Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, July 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

Zechariah 6:7

All these strong ones are scattering; they have sought permission to go and walk about over the earth." The Lord had said, "Go! Walk about over the earth!" So they are doing so.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Vision;   Scofield Reference Index - Kingdom;   Parables;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Horse, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Vision;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bay;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Chariots;   Zechariah, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Colours;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bay;   Horse;   Zechariah, Prophecy of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Chariot;   Zechariah, Book of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Angelology;   Color;   Merkabah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
As the strong horses went out, they wanted to go patrol the earth, and the Lord said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.
Hebrew Names Version
The strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the eretz: and he said, "Go around and through the eretz!" So they walked back and forth through the eretz.
King James Version (1611)
And the baye went foorth, and sought to goe, that they might walke to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get ye hence, walke to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
King James Version
And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
English Standard Version
When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth.
New American Standard Bible
When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth. And He said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth.
New Century Version
When the powerful horses went out, they were eager to go through all the earth. So he said, "Go through all the earth," and they did.
Amplified Bible
When the strong horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth. And the LORD said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth [watching and protecting it].
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the reddish went out, and required to go, and passe through the world, and he sayde, Goe passe through the worlde. So they went thorowout the world.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth." And He said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now the mighty ones went out, and they sought to go to patrol the earth." And He said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth.
Contemporary English Version
The horses came out eager to patrol the earth, and the angel told them, "Start patrolling the earth." When they had gone on their way,
Complete Jewish Bible
Then the gray ones went out and were seeking to go and wander throughout the whole earth, when he said, "Wander throughout the whole earth"; and they did wander throughout the whole earth.
Darby Translation
and the strong go forth, and seek to go that they may walk to and fro through the earth. And he said, Go, walk to and fro through the earth. And they walked to and fro through the earth.
Easy-to-Read Version
The red spotted horses were anxious to go look at their part of the earth, so the angel told them, "Go walk through the earth." So they went walking through their part of the earth.
George Lamsa Translation
And the red horses went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth; and he said to them, Go, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
Good News Translation
As the dappled horses came out, they were impatient to go and inspect the earth. The angel said, "Go and inspect the earth!"—and they did.
Lexham English Bible
When the strong horses went out, they were anxious to go to patrol the earth. And he said, "Go, patrol the earth." And they patrolled the earth.
Literal Translation
And the strong colored ones went forth and sought to go, to walk to and fro in the earth. And he said, Go! Walk to and fro in the earth. So they walked to and fro in the earth.
American Standard Version
And the strong went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
Bible in Basic English
And the red ones go to the east; and they made request that they might go up and down through the earth: and he said, Go up and down through the earth. So they went up and down through the earth.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
and the bay went forth'. And they sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth; and he said: 'Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth.' So they walked to and fro through the earth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the strong horses went out, & required to go and take their iourney ouer the whole earth: And he saide, Get you hence, & go through the worlde: So they went throughout the worlde.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the ash-coloured went out, and looked to go and compass the earth: and he said, Go, and compass the earth. And they compassed the earth.
English Revised Version
And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
World English Bible
The strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the earth: and he said, "Go around and through the earth!" So they walked back and forth through the earth.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe thei that weren strengeste wenten out, and souyten for to go, and renne aboute bi al erthe. And he seide, Go ye, and walke ye thorouy the erthe. And thei walkiden thorouy erthe.
Update Bible Version
And the strong went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Go from here, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Go hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
New King James Version
Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, "Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth." So they walked to and fro throughout the earth.
New Living Translation
The powerful horses were eager to set out to patrol the earth. And the Lord said, "Go and patrol the earth!" So they left at once on their patrol.
New Life Bible
When the strong horses went out, they were in a hurry to look over all the earth." And he said, "Go, look over all the earth." So they went over the whole earth.
New Revised Standard
When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the earth. And he said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and, the deep red, have come forward and sought to go their way, that they might journey to and fro in the land, so he said, Go your way, journey to and fro in the land, - and they journeyed to and fro in the land.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they that were most strong, went out, and sought to go, and to run to and fro through all the earth. And he said: Go, walk throughout the earth: and they walked throughout the earth.
Revised Standard Version
When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the earth. And he said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth.
Young's Literal Translation
and the strong ones have come forth, and they seek to go to walk up and down in the earth;' and he saith, `Go, walk up and down in the earth;' and they walk up and down in the earth.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
These horses were very stronge, & wente out: and sought to go and take their iourney ouer the whole earth. And he sayde: get you hence, and go thorow the worlde. So they wete thorow out the worlde.

