Zechariah 4:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The hands of Zerubbabel, the leader of the Jews returning from Babylon, initiated the temple's construction and brought it to completion, fulfilling the work that began. In Ezra, we read that Zerubbabel both commenced and completed the temple’s building. The prophet Zechariah affirms, "When you see the roof of the temple you are building, you will know the Lord has sent me to you and that I have spoken His command." Who truly despises the days of seeming insignificance? The term "who" is used here to denote rarity, akin to the phrase, "Who then is that faithful and wise servant?" (Luke 12:42) and "Lord, who may dwell in Your holy hill?" (Psalm 15:1). It is indeed uncommon for an individual to regard the humble days of this world lightly while dismissing significance. When we observe the nobles of this time, adorned in gold and shimmering with fine garments, surrounding themselves with armies, we might ponder who would dare to disregard such humble days. Jacob, reflecting on the brevity of human existence, stated, "Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life" (Gen. 47:9). Thus, those who look down upon the insignificant days—applying this notion to regal authority—are encouraged by Zerubbabel, Jesus, and those constructing God’s temple not to be intimidated by their adversaries but to adhere to the Lord’s commands. By valuing the seemingly insignificant, they shall rejoice and witness the deliverance brought by the Savior, promised to be of Zerubbabel’s lineage, who is referred to as a stone, a tin stone. The Hebrew term employed refers to abdel (הבדיל), for He is the wall, strength, and fortress of the faithful. Just as tin safeguards other metals from combustion, so too is the strength of men and angels rendered ineffective without the Savior’s aid. This stone, translated by the term abdil, signifies separation; just as tin distinguishes the metals tempered by fire, the Lord, the true Judge and refiner, differentiates the dross of wickedness from the pure gold and silver of good works, ensuring that only genuine treasures remain. This act of separation is captured in the Gospel: "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire" (Luke 3:17); He proclaims through Jeremiah, "What is chaff to the wheat, declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:28). Many among us, recognizing Zerubbabel as both the founder and completer of the house, interpret him as a type of Christ. If we accept this, we must consider what the tin stone held in Zerubbabel's hand signifies. Indeed, might we not see another Christ reflected in the hand of Christ? Some interpret the tin stone as the immaculate body of our Lord, taint-free and distinct from lead, embodying the purest tin. The seven eyes, which oversee the entirety of creation and assess all things, represent the seven spirits, illustrating that nothing is concealed from God, who is aware of the past, present, and future, rewarding each according to their actions, especially as He manifests in the role of the separator of good from evil, and in the role of the unifier.

Following the destruction of the temple, the people were exiled, and the city lay in ruins; many presumed that these misfortunes resulted not from the sins of God's people but from God's inability to intervene, as perceived by the Jews. In alignment with this perspective, the Prophet described God's aid as a mere stone, emphasizing that the very support deemed insignificant and weak by nonbelievers would demonstrate its strength through Zerubbabel alone. The Prophet further declared, "These seven are the eyes of the Lord that traverse the entire earth." The Almighty Overseer of all creation, who watches over and hears everything, will safeguard Zerubbabel. Upon declaring these words, the Prophet questions the olive trees that thrive on either side of the lampstand, also asking about the two branches that extend toward the lamps and inquiring concerning "the two sons of oil who stand before the Lord of all the earth."

Zerubbabel is frequently identified as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His stone represents faith in Him, and the phrase 'in His hand' denotes that this faith is realized through the observance of His commandments. Faith without actions is lifeless (James 2:26), and similarly, actions devoid of faith lack substance. The 'hand' clearly symbolizes deeds. Consequently, the Lord, holding this stone in His hands, instructs us to embody an active faith in Him, enriched by the seven eyes of the Lord, which represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.