Zechariah 3:3-4 New English Translation
3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes[a] as he stood there before the angel. 4 The angel[b] spoke up to those standing all around, “Remove his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua,[c] “I have freely forgiven your iniquity and will dress you[d] in fine clothing.”
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- Zechariah 3:3 sn The Hebrew word צוֹאִים (tsoʾim) means “excrement.” This disgusting figure of speech suggests Joshua’s absolute disqualification for priestly service in the flesh, but v. 2 speaks of his having been rescued from that deplorable state by God’s grace. He is like a burning stick pulled out of the fire before it is consumed. This is a picture of cleansing, saving grace.
- Zechariah 3:4 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (the angel, cf. v. 1) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Zechariah 3:4 tn Heb “to him”; the referent (Joshua) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Zechariah 3:4 tn The occurrence of the infinitive absolute here for an expected imperfect first person common singular (or even imperative second person masculine plural or preterite third person masculine plural) is well-attested elsewhere. Most English translations render this as first person singular (“and I will clothe”), but cf. NAB “Take off…and clothe him.”
New English Translation (NET)
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