Contextual Overview

1 Once more I looked, and this time I saw four chariots emerging from between two mountains of bronze. 2 Harnessed to the first chariot were red horses, to the second black horses, 3 to the third white horses, and to the fourth spotted horses, all of them strong. 4 Then I asked the angelic messenger who was speaking with me, "What are these, sir?" 5 The messenger replied, "These are the four spirits of heaven that have been presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The chariot with the black horses is going to the north country and the white ones are going after them, but the spotted ones are going to the south country. 7 All these strong ones are scattering; they have sought permission to go and walk about over the earth." The Lord had said, "Go! Walk about over the earth!" So they are doing so. 8 Then he cried out to me, "Look! The ones going to the northland have brought me peace about the northland."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the bay: Zechariah 1:10, Genesis 13:17, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Job 1:6, Job 1:7, Job 2:1, Job 2:2, Daniel 7:19, Daniel 7:24

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 9:11 - I have Zechariah 1:8 - speckled Zechariah 1:11 - We Zechariah 6:3 - grisled

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
When humankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,
Genesis 6:2
the sons of God saw that the daughters of humankind were beautiful. Thus they took wives for themselves from any they chose.
Genesis 6:3
So the Lord said, "My spirit will not remain in humankind indefinitely, since they are mortal. They will remain for 120 more years."
Genesis 6:4
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days (and also after this) when the sons of God were having sexual relations with the daughters of humankind, who gave birth to their children. They were the mighty heroes of old, the famous men.
Genesis 6:20
Of the birds after their kinds, and of the cattle after their kinds, and of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you so you can keep them alive.
Genesis 6:22
And Noah did all that God commanded him—he did indeed.
Psalms 37:20
But evil men will die; the Lord 's enemies will be incinerated— they will go up in smoke.
Proverbs 10:27
Fearing the Lord prolongs life, but the life span of the wicked will be shortened.
Proverbs 16:4
The Lord works everything for its own ends— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Hosea 4:3
Therefore the land will mourn, and all its inhabitants will perish. The wild animals, the birds of the sky, and even the fish in the sea will perish.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the bay went forth, and sought to go,.... Without leave: these design either the Romans; or, since distinct from the grisled, the Huns, Goths, and Vandals; who sought to go out of their own places into other countries: and were desirous

that they might walk to and fro through the earth: without control; overrunning as they, did the Roman empire, and set up ten kingdoms in it; unless this is to be understood of the land of Judea only, through which the Romans walked to and fro at pleasure, and subdued it:

and he said; that is, the Lord of the whole earth, before whom they stood:

Get ye hence, walk to and fro through the earth; as being filled with indignation at them, and yet suffered them to have their will; and so Kimchi interprets the phrase,

"he gave them power to go and subdue lands;''

and to the same purpose Jarchi,

"he gave them power to rule with great authority; and this is the kingdom of Edom or Rome:''

So they walked to and fro through the earth; either the land of Judea, as the Romans did, and made it a Roman province; and these may represent Rome Papal, set up and supported by the above people, even the beast of Rome, which has reigned over the kings of the earth, to whom the ten kings gave their kingdom and power.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And the strong went forth and sought to go, that they might walk to and fro through the earth - The mention of their strength corresponds to the extent of the power and commission, for which they asked, to go to and fro, up and down, at their will, unhindered, through the whole earth. The Babylonian empire held Egypt only out of Asia; the Persian was conquered in its efforts against Europe, in Greece; Alexander’s was like a meteor, gleaming but breaking into the four: the Roman combined East and West and within large limits tranquilly.

And he said go, walk to and fro in the earth - He commanded, and they, which were before withheld, went, “and they walked to and fro on the earth,” ordering all things at their will, under the Providence of God, whereby He gave free access to the Gospel in all their wide empire. The Greek empire being extinguished, the Romans no longer went into any given country, but superintended and governed all human things in (it is the language of the New Testament) “all the world.” Cyril: “These same, the dappled and ashen-grey horses were commanded to traverse the earth, and they did traverse it; for they mastered all under heaven, and ruled the whole earth, God consenting and arraying those who swayed the Roman might with this brilliant glory. For, as God, He knew beforehand the greatness of their future piety.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Zechariah 6:7. And the bay went forth — The Seleucidae, who conquered Syria and the upper provinces, and who wished to extend their conquests, and "sought to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth," were of unbounded ambition, and sought universal empire; such as Antiochus the Great. "So they walked to and fro," did extend their conquests; and harassed many countries by their vexatious and almost continual wars. Some think the Romans are meant, who carried their conquests hither and thither, just as the Divine providence permitted them.


 
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