The Meaning of Zechariah 6:2 Explained

Zechariah 6:2

KJV: In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

YLT: In the first chariot are red horses, and in the second chariot brown horses,

Darby: In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

ASV: In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In the first  chariot  [were] red  horses;  and in the second  chariot  black  horses; 

What does Zechariah 6:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Zechariah 6:1-15 - The Vision Of The Chariots
This is a vision of protection and deliverance. Four chariots issue from the mountains around Jerusalem. The colors of the horses represent the commission that the drivers were to execute against the nations. Black denoted defeat and despair; the bay acted as a patrol of defence. Note the closing incident, which foreshadowed the union of the offices of priesthood and kingship in the person of our Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 6

1  The vision of the four chariots
9  By the crowns of Joshua are shown the temple and kingdom of Christ the Branch

What do the individual words in Zechariah 6:2 mean?

With chariot [were] the first horses red and with chariot the second black
בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֥ה הָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה סוּסִ֣ים אֲדֻמִּ֑ים וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָ֥ה הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית שְׁחֹרִֽים

בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֥ה  With  chariot  [were] 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֶרְכָּבָה  
Sense: chariot.
הָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה  the  first 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
סוּסִ֣ים  horses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: סוּס 
Sense: swallow, swift.
אֲדֻמִּ֑ים  red 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אָדֹם  
Sense: red, ruddy (of man, horse, heifer, garment, water, lentils).
וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָ֥ה  and  with  chariot 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֶרְכָּבָה  
Sense: chariot.
הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית  the  second 
Parse: Article, Number, ordinal feminine singular
Root: שֵׁנִי  
Sense: second.
שְׁחֹרִֽים  black 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: שָׁחֹר  
Sense: black.