Zechariah 4:12 (YLT)

Passage

And I answer a second time, and say unto him, `What <FI>are<Fi> the two branches of the olive trees that, by means of the two golden pipes, are emptying out of themselves the oil?'

Nearby Context

Zechariah 4:10 For who trampled on the day of small things, They have rejoiced, And seen the tin weight in the hand of Zerubbabel, These seven <FI>are<Fi> the eyes of Jehovah, They are going to and fro in all the land.'

Zechariah 4:11 And I answer and say unto him, `What <FI>are<Fi> these two olive-trees, on the right of the candlestick, and on its left?'

Zechariah 4:12 And I answer a second time, and say unto him, `What <FI>are<Fi> the two branches of the olive trees that, by means of the two golden pipes, are emptying out of themselves the oil?'

Zechariah 4:13 And he speaketh unto me, saying, `Hast thou not known what these <FI>are<Fi> ?' And I say, `No, my lord.'

Zechariah 4:14 And he saith, `These <FI>are<Fi> the two sons of the oil, who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.'

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "answer", "second", "time", "branches", "olive", "trees", "means", and "golden". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "answer" and "second", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "And I answer and say unto him..." into verse 13's "And he speaketh unto me saying Hast...", so "answer" and "second" belong inside that flow. In Zechariah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "answer" and "second" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.