaryah calls him my Master!

So here, in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 1, we have a prophetic picture of יהושע standing among the myrtle trees, as the ones on the red, sorrel and white horses, who were sent to go throughout the earth and bring back report, came and reported to Him that the earth is at peace and rest.

This is a picture of how the nations are at ease in their wicked and corrupt ways, while the children of יהוה were suffering under the hardships of captivity due to lawlessness.

The imagery of these horses, certainly points us to the prophetic picture of the end times that we read of in Ḥazon/Revelation 6, when the red horse goes out to take peace from the earth and was given a sword.

What Zeḵaryah was being shown, is that deliverance is near at hand – it was not yet time but it was coming, and we also know that יהושע tells us that He did not come to bring peace but a sword:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword”.

From the 1^st vision that was given to Zeḵaryah, where he saw a man sitting on a red horse, which proclaimed the coming judgment… to the 8^th vision that he was given, of now seeing the red horse being seen coming from between the mountains of bronze, we are able to see the clear flow of these visions, that highlight the clear judgement and wrath of Elohim that is coming in the last days!.

The imagery of the red horses that were seen in the 1^st and 8^th visions of Zeḵaryah, could also be a picture of the first and the last and represent to us a picture of the 1^st and 2^nd coming of Messiah, where we take note, as I have already mentioned, that at His first coming, He made it clear that He came to bring a sword and not peace, and therefore, the warning has already gone out and those who have not responded correctly, when He comes again, shall be destroyed in His wrath, as the red horse in Ḥazon/Revelation 6:4 is given a great sword in order to take peace from the earth!

The great sword is a picture of The Word of Elohim that makes a clear distinction between the set-apart and the profane and highlights a clear separation of the wicked and righteous!

From this, we are able to identify how the picture of the red horses that Zeḵaryah saw, represent a refinement that will take place, as all shall be refined through fire, as pictured through the ‘fiery red’ horse of Ḥazon/Revelation 6 that Yoḥanan saw..

BLACK HORSES

As already mentioned, the Black horses go out to the land of the north, picturing for us a clear message of judgement against the enemies of Elohim and what we are able to see from Ḥazon/Revelation 6:5, is that the one who sat on the black horse was holding a pair of scales in his hand!

This confirms for us the picture of a righteous and just judgement that is done according to the correct scales of Elohim and His Truth!.

What is worth taking note of, is that the Greek word that is translated as ‘a pair of scales’ comes from the root word ζυγός zugos – Strong’s G2218 which means, ‘a yoke, pair of scales’ and is understood as being a frame that was used for draft animals, for pulling and labour and is also understood as being a balance scale, as a yoke serves to couple any two things together, from which we can get the clear picture of a coupling, or a beam of a balance, that unites two scales, in order to give a proper tool for measurement.

This root word ζυγός zugos – Strong’s G2218 is used 6 times in the Renewed Writings and the other 5 times that it is used, it is translated as ‘yoke’, as seen in:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 11:29-30 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your beings. 30 “For My yoke is gentle and My burden is light.” 

A ‘yoke’ is something that would be fitted on the neck of oxen for the purpose of binding to them the traces by which they might draw the plough.

In other words, it would keep them from wandering from the path that needed to be ploughed.  

From this imagery of a yoke, also being likened to a right scale, we are able to see the message being given by the one on the black horse that has a scale in his hand!

For this highlights a clear weighing up of who has taken the yoke of Messiah and who has not! Those who have no regard for the Torah of Elohim and have rejected the need to guard righteousness, will be found to be without His yoke and separated for destruction!.

The yoke of Messiah is the only true scale that we can be led by and depend upon, and to reject His Torah, that is to lead and guide us, is to reject His True scales, which leads to the delusion of being led astray by false scales!.

We must not have false scales!!!

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 11:1 “A false scale is an abomination to יהוה, but a perfect weight is His delight.”

The Hebrew word for ‘scale’ is מאֹזֵן mozen – Strong’s H3976 which means, ‘balances, scale’, and comes from the root word אָזַן azan – Strong’s H239 which means, ‘to weigh, test, prove, consider’.

False measures are an abomination to יהוה.

There is no reward for ‘half’ obedience or for lukewarm obedience – your either obey or you do not, for there is no partiality with Elohim.

His word is the same yesterday, today and forever and to assume a differing scale, is an abomination to Him.

Many people today have falsified their obedience by adapting a standard that they have devised for themselves, in order to justify any subtle compromises to walking in the perfect Truth!

What is clear here, is that it is a clear abomination to test or prove something by means of a falsified measure or considered in dishonesty..

The Hebrew word is מאֹזֵן mozen – Strong’s H3976 is translated as ‘balances’, in:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 16:11 “A right scale and balances are of יהוה; All the weights in the bag are His work.” 

A RIGHT SCALE!

The Hebrew word for ‘right’ is מִשְׁפָּט mishpat – Strong’s H4941 which means, ‘judgement, ordinance, regulations’ and comes from the word שָׁפַט shaphat – Strong’s H8199 which means, ‘to judge, govern, rule, pronounce judgement, give law’.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 33:22 “for יהוה is our Judge, יהוה is our Lawgiver, יהוה is our Sovereign, He saves us”

The Hebrew word for ‘scale’, in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 16:11, is פֶּלֶס peles – Strong’s H6425 which means, ‘a balance, scale’, and the Hebrew word for ‘balances’ is מאֹזֵן mozen – Strong’s H3976 as discussed..

There is only One who gives us the Law, by which we must live and by which we are governed and these judgements and right-rulings and regulations given by Him, we must DO!!!.

Wayyiqra/Leviticus 19:35-37 “Do no unrighteousness in right-ruling, in measurement of length, in weight, or in measuring liquids. 36 ‘Have right scales, right weights, a right ĕphah, and a right hin. I am יהוה your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim. 37 ‘And you shall guard all My laws and all My right-rulings, and do them. I am יהוה.’”

Here it is clear: we must not have different standards for different people or occasions or any dealings we may have, but rather we must uphold the Truth in its purest form, continually.

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 20:10 “Differing weights and differing measures, both of them are an abomination to יהוה.”

Differing weights and measures is a picture of deceit and greed and we are to have the same measure or standard of right-ruling in all situations. .

A common abominable practice of the day, was to have differing weights and measures for different classes or groups of people.

We see in many places today, how tourists are often charged a greater fee than locals at various tourist attractions around the world and what we must learn, is that while the world may operate according to differing standards, we are to keep His pure standard of maintaining a perfect weight and measure toward all.

For with the same measure we measure, it shall be measured back to us! .

“Do not cheat” is the clear command here and this instruction can and must be applied in every aspect of our lives!!!

The way to ensure that we never have false scales is to do, as verse 37 in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 19 tells us, as we see above!

When you guard, and do, all off יהוה’s laws and right-rulings, in a proper and truthful manner, then you will not have any false scales operating in your life.

Many people today, who claim that the Torah of יהוה is no longer valid, have falsified the scales of right-rulings and justice, so to speak, and in doing so are executing abominable standards before יהוה our Elohim..

The way we are to test and prove the validity of any matter in regards to our walk of belief in our Master and Elohim, is to measure ourselves against the pure plumb-line of His Torah, as we look intently into the mirror of The Word and allow The Word to prove us and weigh us, so that we may be found to be walking in complete set-apartness and upright in Messiah!.

Those who have disregarded the Torah and have falsely believed the deception that has been taught, through traditions and dogmas of man, have simply falsified the scale of proper right-ruling and this is an abomination to Elohim!

And, as we can see from the visions of Zeḵaryah and Yoḥanan, our Master is coming to ‘weigh out’ those who are His and those who are not, bringing swift judgement upon the false, while giving refuge to the true set-apart ones!

This promise of protection can also be understood in the image of the chariot with white horses that goes out after the chariot with black horses!.

WHITE HORSES

The image of the white horses also going to the north, after the black horses, is an image of overcoming and a picture of those who are sealed in Messiah and in whom there is no condemnation, for they are the true set-apart ones that walk according to the Spirit and are found to be hidden in Him!.

In Ḥazon/Revelation 6:2 we see that the one who was sitting on the white horse had a bow and a crown was given to him and he went out overcoming and to overcome!

This is a picture of being sealed in the Master and called to endure and overcome! .

The Greek word that is translated as ‘overcoming/overcome’, in Ḥazon/Revelation 6:2, comes from the root word νικάω nikaō – Strong’s G3528 which means, ‘to conquer, prevail, overcome, victorious’, which comes from the root word νίκη nikē – Strong’s G3529 which means, ‘victory’, and is also translated as ‘overcomes’ in:

Ḥazon/Revelation 21:7-8 “The one who overcomes shall inherit all this, and I shall be his Elohim and he shall be My son.   .

