Summary of Zechariah 3
Zechariah saw in his fourth vision Joshua, who stood in “filthy garments” before the Angel of the Lord while “Satan” opposed him. The Lord said, “The Lord rebuke you!” and commanded, “Take away the filthy garments.” God declared, “I have removed your iniquity” and clothed him in “rich robes.” If Joshua would walk in the ways of the Lord, he would govern his house.
God then promises to bring “My Servant the BRANCH (aka Jesus)” to remove the land’s iniquity “in one day,” or the End Times.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18 Day4: Zechariah 3
9) Joshua, representing Israel, stands in “filthy garments” symbolizing their collective sin. God commands these be removed and replaced with “rich robes,” visually demonstrating that He actively takes away their iniquity and bestows a restored, pure status. This exchange illustrates that forgiveness is a gracious gift from God, not a human achievement.
10a) God takes away our sins when we receive the new clothes provided by Christ when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.
It depicts the “Great Exchange” and justification by faith. God removes our “filthy” sin and clothes us in Christ’s perfect righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). This spiritual “wedding garment” (Matthew 22) provides a new, holy identity (Ephesians 4:24) and qualifies us for the eternal feast (Revelation 19), a standing we receive by grace, not merit.
Long Answer:
Zechariah 3:3-5 provides a vivid Old Testament picture of the New Testament doctrine of Imputed Righteousness. It dramatizes exactly what God does for every believer in Christ.
1. The Great Exchange (2 Corinthians 5:21)
In the vision, Joshua does not wash his own clothes; God orders the filthy garments removed and new ones put on.
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The Parallel: This illustrates the “Great Exchange.” Christ takes our “filthy garments” (our sin and shame) upon Himself on the cross, and in return, He clothes us in His “rich robes” (His perfect righteousness). We do not stand before God in our own merit, but in the merit of Jesus.
2. Required for Entrance (Matthew 22:11-12)
In Matthew, the guest without a wedding garment is cast out because he tried to enter the feast on his own terms. In Zechariah, Joshua is only accepted after he is re-clothed.
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The Parallel: God provides the covering necessary to stand in His presence. Just as Joshua could not serve as priest in filthy clothes, we cannot enter the Kingdom in our own “good works.” We must wear the righteousness provided by the King.
3. A New Identity (Ephesians 4:24)
Joshua receives a “clean turban,” symbolizing a renewed mind and a restored status of holiness.
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The Parallel: Salvation is not just a legal acquittal; it is a transformation. We “put on the new self.” God stops identifying us by our past sins (the filth) and identifies us by our new creation in Christ (the festal robes).
4. Preparation for Glory (Revelation 19:7-9)
The “rich robes” in Zechariah anticipate the “fine linen, bright and pure” worn by the Bride of Christ in Revelation.
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The Parallel: What God does at salvation (justification) prepares us for the ultimate wedding feast of the Lamb. The “festal apparel” implies that we are not just cleaned up for duty, but dressed for celebration and eternal joy.
b) Dear Lord, Thank you so much for sending your Son to die for our sins. We are not worthy and never will be, but you love us so much that you accept us anyway. Human words will never be enough to express our gratitude to you. Thank you so much. In Jesus’s name, Amen!
11a) Zechariah 3:8-10 teaches that Joshua (the priest) is just a shadow. The reality is Jesus, who is the Royal King (The Branch), the Solid Foundation (The Stone), and the Final Sacrifice who removes sin forever in One Day.
These symbols portray Christ as the “Branch,” the righteous King from David’s line (Jeremiah 23), and the “Stone,” the sure foundation of God’s kingdom (Isaiah 28). Most significantly, the promise to remove iniquity in “one day” foretells His singular, final atonement on the cross, accomplishing what the law could not.
Long answer:
Zechariah 3:8-10 moves from the specific cleansing of Joshua to a prophetic picture of the Messiah. The “men of sign” (the priests) are foreshadowing a greater High Priest to come.
1. The Branch: The Davidic King
God promises to bring forth “My Servant the BRANCH” (Zechariah 3:8).
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The Symbolism: A “branch” (or shoot) implies new life springing from a seemingly dead stump.
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The Fulfillment: This points to Jesus’ lineage. By the time of Zechariah, the royal line of David had been cut down (no king sat on the throne).
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Isaiah 11:1-4 predicts a “shoot from the stump of Jesse” who will judge with righteousness.
