Zechariah 6:4
Then I answered, and said vnto the Angel that talked with mee, What are these, my Lord ? Zechariah 6:4 (KJV)
In this verse the prophet Zechariah is engaged in a vision and is conversing with an angel who is guiding him through the scene. The question appears within a larger passage in Zechariah 6 that records a striking vision of four chariots and four horses.
The context begins in Zechariah 6:1: “And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.” The brass mountains and the four chariots convey the power and strength of God, as brass is often associated with endurance.
Verses 2‑3 describe the horses that pull the chariots: “In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.” Various interpreters have suggested that the colors may symbolize different aspects—red for war or conflict, black for famine or hardship, white for victory or purity, and grisled or bay for a combination of qualities—though these meanings are not explicitly stated in the biblical text.
At Zechariah 6:4 Zechariah asks, “Then answered I, and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?” He seeks clarification about the meaning of the vision, addressing the figure as “my lord.” The text does not specify whether the address is directed to the angel or to the Lord Himself.
The subsequent verses (6:5‑13) record the angel’s explanation of the horses and chariots, revealing their purpose and the divine plan associated with them. Throughout the passage Zechariah’s humility and inquisitiveness are evident, as is his reliance on angelic guidance to understand the prophetic vision.
This scene serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking understanding and clarity when we encounter the mysteries and symbolism within God’s Word, trusting that divine insight will be provided to illuminate the vision.