This root word for ‘overcomes’ – νικάω nikaō – Strong’s G3528 – is also used in the messages that are given to each of the seven assemblies in Ḥazon/Revelation, teaching us to be overcomers and hold fast to the sure promises we have in our Master!

To those in Ephesos:

Ḥazon/Revelation 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I shall give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of Elohim.””.

To those in Smurna:

Ḥazon/Revelation 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes shall by no means be harmed by the second death.”.

To those in Pergamos:

Ḥazon/Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I shall give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I shall give him a white stone, and on the stone a renewed Name written which no one knows except him who receives it.””.

To those in Thyatira:

Ḥazon/Revelation 2:26 “And he who overcomes, and guards My works until the end, to him I shall give authority over the nations”.

To those in Sardis:

Ḥazon/Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be dressed in white robes, and I shall by no means blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I shall confess his name before My Father and before His messengers.”.

To those in Philadelphia:

Ḥazon/Revelation 3:12 “He who overcomes, I shall make him a supporting post in the Dwelling Place of My Elohim, and he shall by no means go out. And I shall write on him the Name of My Elohim and the name of the city of My Elohim, the renewed Yerushalayim, which comes down out of the heaven from My Elohim, and My renewed Name.”.

To those in Laodikeia:

Ḥazon/Revelation 3:21 “To him who overcomes I shall give to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”.

One can be greatly encouraged, as we see the collective blessing of overcoming the pressures and trials that we face, for those who overcome will get to eat of the tree of life and the second death will have no power over them, as they have access back to the tree of life!

Overcomers get to eat of the hidden manna and authority over the nations will be given to them for they will be able to rightly rule with proper discernment! .

Overcomers shall be dressed in white robes and have assurance that their names will never be blotted out and will become supporting posts in the Dwelling Place of Elohim and be given to sit with the Master on His Throne!.

This in itself ought to be sufficient encouragement to endure and overcome!

Romiyim/Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”.

Another powerful picture that we are able to see from the white horses, is that we are also told that Messiah is the One who sits on a white horse, as we see in:

Ḥazon/Revelation 19:11 “And I saw the heaven opened, and there was a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Trustworthy and True, and in righteousness He judges and fights.”

As we stay in the Master, the Trustworthy and True One, we have the assurance that we shall overcome, as it is He who fights for us!.

The image of ‘white’, in Scripture, is often used as a reference to the purity and cleanness of righteousness, having been cleansed by the blood of Messiah and dressed in white. In Ḥazon/Revelation 7 we are given the vision of the messenger who spoke to the 4 messengers that they were not to harm the earth, the sea or the trees, until the servants of Elohim have been sealed in their foreheads!.

We are then given the prophetic number of 144000, representing a complete sealing of the complete body of Messiah, as represented by the innumerable multitude that followed, and were dressed in white robes, coming out of the great distress, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb!.

SPECKLED HORSES

The speckled horses are described as being ‘strong’ and then in verse 7 of Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6, we are told that the strong ones went out, eager to go, to walk to and fro in the earth!

When pairing up the visions between Zeḵaryah and Ḥazon, we are able to see a clear matching up of the speckled horses that are mentioned in Zeḵaryah, with the pale/green horse that is mentioned in Ḥazon!.

In Ḥazon/Revelation 6:8 we are told that the one who sat on the pale horse, had the name ‘death’ and that She’ol followed him and he was given authority to kill a fourth of the earth with sword, hunger, death and by beasts of the earth!.

This, once again, is a clear warning of judgment and those that are not found to be in Messiah, shall be exposed to the punishment of death, and handed over to judgement!.

Hoshěa/Hosea 13 reminds us that we, who are in Messiah, have been redeemed from death and She’ol, and we are told in Ḥazon/Revelation 20:6 that blessed are those who have part in the 1^st resurrection, for the second death shall have no power over them!.

Hoshěa/Hosea 13:14 “From the power of She’ol I ransom them, from death I redeem them. Where is your plague, O Death? Where is your destruction, O She’ol? Repentance is hidden from My eyes.”.

Ḥazon/Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and set-apart is the one having part in the first resurrection. The second death possesses no authority over these, but they shall be priests of Elohim and of Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”.

It is the chariot with the strong speckled horses that goes out to the south and are eager to walk to and fro in the earth!.

As we consider the imagery of going to the south, we once again are able to see that the south of Yerushalayim, represents the land of Eḏom and also Mitsrayim.

It is in Botsrah, which is in Eḏom, that we see the prophecy of our Master who comes up from the Botsrah, with his garments full of the blood of the slain, as he tramples the winepress in His wrath!.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 63:1-6 “Who is this coming from Eḏom, with garments of glowing colours from Botsrah, who is robed in splendour, striding forward in the greatness of His strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” 2 Why is there red on Your raiment, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? 3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. And I trod them down in My displeasure, and I trampled them in My wrath. Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have defiled all My raiment. 4 “For a day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come. 5 “And I looked, but there was none helping, and I was astonished that there was none upholding. So My own arm saved for Me, and My wrath upheld Me. 6 “And I trod down peoples in My displeasure, and made them drunk in My wrath, and brought down their strength to earth.” .

We also see the clear message being given in Yeshayahu/Isaiah:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 34:1-6 “Come near, you nations, to hear. And listen, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world and all its offspring. 2 For the displeasure of יהוה is against all the nations, and His wrath against all their divisions. He shall put them under the ban, He shall give them over to the slaughter, 3 and their slain be thrown out, and their stench rise from their corpses. And mountains shall be melted with their blood. 4 And all the host of the heavens shall rot away. And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll, and all their host fade like a leaf fading on the vine, and like the fading one of a fig tree. 5 “For My sword shall be drenched in the heavens. Look, it comes down on Eḏom, and on the people of My curse, for judgment. 6 “The sword of יהוה shall be filled with blood, it shall be made overflowing with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For יהוה has a slaughtering in Botsrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Eḏom.”

Another aspect of the speckled horses, eagerly seeking to go to and fro in the earth, can be seen in how eager the devil is, in seeking those who he can devour, as we take note of the language of going to and fro in the earth, being given to describe Satan, in:

Iyoḇ/Job 1:7 “And יהוה said to Satan, “From where do you come?” And Satan answered יהוה and said, “From diligently searching in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” 

Iyoḇ/Job 2:2 “And יהוה said to Satan, “From where do you come?” And Satan answered יהוה and said, “From diligently searching in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” .

We have an adversary who constantly seeks for an occasion to destroy us and those who do not receive a love for the Truth are handed over to the delusion so that they believe the lie and therefore become open prey for Satan to devour!

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, watch, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”.

In Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6:8 we are told that the messenger who was speaking to Zeḵaryah, told him that those who go toward the north have given rest to His Spirit!

This highlights a completion of His destruction and wrath, as well as the protection and deliverance of His sealed servants!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘given rest’ in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6:8 is הֵנִיחוּ ḥeyniyḥu which is written in the ‘hiphil’ tense of the root word נוּחַ nuaḥ – Strong’s H5117 which means, ‘to rest, come to rest, cast down, set down, permit’.

It is from this root word that we get the name of נֹחַ Noaḥ – Strong’s H5146, who we know was the man who found favour in the eyes of יהוה, a righteous and perfect man in his generations, and one who walked with Elohim, doing all according to that which Elohim had commanded him..

This teaches us a vital lesson of being steadfast in staying in our Master, as we hold fast to Him and guard to do all He has commanded us to do, as we hold on to the expectation, we have in Him.

This highlights for us the need for us to guard righteousness, as Noaḥ did, so that we can enter His rest, when He comes to destroy our enemies and fetch His ready Bride..

As we consider this very powerful 8^th vision/revelation that Zeḵaryah was given, we are able to see a powerful message being set forth, warning us against lawlessness and sin, for which the judgment of Elohim is coming to pour out on the sons of disobedience.

We have our Master and Elohim, who has overcome death and She’ol for us, and we are called to stay in Him, in order to be found hidden in Him, in the day of His wrath, so that we shall not be swallowed up in death, but be overcomers in Messiah, who shall rule and reign with Him!

We must recognise how it is, through the Blood of Messiah, that we have been given garments of righteousness to wear and to keep clean, as we overcome and, being sealed in Him, are steadfast in standing firm in His Truth, as we allow His Word to be that which refines, reproves, corrects and trains us in righteousness, so that we are not handed over to destruction and death!

As we stay in our Master, we have the promise of being at rest with Him, and being righteous in our generation..

As an encouragement of who we are in Messiah, while living in the midst of depravity and chaos and the pending judgement that is about to be poured out, we must be reminded to find rest and safety in our Redeemer and King, and when looking at the root verb for rest, in the ancient pictographic script, we can certainly embrace the encouragement to be overcomers in Messiah.

The root word נוּחַ nuaḥ – Strong’s H5117 which means, ‘to rest, come to rest, cast down, set down, permit’, is pictured as follows:

  .

