Zechariah 6:9-13

By

G. Shapiro

The missionaries will say that Zechariah 6:9-13 tells the name of the Messian is to be Joshua. Joshua is crowned and prophetically told and that his name is the shoot/branch, Messiah. Therefore, they conclude, Jesus, whose name is a Greek version of Joshua, must be the messiah.

The Reply is that The verses in question say "The word of the L-RD came to me: Recieve from the exiled community--from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon--and you, in turn proceed the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take silver and gold and make crowns. Place [one] on the head of the High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and say to him, 'Thus said the L-RD of Hosts: Behold, a man call the Branch shall branch out from the place where he is, and he shall build the Temple of the L-RD. He shall build the Temple of the L-RD and shall assume majesty, and he shall sit on his throne and rule. And there shall also be a priest seated on his throne, and harmonious understanding shall prevail between them."

There have been many people named Joshua. In this case, the verses are about Joshua the High Priest in Zechariah's day. It is important to read the verses from a Jewish Tanach. Do not take the missionaries word for the translation. Also, make sure you read it in context. The Branch is the Messiah, but not Joshua the priest. Additionally, the Branch is to rebuild the Temple, Jesus did not do that. Christian missionaries will say that the Temple is to be taken figuratively, but the plain text is clear both here and in Ezekiel, the Temple is to be very real and built in Jerusalem. Nothing here indicates it is Jesus.

Source: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/1551/prophets/zech6v9.htm

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