The Meaning of Zechariah 4:3 Explained

Zechariah 4:3

KJV: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

YLT: and two olive-trees are by it, one on the right of the bowl, and one on its left.'

Darby: and two olive-trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl, and the other on the left of it.

ASV: and two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And two  olive trees  by it, one  upon the right  [side] of the bowl,  and the other  upon the left  [side] thereof. 

What does Zechariah 4:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Zechariah 4:1-14 - "not By Might Nor By Power"
Zerubbabel had faltered in the great work of reconstruction and had practically lost heart. Here he is encouraged to renew his efforts and persevere to the top-stone. He might be weak and flexible as a wick but none of his deficiencies could hinder him from finishing his life-work, if only his spirit was kindled with the divine fire and fed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 4

1  By the golden candlestick is foreshown the good success of Zerubbabel's foundation;
11  by the two olive trees the two anointed ones

What do the individual words in Zechariah 4:3 mean?

And two olive trees [are] by it one at the right of the bowl and one at its left
וּשְׁנַ֥יִם זֵיתִ֖ים עָלֶ֑יהָ אֶחָד֙ מִימִ֣ין הַגֻּלָּ֔ה וְאֶחָ֖ד עַל־ שְׂמֹאלָֽהּ

וּשְׁנַ֥יִם  And  two 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, md
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
זֵיתִ֖ים  olive  trees  [are] 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: זַיִת  
Sense: olive, olive tree.
עָלֶ֑יהָ  by  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אֶחָד֙  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
מִימִ֣ין  at  the  right 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָמִין  
Sense: right, right hand, right side.
הַגֻּלָּ֔ה  of  the  bowl 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֻּלָּה 
Sense: bowl, spring, basin.
וְאֶחָ֖ד  and  one 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
עַל־  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
שְׂמֹאלָֽהּ  its  left 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: שְׂמֹאל  
Sense: the left, the left hand, the left side.