Zechariah 3: The Cleansing of the Priesthood

Zechariah 3 documents a dramatic heavenly courtroom scene where Satan stands to accuse Joshua the High Priest, who is dressed in filthy rags. God rebukes Satan, orders the removal of the filthy garments as a sign of taking away iniquity, and clothes Joshua in rich, clean robes. This chapter introduces the Messianic 'Branch' and the stone with seven eyes, signifying the perfect coming of the Redeemer.

  1. v1-5: The Accusation, the Rebuke, and the Change of Raiment
  2. v6-7: The Charge to Walk in God’s Ways
  3. v8-10: The Prophecy of the Branch and the Stone with Seven Eyes

Zechariah chapter 3

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

Witness the power of divine justification as God silences your accuser and restores your capacity to serve Him. Begin your study with zechariah 3 summary.

The 'filthy garments' are specifically Tsoi, a word for the most repulsive kind of excrement, highlighting how far human righteousness falls short of God's holiness. The 'Word Secret' is Tsemach, meaning 'Branch' or 'Sprout,' a title for the Messiah who would grow from the seemingly dead stump of David. Discover the riches with zechariah 3 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.

Unlock the hidden zechariah 3 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.

Have a question about this chapter or a revelation to share? Connect with the Body of Christ to express your heart and find biblical answers within the Zechariah 3 fellowship.

Explore zechariah 3 images, wallpapers, art, audio, video, maps, infographics and timelines

2 min read (296 words)