Nun – נ:

The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as , which pictures a ‘sprouting seed’ and gives the idea of ‘continuation’ or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which sprouts forth to be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy..

Waw/Vav – וּ:

This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as , which is a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’ as well as ‘bind’..

Ḥet – חַ

The ancient script has this letter as which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of ‘separation’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise protection and security to those inside, while picturing a cutting off of those who are outside. Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, separated from’.

As a tent wall, we are also able to recognise the picture of stones being built up to make a complete wall..

When we see the rendering of these pictographs, that represent the word for ‘rest’, we are truly able to see the wonderful work of our Master and the Life that He has secured for us, as we can see the following being rendered:.

THE LIFE THAT HAS BEEN

SECURED AND SEPARATED

As we consider that the pictograph of the seed, representing a ‘continuance’ and the tent peg representing that which is ‘secured’ along with the tent wall, representing a separation, or being built up, we are reminded how we are:

CONTINUALLY SECURE

IN OUR SEPARATION.

We are called to come out and be separate, touch not the unclean and our Master will receive us… This is an identity issue, as we must be reminded of who we are in Messiah, being totally secure in our separation as a set-apart taught one of the Most-High, for this will give us courage and boldness to overcome and find rest in our beings, as we see our Master’s Day drawing near!.

RED, BLACK, WHITE and SPECKLED/PALE….

4 colours of the horses that carry the clear message of the coming judgement and deliverance of Elohim!

A revelation and vision that we would do well to remember, lest we find ourselves forgetting who our Saviour is and be found to have fallen away to destruction!.

In the second half of this very powerful Chapter 6 of Zeḵaryah/Zechariah, we see how this prophet was given clear instructions, after having received his 8^th vision, to crown Yehoshua, the high priest.

And these instructions that he was to carry out would become clear prophetic actions of all authority that is given unto our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah!.

With the background of this 8^th vision of coming judgement, let us take a closer look at vision of these prophetic actions that declare who our righteous Judge, High Priest and King is!.

In verse 9, we are told that The Word of יהוה came to Zeḵaryah… highlighting for us very clearly a picture of having ears that are attentive to hear, guard and do the Word of Elohim and not try to excuse away our called for obedience to His Word!.

In verse 10, Zeḵaryah was told to receive gifts from the exiles who have come from Baḇel.

The 3 names that are given here, are names of some of the exiles who had returned from captivity in Baḇelon and when looking at the names and their meanings, we are able to glean come wonderful insights into the encouraging message that is being given here, through these prophetic actions that Zeḵaryah was instructed to do!.

In verse 10 we are given the following 3 names:

1) חֶלְדַּי Ḥeldai – Strong’s H2469 which means, ‘worldly, worldliness’.

2) טוֹבִיָּה Toḇiyah – Strong’s H2900 which means, ‘Yah is good’

3) יְדַעְיָה Yeḏayah – Strong’s H3048 which means, ‘יהוה has known’.

He was to receive from these three, the silver and gold that would be used to make the crowns, and then on the same day that he would get the gifts from these 3, he was to go to the house of Yoshiyahu, the son of Tsephanyah..

The Hebrew name יֹאשִׁיָּה Yoshiyah – Strong’s H2977 means, ‘whom יהוה heals’ and is the shortened form of יאֹשִׁיָּהוּ Yoshiyahu. He was the son of צְפַנְיָה Tsephanyah – Strong’s H6846 which, as already discussed, means ‘Hidden by יהוה’ or ‘Treasured by יהוה’..

As we consider the names that are given to us here, we can see a wonderful message being presented to us, as we consider that this picture of receiving gifts from the returning exiles, is a picture of the redeemed ones who brings gifts before our Master and present themselves, in compete submission to His rule and reign, with the offerings of gifts that celebrate His deliverance and His authority that is forever established!.

It is our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah, who has delivered us from the world, and we acknowledge that He is יהוה and that He is good and that we know Him and are known by Him, for it is He who heals us, for we are hidden in Him, as His treasure, for we are His treasured possession above all peoples!.

The picture of receiving the gifts from these 3 returning exiles, can also be a powerful shadow picture of the gifts that were brought to our Master, by the Magi who came from the east and came to the house where the child was and presented the 3 gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, in an acknowledgment of the fulfilment of the child that would be born unto us, is Elohim, Saviour and King! (Mattithyahu/Matthew 2).

In our acknowledgement of who our Master and Elohim truly is, we need to come out of Baḇelon, so to speak, lest we share in her sins and are destroyed!

We who have responded to the call to ‘come out and be separate’, so that He shall ‘receive us’, are able to come before Him and give an account of what we have done with what He has given us!

In many ways, this can also link up the image of the parable of the talents and our ability to properly present before Him that which we have done, can only be presented from a place of having come out of worldly ways and serving Him in complete set-apartness and truth!.

The Hebrew word בָּבֶל Baḇel – Strong’s H894 comes from the verb בָּלַל balal – Strong’s H1101 which means, ‘to mingle, mix, confuse, confound’ and therefore, the word בָּבֶל Baḇel can best be understood as meaning, ‘confusion (by mixing)’..

As we recognise the joy of our deliverance, having come out of the confusion of mixed theologies of man, we are equipped to properly present our lives before our Master, as daily living sacrifices and bring before Him our reasonable worship, which is set-apart and well pleasing to Elohim..

In verse 11, Zeḵaryah was told to take the silver and the gold and make a crown and set it on the head of Yehoshua, son of Yehotsaḏaq.

These gifts of silver and gold are what he would have received from the 3 exiles who had come from Baḇelon.

And when we consider what silver and gold means for us, from a prophetic Scriptural perspective, we can see the picture of the purity of the redeemed!.

SILVER

Silver is symbolic of redemption, as silver is used in Scripture as redemption money.

It clearly represents and speaks of the price that יהושע has paid for us.

Silver was used in service of the Tent of Meeting for the Atonement of Yisra’ĕl as a remembrance before יהוה. .

The Hebrew word for ‘silver’ is כֶּסֶף keseph – Strong’s H3701 which in translated as, ‘silver, money, purchase price’ and comes from the root word כָּסַף kasaph – Strong’s H3700 which means, ‘to long for, eager, shame’.

Shemoth/Exodus 30:16 “And you shall take the silver for the atonement from the children of Yisra’ĕl, and give it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. And it shall be to the children of Yisra’ĕl for a remembrance before יהוה, to make atonement for yourselves.”

The Tabernacle stood upon sockets of silver.

Both Yosĕph and יהושע were sold for silver.

Yehuḏah was paid off in silver, as the Scriptures said.

Silver is redemption money.

Silver is symbolic of the redemption that comes through יהושע Messiah and Him alone.

It prefigures the preciousness of Messiah as the ransom for sinners.

Silver also speaks of service and the giving of oneself – the prefect work of Messiah:

Marqos/Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Aḏam did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”.

We also see another wonderful picture of the symbolism of silver, as is also likened to the pure Word of Elohim that has been tried:

Tehillah/Psalm 12:6 “The Words of יהוה are clean Words, silver tried in a furnace of earth, refined seven times.”

Tehillah/Psalm 66:10 “For You, O Elohim, have proved us; You have refined us as silver is refined.”.

In the above two verses from Tehillim/Psalms, it is worth looking at a couple of words.

The Hebrew word translated as ‘tried’ is צָרַף tsaraph – Strong’s H6884 which means, ‘to smelt, refine, test, tried’, and we see this being used in:

Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 22:31 “The Ěl – His way is perfect; the Word of יהוה is proven; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” .

The purest silver does not tarnish, and most silver products we see being used today has an alloy mix of up to 92.5% silver and another metal to make up the rest to produce a product that is a little harder and easier to work with.

When looking at this verse above, from Tehillah/Psalm 12:6, the concept of silver – pure silver – and the words of יהוה being clean, struck me in a major way, as to what we see happening today!

His Word is pure and clean and is likened to silver that is tried in the furnace of earth and refined totally – there are no other metals therein and this is just what His Word is to us – it is unadulterated truth. .

Sadly, we see that in the world today, His word has been so tarnished, due to the taking away and adding that is forbidden, resulting in many dogmas of man and various theologies and doctrines that have been formulated, and in doing so, they have each diminished the purity of the silver of His Word, by stripping it of its worth and adding in other words that twist the purity of the Truth and therefore, cause the silver to now become susceptible to becoming tarnished. .

When this happens, more and more work is required to polish up that which is not pure, in an attempt to present it as pure, through the institution of programmes and formulas of worship that is contrary to the design and service of the Tabernacle. .

For us to be a Tabernacle for His Spirit to dwell, we cannot have a tarnished Word that has manipulated the purity of it, in order to control the masses, but rather, we need to strip away the impurities of false traditions and lies and turn back to the pure Truth – then we will be built up according to His pattern shown!.