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Jeremiah 23:5-6 calls Him a “righteous Branch” who will be called “The Lord Our Righteousness.”
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Zechariah 6:12-13 later confirms that this Branch will build the temple and, uniquely, sit as a Priest on a Throne.
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Conclusion: Jesus is the “Branch” who unites the offices of King and High Priest, restoring the fallen dynasty of David.
2. The Stone: The Sure Foundation
God sets a “stone” before Joshua (Zechariah 3:9).
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The Symbolism: A single, unshakeable stone chosen by God.
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The Fulfillment: This points to Jesus’ nature as the Foundation of the Church and God’s kingdom.
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Isaiah 28:16 describes God laying a “tested stone” in Zion, a “precious cornerstone” and a sure foundation.
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Psalm 118:22 predicts that the stone the builders rejected would become the “chief cornerstone.”
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Conclusion: Jesus is the rock upon which the new temple (the Church/Believers) is built.
3. The Seven Eyes: Perfect Wisdom
The stone has “seven eyes” (Zechariah 3:9).
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The Symbolism: In the Bible, seven represents perfection or completion.
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The Fulfillment: This points to Jesus’ Omniscience and the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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Isaiah 11:2 describes the Spirit of the Lord (wisdom, understanding, counsel) resting on the Branch.
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Revelation 5:6 portrays the Lamb (Jesus) having “seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”
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4. The “One Day”: The Atonement
God promises to “remove the iniquity of that land in one day” (Zechariah 3:9).
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The Symbolism: The Levitical system required sacrifices day after day, year after year. A removal in “one day” implies a singular, final event.
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The Fulfillment: This points to The Crucifixion (Good Friday).
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Unlike the High Priests who had to offer sacrifices repeatedly, Jesus offered himself “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). The “one day” is the day Jesus died, effectively paying for the sin of the world permanently.
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b) Well, all of God’s Word is connected, and the Old Testament points to the New Testament and the eternal life that Jesus offers/brings.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 4: Zechariah 3
Powerful message of how God will clothe us all in Christ’s salvation.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 4: Zechariah 3
Point of fact: Joshua was the high priest at the time (Haggai 1:1).
This is a great example of how God restricts Satan.
This is a great example of fighting Satan in God’s authority Jude 1:9
Satan tried to say Joshua was dirty (his garments represent the sin of God’s people), and therefore, he should not stand before the Lord. God proves him completely wrong.
A brand is burnt wood and is useful in a fire.
God cleansed Joshua by giving him new garments, aka righteousness and justification. This is a popular idea in the Bible (Genesis 3:7, 3:21) and (Revelation 7:13-14).
Priests wore turbans. (Exodus 28:36-38).
Branch is the title for the Messiah (Isaiah 4:2 and 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5 and 33:15).
Jesus called us branches, too (John 15:5).
Eyes represent knowledge, and the number 7 in the Bible is the number of completion or perfection. Therefore, 7 eyes represent omniscience.
Messiah brings everyone peace, which sitting under a fig tree represents (1 Kings 4:25, 2 Kings 18:31)
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Interpretation
Zechariah 3 (The Vision of the High Priest) is a courtroom drama illustrating forensic justification and spiritual cleansing.
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The Accusation: Joshua the High Priest stands before the Angel of the Lord dressed in “filthy garments” (symbolizing the sin of the nation and the priesthood). Satan stands at his right hand to accuse him. The accusation is valid: Joshua is filthy.
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The Defense: The Lord does not argue that Joshua is clean; instead, He silences the accuser by election: “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” God defends Joshua based on His own choice to save him, not Joshua’s merit.
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The Exchange: God commands the removal of the filthy clothes (removing iniquity) and re-clothes Joshua in “rich robes” and a clean turban. This symbolizes imputed righteousness—God providing the purity that Joshua lacked.
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The Charge & Promise: Joshua is reinstated to his duties with a condition: if he walks in God’s ways, he will govern God’s house.
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The Prophecy: The vision concludes by pointing to the “Branch” (the Messiah) and a single stone with seven eyes, promising that God will “remove the iniquity of that land in one day”—a foreshadowing of the Atonement.
Conclusion
Humanity cannot clean itself, but God provides a change of clothes. The chapter teaches that restoration begins with God silencing our accuser and replacing our sin with His righteousness by grace alone. It affirms that spiritual standing is a gift from God, not an achievement of man.
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