Zechariah 2:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The people would reside in an expanded Jerusalem, fortified by divine protection and enveloped in heavenly favor like a strong fortress. The angel, therefore, hurried to measure Jerusalem, assessing its dimensions. This conveys the historical essence of the prophetic message.

Moreover, this vision can rightly be interpreted in relation to the church of Christ. Under the cruel dominion of Satan, humanity was subjected to his tyranny, becoming his captives. Nevertheless, the grace of the Savior shattered his power and subdued his arrogance. Christ triumphed over the spiritual forces and adversaries that opposed us, liberating us from the chains of oppression. He established His church as a truly holy and glorious city, vast and expansive, inhabited by both people and creations—those who reflect the Word and those who strive towards that ideal, inspired from within. This city, safeguarded by Christ Himself, has been fortified, thanks to His unimaginable sovereignty, and filled with His glory. Standing amidst its inhabitants, He promises, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). The holy Prophet Isaiah also spoke of this sacred city, stating: “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). Indeed, the Church of Christ expands infinitely, embracing an uncountable multitude of worshipers.

We can interpret this spiritually in relation to the Church, which exists without physical walls, or as the Seventy translated it, κατάκαρπος—meaning it will be abundant with diverse fruits and filled with multitudes of people and animals. The Lord will be a protective fire around it and will manifest His glory in its center. This is the city of which it is declared: "Glorious things are said of thee, O city of God" (Psalms 86:3), and again, "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain" (Psalms 47:2). Those who dwell in this city can proclaim, "I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God" (Psalm 51:10), for the Lord governs me, and I shall never experience lack; He has placed me in a place of abundance and led me to still waters (Psalms 22:1-2).

Jerusalem will be filled with countless people and livestock, abundant in every kind of fruit. Some interpret the "men and cattle" as representing two nations—the Jews and the Gentiles—indicating that those who lived under the Law and have turned to faith in Christ are called men, while we, estranged from the Law due to idolatry, are likened to cattle. Others view men as rational individuals knowledgeable in the Scriptures and cattle as the simple believers, relating to the declaration: "Lord, You preserve man and beast" (Psalms 35:7).

These cattle, along with other living creatures, hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, recognize Him, and follow Him: He is both the Shepherd who leads us and the door through which we enter the Church and approach the Father (John 10:3-11). The wall of fire surrounding it enables the believers dwelling within, who have been freed from the coldness of self-love, to be warmed and to ignite in spirit. Meanwhile, the wolves and savage beasts—of which it is said, "You shall not give to the beasts the soul that trusts in You" (Psalms 73:19), whose end is mere straw and whose produce is thorns (1 Corinthians 3:12)—will be consumed by His fire. To His enemies, He appears as a devouring fire; to believers, He is their glory.

The Lord as the wall of Jerusalem is also mentioned elsewhere: "The mountains surround it, and the Lord surrounds His people" (Psalms 124:2). The Jews anticipate that all of this will be fulfilled in a tangible manner under the Anointed One whom they foolishly await; then Jerusalem will experience such immense prosperity that it will be unfortified by walls, with the Lord Himself serving as its protection and basking in the glory of His presence among them.

The Prophet witnessed all of this, observing the diligent care of the guardian angel, the swift progress of other angels, and the measurements of the city, so that he might embrace confidently the divine assurances regarding Jerusalem. The people of God would be encouraged by what had been prophesied, for they would not only hear the spoken words but also witness the very prototypes of these events. After revealing this to the prophet, the angel promptly instructs him to proclaim:

While Scripture indicates that certain actions are executed through the Cherubim and others through the Seraphim, we refrain from making definitive claims about whether they perform these tasks personally or delegate them to subordinate beings. These subordinates, although lower in rank, adopt names reflective of their higher origins. Lacking clear evidence, we cannot assert this with certainty. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to consider that some angels are tasked with sending other angels to carry out ministry from on high, as evidenced by the words of the Prophet Zechariah: "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 assumption that an angel communicates with another angel implies a sending relationship, with the one who sends being superior to the one who is sent. Yet, it is also acknowledged that those who are dispatched serve in the outer world while simultaneously remaining in the higher realm through spiritual contemplation. Thus, they can both be sent and arrive; though the essence of the angelic spirit can be defined, the ultimate Spirit, which is God, transcends description. Therefore, angels are both sent and present before His majesty, for wherever they are dispatched, they exist within Him.