The Hebrew word for ‘silver’ – כֶּסֶף keseph – Strong’s H3701 is pictured in the Early Script as:.

    .

Kaph – כֶּ:

The ancient form of this letter is pictured as which is an open palm of a hand.

The meaning behind this letter is to bend and curve from the shape of a palm as well as to tame or subdue as one has been bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises submission. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch from the curved palm shape..

Samech – סֶ:

This letter is pictured as which is a thorn, and has the meanings of ‘pierce and sharp’ and can also carry the meaning of ‘a shield’, as thorn bushes were used by shepherds to build a wall to enclose his flock in the night against the attack of predators. Another meaning would be ‘to grab hold of’ as a thorn is a seed that clings to hair and clothing..

Pey – ף:

This letter in the ancient script is pictured as, which is an ‘open mouth’ and carries the meaning of ‘speak and blow’, from the functions of the mouth, and can have the meaning of ‘scatter’ by blowing. It can also mean sword or beard as in things with edges, as well as a region in depicting a place with edges or boundaries. It also can represent that which has been spoken forth from the words of one’s mouth, as being established!.

When we consider these 3 letters, in the understanding of the word ‘silver’, as representing the redemption price, brought to us by the Blood of Messiah, we are able to see from these pictures, the following:

THE OPEN HAND OF ELOHIM, AS REVEALED TO US THROUGH יהושע MESSIAH, WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSION AND TOOK THE THORN (SIN) UPON HIMSELF, HAVING BEEN NAILED IN HIS HANDS AND FEET, BECOMING A SHIELD TO THOSE WHO CALL UPON HIM AND GRAB HOLD OF HIS COMMANDS, AS SPOKEN IN HIS WORD! .

After His resurrection, when Messiah showed T’oma (Thomas) His hands that took the nails, T’oma acknowledged the redemptive work of יהושע Messiah and called Him His Master and Elohim.

T’oma now fully believed the Word of Elohim, and he was told that those who believe and have not seen:

Yoḥanan/John 20:27-29 “Then He said to T’oma, “Bring your finger here, and see My hands. And bring your hand and put it into My side – and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And T’oma answered and said to Him, “My Master and my Elohim!” 29 יהושע said to him, “T’oma, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Our True redemption is in יהושע Messiah, who is the open hand of Elohim that took our sin upon Himself, as spoken in His written Word that does not return empty! .

The one thing that we can be sure of, is that The Word of יהוה is proven and trustworthy!

We are able to fully trust His Word – for it is the only ‘word’ that can be trusted.

How many times have you found that the words of friends, families, colleagues and even strangers, have failed to meet up with what they spoke?

The Word of יהוה never fails!!!

It is because of this fact, that we are able to find complete refuge in Him!!!.

Our obedience to His Word, that refines us, is what we are able to present to Him as a daily living offering, being set-apart in all we do before His face!.

GOLD

Gold is symbolic of the purity and richness of יהושע and represents for us His supreme position and esteem as Elohim Most–High.

Pure Gold speaks of His Mighty-like power, which cannot be reproduced by man.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘gold’ is זָהָב zahaḇ – Strong’s H2091 which is translated as, ‘gold, golden’ and is even translated as ‘fair weather’ and figuratively it speaks of ‘brilliance and splendour’, coming from an unused root which means, ‘to shimmer/shine’! .

Gold speaks of the royalty of Messiah – and it was the first of the 3 gifts brought by the Magi, when they came into the house and saw the Child with His mother – they saw the King of Kings!!! .

As we consider the silver and gold being brought here, we can identify the clear truth that, in order to properly shine as lights in this world, we must be redeemed from the world, in order to serve our Master and Elohim, in complete set-apartness and Truth..

In the Hebrew text, the word that is translated as ‘crown’ is עֲטָרוֹת Atharoth, which is written in the plural from of the root word עֲטָרָה atarah – Strong’s H5850 which means, ‘crown, wreath’, and is the feminine noun from the root verb עָטַר atar – Strong’s H5849 which means, ‘to surround, to crown’..

This speaks metaphorically of honour and authority, and we see that this root word עֲטָרָה atarah – Strong’s H5850 is used as such, as we see that which is considered to be a crown, as seen in:

1) Mishlĕ/Proverbs 12:4 “A capable wife is the crown of her husband, but one causing shame is like rottenness in his bones.”

2) Mishlĕ/Proverbs 14:24 “The crown of the wise is their wealth, the folly of fools is folly.”

3) Mishlĕ/Proverbs 16:31 “Grey hair is a crown of adorning, it is found in the way of righteousness.”

4) Mishlĕ/Proverbs 17:6 “Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the adornment of children is their fathers.” .

The ultimate metaphor for this word עֲטָרָה atarah – Strong’s H5850, that is used for ‘crown’, is found in:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 28:5 “In that day יהוה of hosts is for a crown of splendour and a head-dress of comeliness to the remnant of His people”

יהוה will be the crown of His remnant Bride – that is: to those who have exalted and esteemed the wisdom of His Torah!!!..

This picture of the command to make crowns, is a clear prophecy of the authority of Messiah being firmly established, as all come to surrender before Him, as we know that every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess that יהושע Messiah is Master and Elohim and acknowledge that all authority and rulership belong to Him alone!.

With the picture of making crowns (plural) and putting them on the head of the high priest, we are able to see a clear prophecy of Messiah being firmly established as High Priest and King, forever, in the order of Malkitseḏeq. .

The plurality of crowns fits perfectly into the visions and revelation that Yoḥanan was given in Ḥazon/Revelation:

Ḥazon/Revelation 4:4 “And around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones, I saw twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white robes. And they had crowns of gold on their heads.”

Ḥazon/Revelation 4:9-11 “And when the living creatures give esteem and respect and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and bow before Him who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “You are worthy, O יהוה, to receive esteem and respect and power, for You have created all, and because of Your desire they are, and were created.””.

As you will notice from the accounts given to us in Ḥazon/Revelation 4, is that the 24 elders cast their crowns before Him who sits on the throne!!!

This is a clear picture of the acknowledgment and confession that all authority belongs to Him who sits on the throne!.

We again see the clear revelation of Him, who has all the crowns upon His Head, being the one who sits on the white horse, as seen in:

Ḥazon/Revelation 19:11-13 “And I saw the heaven opened, and there was a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Trustworthy and True, and in righteousness He judges and fights. 12 And His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns, having a Name that had been written, which no one had perceived except Himself – 13 and having been dressed in a robe dipped in blood – and His Name is called: The Word of יהוה.”.

In this wonderful series of revelations, we are able to see the clear confirmation of prophecy, that the Trustworthy and True One who sits on the white horse, and has many crowns on His Head, is none other than יהושע Messiah, who is The Word of יהוה and He is יהוה our Saviour, Redeemer and King!

This witness of prophecy is also declared in the instructions that were given to Zeḵaryah, when he was told to make crowns and put them on the head of Yehoshua the high priest. .

The name of יְהוֹשֻׁעַ Yehoshua – Strong’s H3091 means, ‘יהוה is deliverance, יהוה is our deliverer’ – and this is the same Name used for יהושע, only with different vowel pointing’s that were not yet written into the text at the time of these writings of Mosheh! .

This name יְהוֹשֻׁעַ Yehoshua – Strong’s H3091 comes from two words:

1) The Name of יַהְוֶה YAHWEH – Strong’s H3068 and

2) The root verb יָשַׁע yasha – Strong’s H3467 which means, ‘to deliver, save, salvation’..

These instructions that were given to Zeḵaryah, were a clear prophesy of יהושע Messiah coming in the flesh, in order to build His Temple/Dwelling Place – which we are! .

I am of the belief that Yehoshua’s name may have even been pronounced the same as our Saviour (Yahushua), as he is the shadow picture of our Deliver and Redeemer.

This Yehoshua is not the same Yehoshua that led Yisra’ěl into the Promised Land, as he was the son of Nun, whereas this Yehoshua, at the time of Zeḵaryah, was the son of Yehotsaḏaq, and he was the high priest that was serving at that time.

Both of the lives of Yehoshua, son of Nun and Yehoshua, son of Yehotsaḏaq, are clear shadow pictures of our Master, Elohim and King, יהושע Messiah, who is our High Priest and King, who fights for us, intercedes for us and shall lead us into His Reign!.

The Hebrew name יְהוֹצָדָק Yehotsaḏaq – Strong’s H3087 means, ‘YAHWEH is righteous’, and further strengthens the clear message of our righteous Saviour and King..

In Chapter 3 Zeḵaryah is given his 4^th vision, where he sees Yehoshua the high priest, being cleansed and clothed, having overcome Satan and removing the guilt of the people of Elohim, which was a clear shadow picture of the redemptive work of our Master, who knew no sin and became sin for us, so that, in Him, we might become the righteousness of Elohim.

