Zechariah 2:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, God reveals that following the period during which the nations or kingdoms have been refined and have fought amongst themselves, Israel will be revived, inhabiting a Jerusalem that is broadened, secured by divine strength, and enveloped in heavenly favor like an impenetrable barrier. Consequently, the angel hurried to measure the city, determining its breadth and length symbolically. This conveys the historical interpretation of the prophetic message.

Moreover, this vision of the prophet can rightly be seen as a reflection of the Church of Christ itself. Satan held a tyrannical rule over all who dwell on the earth, and under his oppressive reign, we found ourselves captives. Yet, through the grace of our Savior, his power has been vanquished and his arrogance brought low; Christ has triumphed over the rulers and authorities, powers that oppose us, liberating us from their confinement. He has established our church as a genuinely holy and magnificent city—vast and wide—inhabited by both those who embody the likeness of the Word and those striving toward that goal, inspired from within. They dwell in the city that Christ Himself safeguards, having defeated all adversaries with unfathomable might, filling it with His glory. As if present among its people, He assures them with the promise: ‘I am with you always, even to the end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20). The holy Prophet Isaiah similarly acknowledged this sacred city, declaring: ‘Thy eyes shall see, O Jerusalem, a rich city; the tabernacles shall not be shaken, the stakes of its temples shall not be moved forever, and its tabernacles shall not be destroyed’ (Isaiah 33:20, Isaiah 54:2); for the Church of Christ continues to grow and expand infinitely, welcoming countless worshipers into its embrace.

In a spiritual interpretation, we view this in relation to the Church, which stands without walls, filled with an abundance of fruits and populated with many. The Lord will be like a protective fire around it, displaying His glory in its center. This brings to mind the affirmation found in scripture: “Glorious things are said of you, O city of God” (Psalm 86:3), and “Great is the Lord, and highly praised in the city of our God, on His holy mountain” (Psalm 47:2). Those who reside in this city can assert that they are like a fruitful olive tree in the house of God (Psalm 51:10), benefiting under the Lord’s rule and provision; in His grassy pastures, He has placed them and guided them to restful waters (Psalm 22:1-2).

Jerusalem will thrive with numerous people and livestock, rich in the bounty of fruits. Some interpret “people and livestock” to signify two groups: Jews, who, having followed the Law, find faith in Christ, referred to as men; and Gentiles, who, due to idolatry, were distanced from the Law and the prophets, thus categorized as livestock. Others see “men” as those endowed with reason and Scriptural wisdom, while “livestock” represents simple believers, aligning with the declaration: “Lord, You will save people and livestock” (Psalm 35:7). These creatures, responsive to the voice of the Good Shepherd, recognize Him and follow Him; He is both Shepherd and the entrance through which we access the Church and approach the Father (John 10:3-11).

The wall of fire safeguards the believers and denizens of the Church, warming them from the coldness of self-love and igniting their spirits. The wild beasts, emblematic of those who pose threats, will be consumed by His fire, which is protective for the faithful. To those opposed to Him, He serves as a consuming fire; yet for the believers, He is their glory among them. When it states that the Lord is the wall of Jerusalem, we find confirmation in the scripture: “The mountains are around Him, and the Lord surrounds His people” (Psalm 124:2).

While the Jews anticipate a literal fulfillment of these promises under their expected Anointed One, Jerusalem is envisioned to prosper to such an extent that its abundance of inhabitants and animals will negate the need for physical walls, with the Lord's presence as its divine protection and glory.

However, it is reasonable to conclude that some angels commission other angels to carry out ministerial tasks from on high, as evidenced by the Prophet Zechariah, who recounts: “Behold, an angel spoke in me, and another angel came out to meet him. And he spoke to him saying, ‘You and the young man, saying, 'Jerusalem shall be fruitfully inhabited.’” The passage indicates that one angel sends another, illustrating the hierarchical nature of their ministry, where those dispatched are indeed lesser than those who send them. Yet it is understood that even those who are sent serve in the external world while remaining at home in the upper realm through contemplation. Consequently, they are both commissioned and present, as the nature of the angelic spirit is discernible, yet the most exalted Spirit, namely God, remains beyond description. Thus, angels exist both as messengers and in the presence of the Divine, for wherever they are sent, they dwell in the fullness of His essence.