SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:12
Y hablé la segunda vez, y le dije: ¿Qué significan las dos ramas de olivas que por medio de dos tubos de oro vierten de sí aceite como oro?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:12
Verse 12. What be these two olive branches] That is, two boughs laden with branches of olive berries.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. And I answered again, and said unto him , etc.] Before he could have an answer to the former question, he puts the following, as being of the same import: What [be these] two olive branches ; which grew upon the olive trees, and were nearest to the candlestick, and the pipes that were to the lamps: these, in ( Zechariah 4:14), are interpreted of the two anointed ones, or sons of oil, and may design the ministers of the word, if, by the “golden oil” after mentioned, is meant the Gospel; even a set of evangelical preachers in Gospel times, in the various periods of the church; Christ’s faithful witnesses, who stand on each side of the bowl, and receive out of Christ’s fulness gifts and grace to fit them for their work; and on each side of the candlestick, the church, to impart the oil of the Gospel to it. These may be compared to “olive trees” for their beauty and comeliness in the eyes of saints, to whom they bring the good news of salvation by Christ, ( Hosea 14:6) and for their greenness and flourishing condition, being filled with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, ( Psalm 52:8) and for their fruitfulness; for, as the olive tree produces an oil used both for light and food, so they bring the Gospel with them, which is the means of spiritual light, and contains in it refreshing and delightful food, ( Deuteronomy 8:8) and for their fatness, with which they honour God and men, ( Judges 9:9) so ministers of the Gospel honour Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, by ascribing the contrivance, obtaining, and application of salvation to each of them; and they honour men, by acquainting them what honour all the saints have through Christ, being made kings and priests by him; and by showing them what honour they shall have hereafter. And they may be compared to “olive branches”, with respect to Christ the good olive tree, in whom they are as branches; are bore by him, and subsist in him; receive all they have from him, and do all they do in his strength: and also for their tenderness and weakness in themselves, and for their fruitfulness from him. Which through the two golden pipes empty the golden [oil] out of themselves ? if by the “two” olive trees and branches, or anointed ones, ministers of the Gospel are intended; then, by the “golden oil”, is meant, not the Spirit and his grace, which is sometimes compared to oil; nor inward spiritual joy and peace, the oil of gladness, for ministers cannot communicate either of these to others; but the Gospel, and the precious truths of it, compared to “oil”, because of a healing, cheering, and refreshing nature; and because beautifying, feeding, and fattening; and because of a searching and penetrating nature, and being pure, unmixed, and good for light: and to “golden” oil, or oil, that, being poured out, is like liquid gold, for colour, value, splendour, purity, and duration: and this they “empty out”; which phrase denotes the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel they come with; their free and ready delivery of it; their faithfulness in giving out all, and keeping back nothing that may be profitable; and their ease and satisfaction of mind in so doing and this they do, not out of the corrupt fountains of moral philosophy; nor from the writings of others; nor out of their own heads, or from mere notional knowledge; but out of their hearts, and from their inward experience of Gospel truths; and which is not to be understood exclusive of Christ, or of the Scriptures of truth, from whence they fetch all truth; nor have they this knowledge and experience of or from themselves. The means by which they communicate the golden oil of the Gospel are “the two golden pipes”, the ministry of the word, and administration of ordinances; which are like “pipes” or canals, through which Gospel grace is conveyed; and are “golden”, are valuable, to be kept pure, and are durable; they are but “pipes”, or means, and not to be depended on, yet they are “golden”, and not to be despised. But if by the two olive trees, or anointed ones, are meant two divine Persons, of which (see Zechariah 4:14) then by the “golden oil” may be intended the grace of God, often compared to “oil” in Scripture, in allusion to oil in common, or to the anointing oil, which was made of precious spices; or rather, as here, to the lamp oil for the candlestick in the tabernacle, which was pure oil olive: grace, like oil, is of a cheering and refreshing nature, hence called “oil of gladness”; very beautifying and adorning; like oil, it makes the face to shine; and by it the church, and all believers, become “all glorious within”: it is of a searching nature; like oil, it penetrates into the heart, and has its seat there; and as oil will not mix with other liquid, so neither will grace with sin and corruption: but chiefly, as here, may it be compared to oil olive, because it burns and gives light, as that does in the lamp. The lamp of a profession, without the oil of grace, is a dark and useless thing. Grace is a light in the inward parts, and causes the light of an outward conversation to shine in good works before men; and this may be truly called “golden”, being exceeding valuable, yea, much more precious than gold that perisheth; it being as durable, nay, much more durable than that, for it will last for ever, and can never be lost; (see 1 Peter 1:7 Revelation 3:18) and of this the word and ordinances are the means; and so may be designed by the pipes, through which it is conveyed to the souls of men; for “faith”, and other graces of the Spirit, “come by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”, ( Romans 10:17) hence says the apostle to the Galatians, ( Galatians 3:2), “received ye the Spirit”; that is, the special gifts and graces of the Spirit, comparable to the best oil and purest gold; “by the works of the law”, or through the preaching of that, through the doctrine of justification by the works of it, “or by the hearing of faith?” by the doctrine of justification by faith in the righteousness of Christ, or by the Gospel preached and heard: this is the usual way in which the Spirit and his grace are communicated to men; hence the Gospel is called the “Spirit”, and “the ministration of the Spirit”, ( 2 Corinthians 3:6,8) and this seems to be a further confirmation of this sense of the words, since this golden oil is distinct from the pipes through which it flows; as grace is from the Gospel, through which it is received; whereas, in the other sense, they seem to coincide.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-14 - Zechariah desires to know what are the two olive trees. Zerubbabel an Joshua, this prince and this priest, were endued with the gifts an graces of God's Spirit. They lived at the same time, and both wer instruments in the work and service of God. Christ's offices of Kin and Priest were shadowed forth by them. From the union of these tw offices in his person, both God and man, the fullness of grace is received and imparted. They built the temple, the church of God. S does Christ spiritually. Christ is not only the Messiah, the Anointe One himself, but he is the Good Olive to his church; and from his fulness we receive. And the Holy Spirit is the unction or anointin which we have received. From Christ the Olive Tree, by the Spirit the Olive Branch, all the golden oil of grace flows to believers, whic keeps their lamps burning. Let us seek, through the intercession an bounty of the Saviour, supplies from that fulness which has hithert sufficed for all his saints, according to their trials and employments Let us wait on him in his ordinances, desiring to be sanctified wholl in body, soul, and spirit __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ואען 6030 שׁנית 8145 ואמר 559 אליו 413 מה 4100 שׁתי 8147 שׁבלי 7641 הזיתים 2132 אשׁר 834 ביד 3027 שׁני 8147 צנתרות 6804 הזהב 2091 המריקים 7324 מעליהם 5921 הזהב׃ 2091