And now here, after the 8^th vision, we see with the instructions that were given for him to crown Yehoshua, the high priest, as a clear establishment of the prophetic announcement of the office of High Priest and King being made One in Messiah, and having His reign firmly established here on earth!!!.

In verse 12-15 of Chapter 6, we take note of the words that Zeḵaryah was told to speak, and as part of this clear declaration of יהוה, that this prophet was commanded to speak to Yehoshua, we see the clear prophetic words of:.

“See, the Man whose Name is The Branch!”.

Part of this statement was spoken by Pilate, at the time of Messiah, when he had been beaten and a crown of thorns was placed upon His head, seen in:

Yoḥanan/John 19:5 “Then יהושע came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “See the Man!””.

After having been flogged, robed in purple and having a crown of thorns put on His head and mocked, this statement was made, in a clear prophetic fulfilment of The Man who is The Branch… a clear declaration that this Man, יהושע, was the prophesied Branch that is the High Priest and King that will build the Hěḵal of יהוה!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘see’ is הִנֵּה hinneh – Strong’s H2009 which means, ‘Lo! Behold! Look! See!’, which is the prolonged form of the word הֵן hen – Strong’s H2005, which is an interjection that demands attention and is mainly used to emphasise the information that follows.

This was a very clear declaration that was being made!.

The ‘order of Malkitseḏeq’, which is the set-apart and royal priesthood that we have been called to, is firmly established by the coming of The Branch of Righteousness – that is: Messiah – whose name is The Branch!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘Branch’ is צֶמַח tsemaḥ – Strong’s H6780 which means, ‘a sprout, growth, branch, shoot’ and comes from the primitive root verb צָמַח tsamaḥ – Strong’s H6779 meaning, ‘to sprout, spring up, grow’..

As we take a look at the use of the term צֶמַח tsemaḥ – Strong’s H6780 we are able to clearly recognise that this is a reference to יהושע Messiah.

This word צֶמַח tsemaḥ – Strong’s H6780 is only used 12 times in Scripture, with 5 of those being a direct reference to יהושע Messiah, who would come and save His people and establish His Righteous Reign here on earth!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 4:2 “In that day the Branch of יהוה shall be splendid and esteemed. And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for the escaped ones of Yisra’ěl.”.

The Branch of יהוה is identified at the righteous King who would come from Dawiḏ’s line, in Yirmeyahu, as well as being יהוה’s Servant in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 3:8, which is a clear prophetic link to Messiah and His Body.

Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 3:8 “Now listen, Yehoshua the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for they are men of symbol. For look, I am bringing forth My Servant – the Branch.”

What יהוה was declaring here, was that a wondrous display of His power was yet to come, as we see the promise of The Branch of Righteousness that would come forth and in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6, we are given a powerful prophesy that declares that יהושע Messiah is The Branch!.

The prophetic words of יהוה, given through Zeḵaryah, establish the clear announcement of יהושע Messiah being declared as High Priest and King, as we see what would typically be an abnormal situation in Yisra’ěl, as these two offices of High Priest and King, come from two different tribes and therefore, we see the prophetic announcement of the order of Malkitseḏeq being boldly declared. .

These two offices, of High Priest and King, can, and is, only fulfilled in יהושע Messiah, the Branch, who shall be a priest on His Throne and have the counsel of peace between them both!

The phrase or term that is translated as ‘them both’ is a reference to the two offices of High Priest and King, which was always officiated by two separate people from two different tribes, as a prophetic shadow picture of the True Righteous Branch and Head, יהושע Messiah!.

In Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah, we take note that The Branch of Righteousness will do right-ruling and righteousness in the earth!

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 23:5-6 “See, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when I shall raise for Dawiḏ a Branch of righteousness, and a Sovereign shall reign and act wisely, and shall do right-ruling and righteousness in the earth. 6 “In His days Yehuḏah shall be saved, and Yisra’ěl dwell safely. And this is His Name whereby He shall be called: ‘יהוה our Righteousness.’”

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 33:15 “In those days and at that time I cause a Branch of righteousness to spring forth for Dawiḏ. And He shall do right-ruling and righteousness in the earth.”.

What we are able to clearly recognise, through the prophetic words contained in Yirmeyahu and Zeḵaryah, is that they clearly prophesied that יהושע Messiah would come forth as the Branch, prophetically revealing the Name of Messiah being יהושע, which declares that יהוה is our Saviour..

In a Tehillah/Psalm of Asaph, we also are able to see the urgent cry for help being given, as Asaph asks יהוה to come and save His vine that He had planted.

Asaph, in speaking of the vine, was lamenting over the root that had been planted and the son who had grown and had now been cut off and destroyed.

Tehillah/Psalm 80:14-19 “Return, we beg You, O Elohim of hosts; look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine, 15 and the stock which Your right hand has planted, and the Son whom You made strong for Yourself. 16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down; thy perish at the rebuke of Your face. 17 Let Your hand be upon the One at Your right hand, upon the Son of Aḏam whom You made strong for Yourself, 18 and we shall not backslide from You. Revive us, and let us call upon Your Name. 19 Turn us back, O יהוה Elohim of hosts, and cause Your face to shine, that we might be saved!”.

The term ‘Son’, in Tehillah/Psalm 80:15, which is verse 16 in The Hebrew text, is translated as ‘branch’ in some translations, and this echoes the prophetic call for Messiah to come and bring deliverance.

What is worth taking note of, is the rendering of this verse in the Targum text, which is the Aramaic translation.

Below, we can see this verse as rendered in the Hebrew, Aramaic, English interlinear:

 

 

 

The top line is the Hebrew text and the middle line is the Aramaic translation, done in Hebrew block letters, and what is worth taking note of, is that the Aramaic text does not say ‘son’ but rather has the term or phrase that can be translated as ‘The King Messiah’, as highlighted above – which is transliterated from Aramaic as:

מלכא משיחא

malke masheeḥa

King Messiah.

The Hebrew text has the term ‘son’, written as:

בֵּן ben – Strong’s H1121 which means ‘son’.

This highlights for us a powerful understanding of this prophetic call and cry for the Righteous Branch and King to come and save the vine of Elohim!

The ‘son’, also refers to the nation that sprang forth from ‘the root’ and what we are able to see from Scripture, is the clear parable of deliverance that our Righteous King has brought to us, through His life, death and resurrection. .

Yisra’ěl, as a nation, is personified as ‘the son’, who was delivered from Mitsrayim and was therefore the vine that was planted, yet through unrighteousness had been uprooted and cut off, only able to be grafted back in, through the Blood of Messiah, the True Vine and Righteous Branch that would come forth from the line of Dawiḏ.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 11:10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Yishai, standing as a banner to the people. Unto Him the gentiles shall seek, and His rest shall be esteem.”

The Hebrew word used here for ‘root’ is שֹׁרֶשׁ shoresh – Strong’s H8328 which means, ‘a root, base, depths, soles’, and is figuratively used to describe the firmness and permanence of people!

The Greek word used for ‘root’ is the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak – O.T.) is ῥίζα rhiza – Strong’s G4491, and we see this word being used to by Messiah in declaring that He is the ROOT:

Ḥazon/Revelation 22:16 “I, יהושע, have sent My messenger to witness to you these matters in the assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of Dawiḏ, the Bright and Morning Star.”.

Sha’ul teaches us very clearly that without Messiah, The Root upon which we are to be established, we shall not be able to stand and bear the fruit of righteousness!

Romiyim/Romans 11:16 “Now if the first-fruit is set-apart, the lump is also. And if the root is set-apart, so are the branches.”.

We are the branches and not the root, and without the root we cannot live!

The Righteous root will never be shaken or moved; therefore, we who stay in the Righteous Root shall never be shaken!.

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 23:6, as quoted already, tells us that:

The Branch shall be called יהוה our righteousness!!!.

For more on this, please see the notes of a message called:

‘YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS – THE BRANCH REVEALED!’.

This can be found on our site (https://atfotc.com) under the sermons 2020/2021 menu or by simply clicking on the following link:

https://atfotc.com/yahweh-our-righteousness-the-branch-revealed-2/.

In verses 12-13 of Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6, it is made clear that The Branch – which is יהושע Messiah, who is יהוה our righteousness – who is The Word of יהוה – is He who builds His Hěḵal and He shall sit and rule on His throne and be a priest on His throne!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘build’ comes from the root verb בָּנָה banah – Strong’s H1129 which means, ‘to build, besieged, construct, fortify, rebuild, establish a family, build up’.

Another word that is derived from this root verb, through the meaning ‘to build’, is אֶבֶן eḇen – Strong’s H68 which means, ‘stone, corner stone, differing weights, plumb line’. .

We are therefore able to see how it is יהוה who builds us up as living stones; and being built up in Him, we are able to stand strong and stand firm in any circumstance, with the full assurance that The Rock upon which we stand, will stand firm and not be moved or shaken! .

