Zechariah 1:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

God conferred visions upon His holy prophets in specific parts and at designated times. It cannot be claimed that divine visions and prophecies were constantly communicated; rather, they were given at opportune moments based on the discretion of the One who unveils the hidden mysteries. The prophets received understanding at the prompting of the Holy Spirit and sometimes were granted visions of forthcoming events, revealing God’s secrets to them through various forms and images. For instance, the blessed Isaiah declared that he saw the Lord of hosts “sitting upon a throne high and lifted up,” surrounded by seraphim who called out praise (Isaiah 6). Similarly, the divine Ezekiel witnessed a throne above the firmament, with seraphim beneath it. Ezekiel then described the One seated on this throne, visible as having two natures, where the lower part appeared as fire and the upper part shimmered like polished metal (Ezekiel 1:4).

To delve into the reasons behind the variance in divine visions would lead to profound and extensive discourse. Thus, blessed Zechariah, carefully marking the time, days, and month, describes seeing the Lord in a form akin to our own: “Behold, a man on a red horse.” His description suggests someone experienced in warfare, understanding the art of conflict; sitting upon a red horse, which is reminiscent of blood, symbolizes the readiness for battle. This represents the Almighty rising against those who oppose Him and confronting the proud and rebellious.

The descendants of Israel, who dwelled in Judea and Jerusalem, along with the inhabitants of Samaria—comprising the ten tribes—had turned to idolatry, paying homage to crafted images and calling upon the golden calves, declaring, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt” (3 Sam. 12:28). Flouting the commandments of their lawgiver, they acted foolishly in their own ways. Consequently, God manifested as if mounted on a horse, appearing like us. He stood “between two mountains overshadowed,” symbolizing Mt. Zion and the mountain of Samaria, which were probably referred to as ‘shadowed’ due to their population density, evoking the imagery of a lush forest.

Behind the red horseman, other horses of various colors—red, gray, mottled, and white—followed, symbolizing kings and peoples that are valiant and warlike, eager to assert their authority beyond their own territories and extend their dominion throughout the earth. Such were the Babylonian kings, including Tula, who conquered the tribes across the Jordan, followed by Salmanasar, who devastated Samaria, and Sennacherib, who brutally ravaged the remnant of Samaria and burned numerous cities of Judah, all culminating in Nebuchadnezzar, who captured Jerusalem and took Israel into exile.

The diversity of the horses’ colors likely indicated the varied ambitions and motivations of these rulers. Yet, perplexed by the vision, the prophet sought understanding and learned that they were the servants sent by the Lord to journey across the earth, which lay in a state of calm, unwillingly submissive to the yoke imposed upon it.

These various methods of angelic manifestation suggest that they do not possess physical forms, raising intriguing questions: how could the patriarchs wash their feet? How did Jacob engage in struggle with the angel, making contact so closely? When these matters are contemplated and explored, it is not a trivial exercise of intellect, provided that the inquiry is approached with care and that individuals do not presume knowledge beyond their grasp. It is crucial that such subjects be affirmed, rejected, or established through evidence, as without substantiation, they remain beyond comprehension.

Has it not already been seventy years?” The Lord responded to the angel addressing me with comforting and hopeful words.

