Zechariah 3
Joshua, the High Priest
1 Then the guiding angel showed me Joshua the high priest [representing disobedient, sinful Israel] standing before the [a]Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to be his adversary and to accuse him.
2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Even the Lord, who [now and ever] has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is this not a [b]log snatched and rescued from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was clothed with [c]filthy (nauseatingly vile) garments and was standing before the Angel [of the Lord].
4 He spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And He said to Joshua, “See, I have caused your wickedness to be taken away from you, and I will clothe and beautify you with rich robes [of forgiveness].”
5 And I (Zechariah) said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with [rich] garments. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
6 And the Angel of the Lord [solemnly and earnestly] admonished Joshua, saying,
7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways [that is, remain faithful] and perform My service, then you will also govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you free access [to My presence] among these who are standing here.
The Branch
8 Now listen, Joshua, the high priest, you and your colleagues who are sitting in front of you--indeed they are men who are a symbol [of what is to come]--for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the [d]Branch [in Messianic glory].
9 For behold, the [e]stone which I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes (symbolizing infinite intelligence, omniscience). Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘and I will remove the wickedness and guilt of this land in a single day.
10 In that day,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and his fig tree [enjoying peace and prosperity in the kingdom].’”
[a] v1: “Angel” has been capitalized here to reflect the likelihood that it is God appearing in a visible form (see note Gen 16:7).
[b] v2: The log represents the returned Jews who had nearly been consumed by the “fire” of the Babylonian captivity.
[c] v3: Symbolic of Judah’s (the Southern Kingdom) disgusting sins.
[d] v8: A Messianic title.
[e] v9: Probably typifying the Messiah.