We are built up as living stones in Messiah, as Kěpha describes in:

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:4-5 “Drawing near to Him, a living Stone – rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim and precious – 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up, a spiritual house, a set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings acceptable to Elohim through יהושע Messiah.”.

A word that is derived from the root verb בָּנָה banah – Strong’s H1129 is the Hebrew word is בֵּן ben – Strong’s H1121 which means, ‘son, grandson, child, member of a group, children (plural for both male and female)’...

In the ancient pictographic Hebrew alphabet, the word בֵּן ben – Strong’s H1121 looks like this:.

   .

Beyt – בֵּ:

This is the letter ‘beyt’ (בֵּ), which in the ancient script has this letter as , which pictures a tent floor plan and means, ‘house’ or ‘tent’.

It represents family and the importance of those who are inside the tent as opposed to the tent structure itself and is the Dwelling Place of the Most-High, which we are, as we are as living stones being built up in Messiah..

Nun – ן:

This is the letter ‘nun’ (ן), which in the ancient text is pictured as a , which is a ‘spouting seed’, and gives the idea of ‘continuation or an offspring or an heir’, speaking of that which sprouts forth will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy..

The combined meaning of these two letters means:

THE CONTINUING OF THE HOUSE.

When I refer to “son” or “son-ship”, in reference to our relationship toward Elohim, I am collectively speaking of both male and female children (or sons and daughters) of the Most-High, as the Hebrew root word for son – בֵּן ben – Strong’s H1121, which is used over 5000 times, is not exclusively used a reference to the male offspring of human parents.

It is also generally used, idiomatically, for children, as well as for descendants, i.e., grandsons; and is also used for people or items belonging in a category or group of people, e.g., “sons of prophets”. .

And we also recognise that, in Scripture, the term בֵּן ben – Strong’s H1121 often specifies an intimate relationship between a father and his children.

We see the plural of this word, which is בָּנִים – baniym, being translated as ‘children’ in:

Tehillah/Psalm 103:13 “As a father has compassion for his children, so יהוה has compassion for those who fear Him.”.

“Son-ship”, in Scripture, is not always regarded to being a natural position based on physical bloodline, but rather, “son-ship” of Elohim, is that which is conferred to us by an act of Elohim. .

Son-ship should not be understood as an assured son-ship, based on natural descent or merit; but rather, it is based on Elohim’s extended favour and mercy, that is received by faith in Messiah! .

And He extended His great loving-commitment toward His Covenants of Promise, by coming in the flesh, in order to redeem us, and to restore to favour all unto Himself – so that we, who were once estranged and enemies in the mind by wicked works, could be completely restored to favour, in the body of His flesh, through death, and be presented set-apart and blameless before Him, having received an adoption, as sons of the Living Elohim – if indeed we continue in the belief, not being moved in our fully committed loving obedience to His commands, as faithful sons!.

When we consider how we are being built up, as living stones in our Master, and are the Dwelling Place of Elohim, we see that we can only be built up, in the One who is to be praised, and we can only be built up, according to His wisdom – the wisdom that He has already made clear and by which all is made, for we know, according to the Word, that wisdom has already ‘built Her house’. .

In other words, the design and pattern and function has been given and the continuing of the House of Wisdom, can only be done according to Her standards as set forth in the Word of Elohim!.

This gives fuller meaning and clarity to us, when we take a look at the Hebrew word, for built, in the ancient pictographic text:.

The Hebrew word בָּנָה banah – Strong’s H1129 which means, ‘to build, besieged, construct, fortify, rebuild, establish a family, build up’, in the ancient pictographic script, is pictured as follows:

  

  .

You will notice that there is one additional letter that is added here to this word that differs from the word for ‘son’.

This additional letter is the letter: .

Hey – ה:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is ‘a man standing with his arms raised out’.

The Hebrew word letter “hey” means “behold, breath, sigh”, as when looking at a great sight, and can also give the understanding of ‘reveal or revelation’; from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender, as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!.

Recognising the clear pictures of this word, we can see that the continuing of the House of Elohim, that He has built by His wisdom, is only made possible by the One who is to be praised – that is: our Head, יהושע Messiah!!!.

What is also worth taking note of, is that another word that is derived from the root verb בָּנָה banah – Strong’s H1129, is the noun תַּבְנִית taḇniyth – Strong’s H8403 which means, ‘construction, pattern, figure, copy, image, likeness, model, plan’, which is translated as ‘pattern’, in the clear instructions that Mosheh was given on the mountain, when יהוה told him to make the Tabernacle exactly according to the ‘pattern’ that he was shown on the mountain!.

Why I am emphasising this, is simply to highlight how it is through the clear pattern of His Word, that we are equipped and enabled to be built up as the Dwelling Place of Elohim, where He can come and dwell in the midst of..

The way we are built up in the Master, is according to the pattern which is in the heavens and so, just as Mosheh was told to do exactly according to the pattern, we too must recognise that we can only be properly built up, as living stones, when we follow the clear pattern, given by our Master. .

When we consider the instructions that were given to Mosheh, we are further enabled to understand the teaching our Master and Elohim gave us, on how we are to pray:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 6:9-10 “This, then, is the way you should pray: ‘Our Father who is in the heavens, let Your Name be set-apart, 10 let Your reign come, let Your desire be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Greek word that is used here for ‘as it is’ is ὡς hōs – Strong’s G5613 which means, ‘as, like as, even as’ and through this clear teaching, we recognise that our Master was teaching us to pray to the Father, that His desire be done on earth, as it is in the heavens and therefore, this echoes the same instructions that were given to Mosheh, with the pattern shown to him in the heavens, for the Tabernacle was to be a clear representation on earth ‘as it is’ in the heavens..

The pattern of the dwelling place of Elohim has always been one that comes from above and therefore we recognise how important it is for us to take note of, study and meditate on the Torah of Elohim in order to know His pattern for us, His Dwelling Place!.

The Hebrew word הֵיכָל Hěḵal – Strong’s H1964 means, ‘a palace, temple, court, sanctuary’ and is a word that is also used to describe the Temple/Dwelling Place of יהוה, which we are!.

It is He who is going to bear the splendour!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘splendour’ in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6:13, comes from the root word הוֹד hoḏ – Strong’s H1935 which means, ‘splendour, honour, majesty, authority, beauty’.

This root word is used 24 times in the Tanak and is predominantly connected with Elohim!

His majesty and honour can be seen in all creation, and is above the heavens and the earth, and fills the earth!

Ḥaḇaqquq/Habakkuk 3:3 “Eloah comes from Tĕman, and the Set-apart One from Mount Paran. Selah. His splendour shall cover the heavens, and His praise shall fill the earth.”

This verse speaks of the return of Messiah, who shall come from the south (Tĕman) and when He comes, He shall come in the fullness of His splendour!

As ambassadors of our Master and Elohim, we are to be on guard that we do not give our splendour to others – and by that, I mean that we are to guard ourselves against defiling the splendour of His righteousness, which can happen when we do not keep ourselves far from the ways, and door, of the strange woman!

He shall sit and rule on His Throne!

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘rule’, in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6:13, is מָשַׁל mashal – Strong’s H4910 which means, ‘to rule, have dominion, reign’. .

This is a clear picture of victory that our King has brought forth, having put all under His feet, destroying all that tried to set itself against Him, in an attempt to rule.

We are reminded of this when Yehoshua had victory over Amalĕq in the valley of Rephiḏim, after which Mosheh built a slaughter-place to יהוה:

Shemoth/Exodus 17:15-16 “And Mosheh built an altar and called its name, יהוה Nissi, 16 for he said, “Because a hand is on the throne of Yah, יהוה is to fight against Amalěq, from generation to generation.”

Here, in verse 16 of Shemoth/Exodus 17, we are given the power of the full assurance that we serve a Living Elohim! .

When we understand, in Hebrew, that a hand is often used as a metaphor for the work, or working strength, of a being, then we are also able to see that by the expression of, ‘a hand is on the throne of Yah’, we are able to fully grasp that the One who fights for us, is active in His right-ruling and judgements, as His throne, which represents His Authority, is a Throne upon which there is a Living, working and Saving Hand; which further emphasises that, due to this fact, we shall always have the Hand of Yah fighting our enemies for us!.

The Outstretched Arm and Right Hand of Elohim, The Branch, יהושע Messiah is ‘on the Throne of Yah’, while He is also continually interceding for us, as High Priest forever, in the order of Malkitseḏeq. .

The thrones of other false mighty ones are simply man-made thrones, in which there is no life or power, yet the Throne of or Elohim, the Elohim of the Living, is active and in the power and Authority of the Living Word that proceeds from the Throne, we have the full assurance of the promised provision and protection of our great Elohim and saviour!.

As we consider these words, that are contained in this verse 16 of Shemoth/Exodus 17, we take note of a couple of varied translations, or rather interpretations, as to what the text is saying.