Let us first contemplate history. I saw, as they say, by night—not by day—similar to Moses, who encountered God face to face, or Isaiah, who proclaimed, “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1). This occurred prior to the people's exile and the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem; for a people still subjected to the trials of bondage, the prophet envisioned their fate in the dark. Behold, a man riding upon a red horse. The Hebrews interpret this to signify the Angel Michael, the avenger of Israel’s injustices and sins. They understand that he stood among the myrtle trees, which symbolize the prophets and saints who mingled with the captives and found themselves in despair. Following Michael were the red, mottled, and white horses, perceived in a progressive order; the white signifies the Medians and Persians, who marked the end of captivity and the restoration of the temple; the mottled horses symbolize the Macedonians, some of whom were allies and others adversaries—this is detailed in Daniel's last vision (Dan. 8); the red signifies the cruel and bloodthirsty Romans, who devastated the people and the temple. Others, adhering to the scriptural account, interpret the rider on the red horse and the horses of red, mottled, and white as representing four kingdoms. The first two represent the bloody empires of the Assyrians and Chaldeans, with the Assyrians, led by Salmanassar, carrying away ten tribes, and the Chaldeans conquering Judah and Benjamin, burning Jerusalem and razing the temple. The mottled and white symbolize the Medes and Persians, with some, like Cyrus and Darius, being merciful, while others, like Cambyses and his kin, were tyrants. Therefore, the prophet, upon seeing the man riding a red horse and the accompanying steeds, seeking to understand this vision, asks, “Who are they, Lord?” The messenger responds, promising enlightenment, and as he remains silent, the one standing among the myrtles explains: “These are the ones the Lord has sent to survey the earth.” In fact, the apostles were commissioned by the Lord to spread the Gospel throughout the world. Once their mission was fulfilled, they returned to the angel of the Great Council, standing among those who proclaimed with the apostle, “We are the aroma of Christ among those being saved and among those perishing” (2 Cor. 2:15), including individuals from various nations and callings. They conveyed to him, “We have traversed the earth and completed our appointed work; behold, the earth is inhabited and at rest—this earth, which once was desolate—now free from wars and moral decay; for it has inherited the promise of the Lord, who, upon returning to the Father, stated, ‘My peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you’” (John 14:27). The plea for mercy in this vision, in light of the impending seventieth year, suggests that before the full realization of peace and rest occurs, and the completion of the seven decades takes place—the seventieth year—neither Jerusalem, symbolizing the vision of peace, nor the cities of Judah, representing the believers in the Lord, can experience total liberation. Ultimately, the Lord assures the prophet with words of hope and reassurance, parallel to our current partial understanding and prophesying (1 Cor. 13:9). When the complete comes, what is partial will cease, and we who are liberated from the Babylon of this age will say, “When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like those who dreamed” (Ps. 125:1).

This was also true for the blessed Zacharias, who was shown the angel safeguarding God’s people, identified as Saint Michael, as conveyed by the angel who spoke to Daniel. He declared, ‘There is none that helpeth with me concerning these things: but Michael your prince’ (Daniel 10:21). The Prophet observed him mounted on a horse, symbolizing the swift pace of action. The red hue of the horse signifies divine wrath against the adversarial nations, indicative of the bloodshed associated with such fury. The mountains represent not only the stability but also the elevation of the angels appointed for protection. The multitude and shadow cast by the mountains reflect the Divine care promised to those who place their faith in God, as expressed by the blessed David: ‘He that liveth in the help of the Highest, in the shelter of the God of heaven shall dwell’ (Psalms 90:1); further, ‘He will cover you with His arms’ (Psalms 90:4), and again, ‘in the shelter of Thy wing Thou coverest me’ (Psalms 16:8). Likewise, in the wilderness, Israel was shielded by a pillar of cloud. Thus, the angel safeguarding God’s people was also seen standing among the mountains, demonstrating Divine support. Aquila and Symmachus referred to the mountains as myrtle, a fragrant plant known for its cooling properties that soothe fiery passions. This symbolizes the future comfort that the God of all comfort will provide to the Jewish people. When the prophet beheld the red, gray, mottled, and white horses appearing behind Michael, he inquired to understand the reason for what had been commanded. From the initial angel he had seen standing among the mountains, he learned that the horses had been dispatched to survey the entire earth. Affirming this message, those riding the multicolored horses reported to the angel stationed between the mountains, stating, ‘Having gone round the whole inhabited earth, we have found that it enjoys peace and quiet.’ However, the angel, tasked with the oversight of God’s people, was greatly dismayed to hear that while all were at peace, those under his guardianship continued to endure numerous trials. In response, he offered this prayer to the Lord: