Commentaries on Zechariah

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For more great commentaries on Zechariah, be sure to check:
Commentaries on the Minor Prophets, Commentaries on All the Prophets,
Commentaries on the Whole Old Testament
& Whole Bible Commentaries

Order of Contents

Best 3
Commentaries 10+
Early Church 2
Jewish 1
Chapters 2
Authenticity 1

The Best Commentaries on Zechariah

Intermediate, 1800’s

Baron, David – The Visions & Prophecies of Zechariah: ‘The Prophet of Hope & Glory’, an Exposition n.d.

Baron (1855–1926) was raised an orthodox Jew, converted to our Savior, the Messiah, and wrote numerous (excellent) books showing Christ in the Old Testament and pointing Jews to Christ. Baron is excellent on the nuances of exegeting the Hebrew. Baron was a premillennialist (which is contrary to the WCF and is not recommended).

‘Provides a helpful elucidation of the Messianic prophecies contained in this book.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Moore, T.V. – The Prophets of the Restoration, or Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi, a New Translation with Notes 1856

Moore was an Old Princeton graduate and southern Presbyterian. This work was republished by the Banner of Truth.

*** – “A capital book. most useful to ministers.” – Spurgeon

Wardlaw, Ralph – Lectures on the Prophecies of Zechariah (1869)

*** – “Written in the Doctor’s old age; but we prefer it, in some respects, to other volumes of his lectures. We always consult it.” – Spurgeon

More Commentaries on Zechariah

Reformer

Luther, Martin – Works, vol. 20: Minor Prophets III: Zechariah Buy

Puritan

Pemble, William – A Short & Sweet Exposition of the First Nine Chapters of Zechariah in Works, pp. 389-471 (†1623)

Pemble was a Reformed puritan.

** – “Richard Capel [a reformed divine, †1656] says:

‘Amongst the hardest books of Scripture the prophets may have a place, and amongst the prophets, Zechary is a deep, wherein an elephant may swim, and therefore I cannot but commend the wisdom of that man of God (the author of this book), who bestowed his learning and his pains to open the mysteries of this prophecy. Death ended his days ere he could quite finish his work, and great weakness hindered an in intended supplement.’

Pemble was a learned Calvinistic divine, and his writings are highly esteemed, but not very captivating.” – Spurgeon

Devotional, Practical and/or Brief

Meyer, F.B. – The Prophet of Hope Studies in Zechariah (1900) 168 pp.

Meyer (1847–1929) was an English, baptist pastor who wrote numerous, very good devotional works. Meyer gives a one page devotional on a verse or two from each chapter in the Bible.

‘Typological and devotional studies. Premillennial.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Woudstra, Marten – ‘Zechariah’ in ed. Carl Henry, The Biblical Expositor: The Living Theme of the Great Book with General & Introductory Essays & Exposition, 1 vol. ed. (1960; A.J. Holman, 1973), pp. 753-60

This little known commentary set by leading evangelicals (many of which were reformed) is brief (think airplane view) but helpful.

Intermediate

1800’s

Park, I.R. – An Amicable Controversy with a Jewish Rabbi on the Messiah’s Coming: Unfolding New Views on Prophecy & the Nature of the Millennium, with an Entirely New Exposition of Zechariah on the Messiah’s Kingdom (1832)

** – “The words ‘entirely new exposition’ put us on our guard, and did not entice us to read. The caution was needful. This author explains the prophecy spiritually, and asserts that ‘the spiritual is the most literal interpretation.’ We more than doubt it.” – Spurgeon

Stonard, John – A Commentary on the Vision of Zechariah the Prophet, with a Corrected Translation & Critical Notes (1824)

* “An earnest attempt to expound this prophecy; we do not think the author has succeeded, but he has written some good things.” – Spurgeon

Wright, Charles H. – Zechariah & his Prophecies: Considered in Relation to Modern Criticism, with a Critical & Grammatical Commentary & New Translation Buy (1879) 700 pp. Reprinted by Klock & Klock Advanced comments are kept to the footnotes.

1900’s

Leupold, H.C. – Exposition of Zechariah Buy

Leupold (b. 1891) was an orthodox Lutheran (amillennial) and a professor of the Old Testament.

‘Provides a serious, technical study of the prophetic predictions of Zechariah from an amillennial viewpoint. Very helpful.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Unger, Merrill – Zechariah: Prophet of Messiah’s Glory Buy (1963)

Unger was a was a dispensationalist (strongly not-recommended) and Old Testament professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.

‘A valuable exposition based upon the original text.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Advanced

1700’s

Blayney, Benjamin – Zechariah, a New Translation with Notes, Critical, Philological & Explanatory (1797) 206 pp.

** – “This learned author writes after the manner of Lowth, but has neither Lowth’s taste nor poetic vein. His notes will not suggest sermons, but will be philologically useful if cautiously read.” – Spurgeon

1800’s

Hengstenberg, E.W. – ‘The Prophet Zechariah, chs. 1-10’ & ‘chs. 11-14’ in The Christology of the Old Testament, vol. 3, pp. 296-449 & vol. 4 (1868), pp. 1-155

** – “In his ‘Christology’… Hengstenberg has given a thorough and elaborate exposition of the greater part of Zechariah and Malachi. He is too grammatical and dry to be generally interesting.” – Spurgeon

The Early Church on Zechariah

Compilation

Ferreiro, Alberto – Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: The Twelve Prophets Buy

Individual Father

Didymus the Blind – Commentary on Zechariah Buy

A Jewish Commentary on Zechariah

Kimchi, David – Commentary on the Prophecies of Zechariah, with Notes & Observations on the Passages Relating to the Messiah

Kimchi (1160-1235)

** – “This enables the English reader to see how the Jews themselves understood the prophets, and this is worth knowing.” – Spurgeon

Zechariah 4

I.E. – The Two Olive Trees: or, The Lord’s Two Anointed ones, which Always Stand before Him, the Ruler of the Whole Earth, Zech. 4, described also Rev. 11, by the Names of Two Witnesses, Two Olive Trees, Two Candlesticks, Two Prophets. And showing what they are in their own True Nature, differing from all the New Fancied Ones, and in what manner they always Prophesy. How they are said to finish their testimony. How they were to be killed by the Beast, and when. How long their corpse should lie in the streets of the Beast’s great city, dead and unburied. And when the spirit of life from God should enter into them, and they stand upon their feet again. And what great things should follow after the same to the end, and thence for ever. (London, 1645)

Zechariah 11-13