The phrase ‘Because a hand is on the throne of Yah’ has various translators stating that the Hebrew word for ‘throne’ may in fact have been the word for ‘banner’, especially as we consider the declaration of the slaughter-place that was built, as a remembrance, and called יהוה נִסִּי – יהוה Nissi, which means יהוה our banner or יהוה is my banner. .

In Hebrew, the phrase is written as follows:

כִּי־יָד עַל־כֵּס יָהּ

kiy-yaḏ al-kes Yah.

Broken down, word by word, we take note of the root meaning of each word:

1) כִּי kiy – Strong’s H3588 is a primary conjunction that can mean, ‘that, for, when, because, if, since’ and here clearly begins a clear statement that will be followed by the resulting action of what is first being declared!

2) יָד  yaḏ – Strong’s H3027 is a primitive noun which is translated as, ‘hand, command, authority, power, tenon, side’, and the primary meaning of this noun is “the terminal part of the arm used to perform functions of man’s will.”, and we understand in the Hebraic mind-set that one’s hand symbolises what one does or one’s ‘works’ and to us as believers it speaks of our works of righteousness – that is the guarding and doing of His commands, while to unbelievers it can signify their works of unrighteousness or lawlessness!

3) כֵּס kes – this word that has been translated as ‘throne’, is thought to be a construct of the word כִּסֵּא kisse – Strong’s H3678 which means, ‘seat of honour, throne, authority, and official seat’, and speaks of the seat of the king and is a symbol of royal authority.

4) יה Yah – Strong’s H3050 which is the contracted Name of יהוה.

So, what is it that has translators questioning the Hebrew phrase here?

It is the word that is translated as ‘throne’, which is כֵּס kes, as some translators believe that the word ‘banner’ is better suited here and explain that their reasoning for this is that the original Hebrew word may have rather been the word נֵס nes – Strong’s H5251 which means, ‘a standard, ensign, signal, sign, banner, distinguishing mark’. .

The thought is that the two Hebrew letters כֵּ ‘kaf’ and נֵ ‘nun’, can often look the same when written in free hand and some maintain that it is possible that the writer was writing a ‘nun’ but may have looked like a ‘kaf’. .

If this was the case, then the phrase would render the following:

‘Because a hand is on the banner of Yah’.

For some this makes better sense, especially in following the compound Name of

יהוה נִסִּי

YAHWEH Nissi.

While there may be debate over this, what is made very clear here, is that on that day, Mosheh made a clear declaration of Truth that יהוה would fight against Amalěq, from generation to generation!

Another aspect that has been presented by some, is that the hand being referred to here, may be that of Amalĕq’s, which renders for us the picture of Amalěq assuming the role of being in authority by ‘putting their hand on the throne/banner’ of Yah, hence the statement that Mosheh makes becoming clear that because of this false authority, that sets itself up as Elohim, יהוה Himself will fight against that which tries to set itself up in the place of Elohim!.

The throne represents the authority and right-ruling or judgement, while the banner represents the display of who one’s authority is..

With this interpretation, we can see the picture of the anti-Messiah trying to be the authority and get others to follow his wicked authority, which he does by works of falsehood, trickery and lies!

With the interpretation of the hand being on the throne/banner, representing Amalĕq, we take note of the lesson that we can get from this, in this being a clear warning against stubbornness and pride. .

The name Amalĕq, means, ‘dweller in the valley’ and can represent for us those who are in the ‘valley of decision’, so to speak, and are double minded in their walk, as they refuse to humbly submit to the true judgement and leadership of Messiah!

What Mosheh is making very clear here is that יהוה is against all those who are against Him and His people!

There will always be an Amalĕq against the people of יהוה, and so יהוה will always fight for us!!!

Tehillah/Psalm 21:8-13 “Your hand reaches all Your enemies; Your right hand reaches those who hate You. 9 You make them as a furnace of fire in the time of Your presence; יהוה does swallow them up in His wrath, and fire does consume them. 10 You destroy their fruit from the earth, and their seed from among the sons of men. 11 For they held out evil against You; they devised a plot; they do not prevail. 12 For You make them turn their back, when You aim with Your bowstring toward their faces. 13 Be exalted, O יהוה, in Your strength! We sing and we praise Your might.” .

The varying interpretations and possible translations of this unique phrase, of a hand being on the throne/banner of Yah, can be both a great encouragement as well as a stern warning, as we recognise the joy of knowing that we have a Mighty Elohim who fights for us, while we also recognise the caution against pride and assuming to be your own authority and doing what is right in your own eyes, for יהוה will bring down those who have proud hearts and have exalted themselves above Him!.

Tas’loniqim Bět/2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 “Let no one deceive you in any way, because the falling away is to come first, and the man of lawlessness is to be revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called Elohim or that is worshipped, so that he sits as Elohim in the Dwelling Place of Elohim, showing himself that he is Elohim.”.

Whichever way you may interpret these words of Mosheh, in Shemoth/Exodus 17:16, we can be sure of the Truth that we have a Mighty Elohim who fights for us, and under whom we submit and walk, and in doing so we have great confidence, boldness sand shalom, to stand firm and armed in His Truth, as we lift our hands in praise and prayer, making our boast and praise in Him, while also praying for each other. .

We also recognise that despite the enemies attempt at trying to usurp the authority of Elohim over others, through works of lawlessness and pride, יהוה will fight against all that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim!.

May we therefore walk under the banner of the Most-High as we walk in victory and overcome, because our Saviour, High-Priest and King is seated on his Throne and serves on his Throne as High Priest! .

As already mentioned, the prophetic actions of Zeḵaryah, by putting the crowns on the head of Yehoshua the high priest, and declaring that the counsel of peace shall be between them both, he was establishing the clear prophecy of Messiah taking up His rightful position as the Righteous High Priest and King, forever..

Both offices of High Priest and King will be held by the One True and Trustworthy witness, יהושע Messiah!.

In Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6:14 we are told that the crowns are for a remembrance!

And the reason for this, was that the physical position of Yehoshua, son of Yehotsaḏaq, would not entail the office as king, during his time as high priest, but that these actions would be a clear prophetic reminder of what is to come, in order to establish the sure hope that we have in our Mighty Master and Elohim!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘crown’ is, as mentioned, written in the plural and represents the picture of ‘crowns’, which we have already discussed in depth.

These crowns that were prophetically put on the head of Yehoshua, would be a reminder to Ḥělem, and to Toḇiyah, and to Yeḏayah, and to Ḥěn son of Tsephanyah..

What is worth taking note of here, is that there are alternative names that are given to Ḥeldai and to Yoshiyah.

Instead of the name Ḥeldai, we see the Hebrew name חֵלֶם Ḥelem – Strong’s H2494 being used, which means, ‘strength, dream’ and instead of the name of Yoshiyah, son of Tsephanyah, we are given the name חֵן Ḥen – Strong’s H2581 which means, ‘favour’..

As we consider the visions and instructions of this chapter, we are able to see a powerful promise to those who have come out of Baḇelon, so to speak, find favour with Elohim and are strengthened in the revelation of His goodness and the knowledge of who He is!.

Though we are in the world, we find our strength in the clear revelation of The Word of Elohim, as we are able to draw near to His throne of favour in our time of need, acknowledging that He is Good and we have the full assurance that we know that we know Him, when we guard His commands and give all authority to Him, as we submit as faithful ambassadors and servants of the Most-High Elohim!.

These crowns of remembrance are to cause one to remain steadfast in being overcomers in Messiah, holding fast the boldness and the boasting of the expectation of Messiah, firm to the end!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘remembrance’ is זִכָּרוֹן zikkaron – Strong’s H2146 which means ‘memorial, commemoration or remembrance’ and comes from the root word זָכַר zaḵar – Strong’s H2142 which means ‘to remember, or be mindful, or bring to remembrance’. .

We are to continually ‘bring to remembrance’ the clear fact that we serve a Living Elohim, Saviour, High Priest and King, who is seated on His Throne, and in doing so, we remember that we are His Bride that is to be making Herself ready for His return!.

We are told on Shaḇuoth that we are to remember that we were slaves in Mitsrayim, and the reason for this, is to cause is to remember who we now are, in Messiah, and that we who have come out and separated from the fleshly worldly ways, are reminded that we are to be faithful ambassadors of His reign as we put our hand to the plough and not look back as we work out our deliverance with fear and trembling!.

It is with this call to ‘remember’ in mind that I would like us to take a look at one more word, in its ancient pictographic form… and that is, of course, the Hebrew word זָכַר zaḵar – Strong’s H2142 which means ‘to remember, or be mindful, or bring to remembrance’, which is pictured as follows:.

    .

