At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | Zechariah son of Berechiah (traditional, whole book); critical: chapters 9-14 widely assigned to one or more later writers ("Deutero-Zechariah"), questioned since 1630 |
| Date | ~520-518 BC for chapters 1-8 (contemporary with Haggai); chapters 9-14 dated later on the critical view, Persian to early Hellenistic |
| Audience | Post-exilic Judah |
| Genre | Prophecy and apocalyptic visions |
| Purpose | Encouragement and Messianic prophecies |
| Chapters | 14 |
Outline
| Section | Chapters | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Eight night visions | 1-6 | Restoration symbols |
| Question of fasting and restoration sermons | 7-8 | Genuine fasting and restoration vision |
| Two oracles | 9-14 | Messianic and eschatological |
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Restoration | Post-exilic encouragement |
| Messianic prophecies | One of the most Messianic OT books |
| Triumphal entry | Zechariah 9:9, humble king on donkey (Matthew 21:5) |
| 30 pieces of silver | Zechariah 11:12-13 (Matthew 27:9-10) |
| Pierced one | Zechariah 12:10 (John 19:37) |
| Future kingdom | Final chapters apocalyptic |
Key passages
- Zechariah 9:9, humble king
- Zechariah 11:12-13, 30 pieces silver
- Zechariah 12:10, looking on the one they have pierced
- Zechariah 13:1, fountain for cleansing
- Zechariah 14, Day of the LORD and king reigning
NT use
Extensively cited, see particularly Matthew 21:5; 26:31; 27:9-10; John 19:37; Rev.