Question 1

Who is Joshua the son of Josedech in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Joshua the son of Josedech is the high priest for the people who have come back from exile. He serves in the restored temple and stands as the spiritual leader of the community. In this vision he is crowned with silver and gold, which is unusual for a priest, because kings normally wear crowns. God uses Joshua in this way as a picture of someone greater to come, the promised Branch, who will be both priest and king. Joshua’s role helps the people look ahead to God’s fuller plan in the Messiah.

Question 2

What does it mean that the man’s name is the Branch?

Accepted Answer

The Branch is a title for the promised Messiah. A branch grows out from a stump or root, so this picture points to a new ruler growing up from David’s family line, even when it looks cut down. The Branch will “grow up out of his place,” meaning God will raise him up in the way and at the time he chooses. He will build the Lord’s true temple, carry the glory, and rule in peace. Joshua points to him, but the Branch is the one who truly fulfills this promise.

Question 3

Why is Joshua crowned with silver and gold crowns?

Accepted Answer

Joshua is crowned to make a visible sign for the people. As high priest he normally would not wear a royal crown, but here God tells Zechariah to put crowns of silver and gold on his head. This shows that God plans to unite priestly and kingly roles in one person. The different metals hint at different aspects of honor and rule. Joshua does not keep these crowns as his own; later they are kept in the temple as a memorial. The act points beyond Joshua to the coming priest-king, the Branch.

Question 4

What does it mean that the Branch will build the temple of the Lord?

Accepted Answer

The passage repeats that the Branch will build the temple of the Lord to stress that this work truly belongs to him. While Joshua and the people are working on a physical building, the prophecy looks further ahead. The Branch will build a spiritual temple made of people who belong to God. He is like the master builder and cornerstone, gathering and shaping a living house for God’s presence. This shows that God’s plan is not only about stone walls, but about a people formed and united in him.

Question 5

How can the Branch be both priest and king on one throne?

Accepted Answer

In Israel’s history, priests and kings were separate. Here God says the Branch will sit and rule on his throne and also be a priest on his throne. This means his rule and his priestly work belong together. As king he has authority and leads his people. As priest he brings them to God and makes peace. The “counsel of peace” between them both shows these two roles work in harmony, not in conflict. In the Messiah, justice, mercy, rule, and sacrifice all come together for the good of his people.

Question 6

What is the counsel of peace between them both?

Accepted Answer

The line about the “counsel of peace” has been read in more than one way, but in this passage it mainly points to the perfect agreement between the kingly and priestly roles in the Branch. Instead of being divided, these two offices work together in one person to bring peace between God and people. His rule is not harsh, and his priestly work is not weak. In him, wise plans for peace, forgiveness, and order come together. This shows God’s desire not just to rule over people, but to reconcile them to himself.

Question 7

Why are the crowns kept as a memorial in the temple of the Lord?

Accepted Answer

After Joshua is crowned, the crowns are given to certain men and placed in the temple as a memorial. This means they are kept as a lasting reminder. They point back to the generosity of those who brought silver and gold, and forward to God’s promise of the coming Branch. Every time people see these crowns, they are meant to remember that God will raise up a priest-king who builds his true temple. The memorial also reminds them that God’s timing and plan may be slower and deeper than they first expected.

Question 8

Who are they that are far off who will come and build in the temple?

Accepted Answer

The phrase “they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord” looks beyond the small group of returned exiles. It points to people from distant places, including non‑Jews, who will be gathered into God’s people. Through the message about the Branch, those far away are brought near and take part in building the spiritual temple. This shows that God’s plan is not limited to one nation, but reaches out to many, joining them into one house where he lives with his people.

Question 9

What does this passage teach about obedience to God?

Accepted Answer

The passage ends with a clear condition: “This shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” God’s promises about the Branch and the coming building work stand firm, but the people are called to respond in faith and obedience. They are not to sit back and be careless, but to listen closely to God, walk in his ways, and not harden their hearts. Obedience does not earn the Messiah, but it shows real trust in God’s word and keeps them in the path where they see his promises unfold.

Question 10

How can this vision of Joshua and the Branch speak to believers today?

Accepted Answer

This passage reminds believers that God’s plan centers on a priest-king who builds a people for himself. It shows that God joins mercy and authority in one person, the Branch, who carries all the glory. It also teaches that God’s house is not just a building but a community he is shaping. People from far away are invited in, so no one who comes by faith is left out. The call to obey God’s voice still matters, inviting believers to trust his promises and offer themselves as living stones in his spiritual temple.

Zechariah 6:11

Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;

The Crown and the Temple

The Symbolic Crowns

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Zechariah 6:11

Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;

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The Crown and the Temple

The Symbolic Crowns

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