Zayin – זְ:

The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as , which is a mattock (a sharp digging tool such as an axe or pick) and carries the meaning of ‘a weapon or tool that cuts, farming instrument’. A mattock would be a tool that was also used to dig up the soil so that seed could be planted. This picture clearly pictures a tool that is used to work and therefore can also render for us the meaning of work or a work that is done, and more specifically, the harvest that is brought forth!.

Kaph – כְ:

The ancient form of this letter is – meaning ‘the open palm of a hand’. The meaning behind this letter is ‘to bend and curve’ from the shape of a palm as well as ‘to tame or subdue’ as one has been bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises submission. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch from the curved palm shape. The hand also speaks of one’s work, or under whose hand you submit and obey!.

Resh – ר:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is ‘the head of a man’ and carries the meaning of ‘top, beginning, first, chief’, as in being the top of the body or the head of a tribe and the one who rules; and also speaks of possession or inheritance that is decided by the chief.

Our true life of praise unto יהוה, our Head, begins when we fear Him, for He is the beginning of our strength, and true separated praise entails a true fear of the One who is Chief over us!.

As we consider this root word that is understood as ‘remember’, in its pictographic form, we are able to glean the following:

THE HARVEST WORKED BY OUR HEAD!

When looking at the word זִכָּרוֹן Zikkaron – Strong’s H2146 which means, ‘memorial, commemoration or remembrance’, in the ancient pictographic text, we are able to get further understanding of the importance of that which is commanded for us to be a remembrance..

    

.

The additional two letters that we see being used to form this word זִכָּרוֹן Zikkaron – Strong’s H2146, from the root word זָכַר zaḵar – Strong’s H2142 are the letters ‘waw’ (וֹ) and ‘nun’ (ן), which is represented in the ancient pictographic as follows:.

Waw – וֹ:

The ancient pictographic form of this letter is , a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’..

Nun – נְ:

The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as , which pictures a ‘sprouting seed’ and gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which sprouts forth will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy, and can carry the meaning of ‘new life or renewal, rebirth’..

When seeing this word, we are able to understand the wonderful work of our Master and how by His Work, He has secured the harvest, giving us the promise of life to those that are in Him and are gathered unto Him!.

THE HARVEST WORKED BY OUR HEAD

SECURES THE RENEWAL OF LIFE!.

This are such awesome pictures for us to consider, in our remembering that we were slaves in Mitsrayim and shall guard the Torah of our Master and Elohim!

There are a number of powerful images that we can glean from these words, in their pictographic form, as we take note that the harvest has been secured by the work of the Hand our Elohim, our Head, יהושע Messiah! .

We are therefore reminded that we are to be workers in the harvest field that is ripe, for He has already worked the harvest, given us the Good Seed that is to be sowed into hearts and as we do this, we shall see ‘those who are far away coming to build’, as described in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6:15..

The closing promise that is given in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6 is that all of this shall be, if we diligently obey the voice of יהוה our Elohim, for then we shall see this and rejoice!!!.

If you ‘diligently obey’ the voice of יהוה!

The expression ‘diligently obey’ which is also translated in others scripts as ‘faithfully obey’ or ‘listen carefully’ is made up of the same root word repeated twice in a row and could also be rendered as ‘if obeying you obey’ showing emphasis on obedience; and this root word that is repeated is: שָׁמַע shama – Strong’s H8085 which carries the meaning of not just simply hearing, but rather to: ‘listen with attention, comprehend and discern, give heed to what is being spoken’.

Again, the emphasis on walking in the blessings is IF you hear, guard and do His commands – it is as simple as that, yet sadly so many today want to claim all the blessings while wilfully choosing to walk contrary to the Torah. .

The Hebrew word translated as ‘if’ is אִם im – Strong’s H518 which is a conditional participle or primary conjunction which renders, ‘if, though, either, neither, when, whenever’.

The basic meaning of this word is “if” and this meaning can be seen in most of its occurrences as it usually occurs in conditional clauses, which we are able to see very clearly here!

It shall be…. IF you diligently obey the voice of יהוה!.

In the ancient pictographic script, the Hebrew word שָׁמַע shama – Strong’s H8085, which means to ‘hear, listen and obey’, is pictured as follows:.

    .

Shin – שָׁ:

This is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as, , which is ‘two front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do, and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth, as the teeth ‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp!

It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food and can represent The Word..

Mem – מַ:

The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown.

We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture. This also carries for us the picture of washing, as we understand the function of water being that which cleanses us and sustains us, showing us how we are washed and sustained by the Living Waters of the Word! This letter also can represent any liquid, especially blood!.

Ayin – ע:

The original pictograph for this letter is and represents the idea of ‘seeing and watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’, as the eye is the ‘window of knowledge’..

Now, when considering the construction of these pictographs, giving us the root word, which means to hear, we are able to gain a clearly understanding of the revelation of our Master and His Word that cleanses us to have a hearing ear and a seeing eye!.

THE WORD

THAT WASHES OUR EYES.

It is through a proper hearing of The Word that belief comes and a revelation of our Master is properly embraced when doing what we hear, as we know that when one turns to the Master the veil is taken away, highlighting the need for us to fix our eyes upon Him, in order to have hearing ears and seeing eyes..

Understanding our need to be a people who are listening attentively and giving heed to His Word in a time when most are not let us recognise that this is certainly the time to now be a hearing and discerning and obeying people!.

We are to diligently obey the voice of יהוה!

The Hebrew word for ‘voice’ is קוֹל qol – Strong’s H6963 which means, ‘sound, voice, noise, thunder, proclamation’, and comes from an unused root meaning, ‘to call aloud’. .

What is clear to us, is that the VOICE of יהוה has been spoken and leaves the choice up to each individual of whether they will hear it or not – and by hearing, I mean to hear it and respond to it by guarding to do what He commands!.

In the ancient pictographic script, the word קוֹל qol – Strong’s H6963 looks like this:.

    .

Quph – ק:

This is the Hebrew letter ‘quph’, which is pictured in the ancient script as – – which is a picture of ‘the sun at the horizon’ and depicts the elements of ‘time’, as it pictures the sun in its rising and setting. It therefore carries the meaning of ‘circle’ or ‘to go around’, representing for us both, appointed cycles or times as well as eternity. It also is understood as the ‘gathering of the light’.

Waw/Vav – וֹ:

This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as , which is a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’ as well as ‘bind’..

Lamed – לֵ:

The ancient script has this letter as , and is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’, can give the meaning of ‘to or toward’ and can represent that which pushes or pulls a flock in a direction, and can speak of authority or a yoke that is used to lead and guide, as well as the ability to bring back by Authority. .

These letters combined can give the understanding of: .

GATHERING TO THE SECURE STAFF

OF THE GOOD ETERNAL SHEPHERD.

When the shepherd called the sheep, they swiftly came to him.

The staff of the shepherd was his tool of authority. With it he would direct, discipline and protect the flock. .

Our Good Shepherd’s voice has gone out and, by His Word that does not return empty, He has secured for us the ability to be brought back under His Authority, by His own Blood; and therefore we, as true set-apart children of Light, respond correctly, as we hear His voice, submit to His Authority, take His easy yoke and guard His Torah and gather together, as we should, on His Sabbaths and Feasts! .

If you do not do this then you clearly have misunderstood or do not know the power of His Voice.

The voice of יהוה – is the voice of our Good Shepherd

Are you listening – are you following?.

Yoḥanan/John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

As we embrace this and hear the voice of יהוה, as given through His Torah and commands, I ask you:

“How are you responding?”

He who has an ear

let Him hear and know

The Voice of The Good Shepherd and follow!.

If you are not hearing and obeying, as you should, then you are putting yourself at risk of being cut off!

As people who attentively listen to the voice of Elohim and obey His Word, we learn how we are to guard His Covenant! .

With proper hearing comes the responsibility of a proper guarding, which is ‘TO DO’ what has been commanded, lest we are cut off and separated with those who have ears but are not hearing, as they clearly do not guard to do what the Word commands!

With proper hearing and diligent obeying comes the responsibility of guarding the Covenant!.

As we consider the clear visions and instructions that Zeḵaryah received, here in Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6, may we be a people that do not forget His Word, but echo the psalmist’s declaration in:

Tehillah/Psalm 119:16 “I delight myself in Your laws; I do not forget Your word.”.

May this short study on Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 6, cause you to remember who it is that you are serving, and remember His Covenant that He has caused you to be grafted in to, by His own Blood, and let His everlasting authority be a continual remembrance to you, so that you do not look to the left or to the right, but are steadfast in meditating on His Torah, day and night.

These are:

REVELATIONS TO REMEMBER!.

Our Master is coming soon, and He is coming for His Ready Bride!

How ready are you?

Let His Word cause you to be mindful and awake, having eyes to see, ears to hear and be equipped with His strengthening joy, to be glad, give thanks and rejoice with the voice of song, declaring His praises continually, as you walk in His favour and shalom!.

יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show favour to you; יהוה lift up His face upon you and give you Shalom.