Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” So he answered me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” Zechariah 1:18-19

The horn in the Bible can be symbolic of many things, but mostly it represents power, authority, and victory. Think about it from an animal perspective, from my experience as a deer hunter, the buck with the largest rack of antlers, typically dominates the other bucks and claims its territory from them. So when you see a horn mentioned it’s talking about power and authority

If you remember earlier in this chapter, the prophet Zechariah warned Israel about judgement to come, and these four horns represent the four empires that will scatter Israel. Historically, most believe these 4 empires are Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, and Rome. 

The Prophet Daniel also references these 4 world empires

‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth Daniel 7:17

Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.  Zechariah 1:20

The 4 Craftsmen/hammers/skilled workers is partially a mystery. We now they are Gods response to the wicked empires that persecute Gods people, but specifically who they are is up to interpretation. It could be the other nations God has raised up to defeat these empires, it could be angelic beings God has used, or it could be specific people such as Moses, Joshua, ect. Just know there is a spiritual battle going on and Christ has the final Victory!

And I said, “What are these coming to do?” So he said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.” Zechariah 1:21

The Lord himself , as Zechariah is a prophet, that this vision is about the 4 horns (empires) that will scatter Israel. And the craftsmen “cast out the horns of the nations”. 

And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. Daniel 2:40-41

We are living in the final empire, that has broken in many other little empires. But as reminded in Daniel , Christ has the final victory and His Kingdom is forever, Amen!

And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Daniel 2:44

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” So the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.” And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.” So they answered the Angel of the LORD, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.” Zechariah 1:7-11

The prophet Zechariah has his first vision, this vision may seem familiar with you, as the Apostle John references the same similar vision in Revelation. (Revelation 6, Revelation 19) This is one thing to understand when interpreting the Bible, scripture interprets scripture. So as your studying the book of Revelation, you need to reference the Old Testament prophets, as they typically have interpreted the symbols already in their writings

a man riding on a red horse (v8)

In general, the horses are symbolic of God’s judgment, red is obviously symbolic of bloodshed, the Holy Spirit reveals the meaning of the Red Horse in Revelation also

Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. (Revelation 6:4)

and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow;  (v8)

It’s interesting because the Myrtle Trees seen in the vision are symbolic of peace and prosperity. It’s clear judgement is coming because of the wickedness and rebellion of God’s people. The divine protection is being lifted for judgement by the sword (Red Horse)

and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white (v8)

As we see, there are multiple horses:

Red = bloodshed/war

Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. (Revelation 6:4)

Sorrel (Brown) = plagues/death

Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:8)

White= Peace and Victory

So I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider held a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer. (Revelation 6:2)

There are differences in the interpretations of these horses, specifically the (sorrel/brown) horse, however if we allow scripture to interpret scripture I think this is accurate

Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” So the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are. (v9)

If we are confused by this vision, don’t feel bad, the prophet Zechariah was perplexed by this vision and asked the angel to interpret it for him. We see this happen many times throughout scripture, that’s why its important to cross reference scriptures to get the most accurate interpretation

And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.” (v10)

The horses in the vision were sent by God for judgement. We see this happen throughout the history of Israel, God will allow a nation to become mighty to bring judgement upon another nation. Why did God allow Israel be overtaken and scattered? Because of judgement for their disobedience and wickedness, including the murder of the prophets and Christ

So they answered the Angel of the LORD, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.” (v11)

Notice who answers the prophet Zechariah in the end, the “Angel (Messenger) of the Lord (Yahweh)  this is Jesus Christ himself (Genesis 16, 18, 22, Judges 2, Judges 6, Joshua 5), as Christ is foretelling victory  “all the Earth is resting quietly” and notice its not just Victory for Israel but the entire Earth (New Covenant) 

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. (Revelation 19:11)