Messianic · Filthy garments removed; the BRANCH

Zechariah 3:1-10

Zechariah · ~519 BC · Status: Fulfilled · Confidence: 65% · Payne §Zech 9–11
“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?”
King James Version · the opening — all 10 verses are below
More of Zechariah 3 on this siteZechariah 3:8

The vision of Joshua the high priest accused by Satan, cleansed and reclothed, and the promise of God's servant the BRANCH who removes iniquity 'in one day.'

Read the whole passage — all 10 verses (KJV)

3:1And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

3:2And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

3:3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

3:4And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

3:5And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

3:6And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,

3:7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

3:8Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

3:9For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

3:10In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

Fulfillment References

Zechariah 6:12-13 Isaiah 11:1 Jeremiah 23:5 Hebrews 9:26

How Traditions Read This Prophecy

Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe BRANCH who removes iniquity 'in one day' is Jesus, whose one offering (Heb. 9:26-10:14) cleanses His people — the accuser silenced before the one God.
JewishThe cleansing of the high priest and the promise of the Branch (Zemach), read of the restored priesthood and the hope of a Davidic figure.
CatholicThe BRANCH fulfilled in Christ, who removes sin; Joshua's cleansing prefigures the justification of God's people.
ProtestantA vivid gospel preview — accused, cleansed, reclothed by grace; the BRANCH is the Messiah who removes iniquity 'in one day' (the cross).
OrthodoxChrist the Branch cleansing and clothing His people in righteousness.
DispensationalThe Branch is the Messiah; Joshua's cleansing anticipates Israel's future national cleansing.
AcademicScholars note 'the BRANCH' (Zemach) as a royal-messianic term and debate the interplay of priest (Joshua) and the coming royal Branch in Zechariah.
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Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.