The Meaning of Zechariah 6:6 Explained

Zechariah 6:6

KJV: The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.

YLT: The brown horses that are therein, are coming forth unto the land of the north; and the white have come forth unto their hinder part; and the grisled have come forth unto the land of the south;

Darby: That in which are the black horses goeth forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth towards the south country;

ASV: The chariot wherein are the black horses goeth forth toward the north country; and the white went forth after them; and the grizzled went forth toward the south country.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The black  horses  which [are] therein go forth  into the north  country;  and the white  go forth  after  them; and the grisled  go forth  toward the south  country. 

What does Zechariah 6:6 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 6:6 mean?

The one with the horses the black is going to the country north and the white are going after them and the spotted toward country the south
אֲשֶׁר־ בָּ֞הּ הַסּוּסִ֣ים הַשְּׁחֹרִ֗ים יֹֽצְאִים֙ אֶל־ אֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן וְהַלְּבָנִ֔ים יָצְא֖וּ אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וְהַ֨בְּרֻדִּ֔ים אֶל־ אֶ֥רֶץ הַתֵּימָֽן

אֲשֶׁר־  The  one 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הַסּוּסִ֣ים  the  horses 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סוּס 
Sense: swallow, swift.
הַשְּׁחֹרִ֗ים  the  black 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: שָׁחֹר  
Sense: black.
יֹֽצְאִים֙  is  going 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
אֶ֣רֶץ  the  country 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
צָפ֔וֹן  north 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָפֹון  
Sense: north (of direction), northward.
וְהַלְּבָנִ֔ים  and  the  white 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: לָבָן  
Sense: white.
יָצְא֖וּ  are  going 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם  after  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
וְהַ֨בְּרֻדִּ֔ים  and  the  spotted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: בָּרֹד  
Sense: spotted, marked.
אֶל־  toward 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֶ֥רֶץ  country 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הַתֵּימָֽן  the  south 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֵּימָן  
Sense: south, southward, whatever is on the right (so the southern quarter), south wind.