^{1:18 (2:1)}²⁵ Once again I looked and this time I saw four horns. ^1:19So I asked the angelic messenger²⁶ who spoke with me, “What are these?” He replied, “These are the horns²⁷ that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”²⁸^1:20Next the Lord showed me four blacksmiths.²⁹^1:21I asked, “What are these going to do?” He answered, “These horns are the ones that have scattered Judah so that there is no one to be seen.³⁰ But the blacksmiths have come to terrify Judah’s enemies³¹ and cut off the horns of the nations that have thrust themselves against the land of Judah in order to scatter its people.”³²

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Footnotes

25 This marks the beginning of ch. 2 in the Hebrew text. Beginning with 1:18, the verse numbers through 2:13 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (), with 1:18 = 2:1 , 1:19 = 2:2 , 1:20 = 2:3 , 1:21 = 2:4 , 2:1 = 2:5 , etc., through 2:13 = 2:17 . From 3:1 the verse numbers in the English Bible and the Hebrew Bible are again the same.
26 See the note on the expression “angelic messenger” in v. .
27 An animal’s horn is a common OT metaphor for military power (Pss 18:2; 75:10; Jer 48:25; Mic 4:13). The fact that there are four horns here (as well as four blacksmiths, v. 20) shows a correspondence to the four horses of v. 8 which go to four parts of the world, i.e., the whole world.
28 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
29 Heb “craftsmen” (so , ; “carpenters”), a generic term which can mean “metalworker, smith, armorer” ( חָרָשׁ). “Blacksmiths” was chosen for the present translation because of its relative familiarity among contemporary English readers. The horns are perhaps made of iron, the strongest of all metals known to the ancient Near Eastern world, since military activity is implied in the context. Only blacksmiths can cut the horns off. If the horns represent oppressive nations, the blacksmiths must represent deliverers whom the Lord raises up, kings like Cyrus of Persia (cf. Isa 54:16).
30 Heb “so that no man lifts up his head.”
31 Heb “terrify them”; the referent (Judah’s enemies) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
32 Heb “to scatter it.” The word “people” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns! And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” And he said to me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. And I said, “What are these coming to do?” He said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one raised his head. And these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?”

He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”

Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. I asked, “What are these coming to do?”

He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then I looked up and saw four horns. So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?”

And he said to me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. I asked, “What are they coming to do?”

He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so no one could raise his head. These craftsmen have come to terrify them, to cut off the horns of the nations that raised a horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Then I looked up and saw four animal horns. “What are these?” I asked the angel who was talking with me.

He replied, “These horns represent the nations that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

Then the Lord showed me four blacksmiths. “What are these men coming to do?” I asked.

The angel replied, “These four horns—these nations—scattered and humbled Judah. Now these blacksmiths have come to terrify those nations and throw them down and destroy them.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And I looked up and I saw, and look, there were four horns! And I said to the angel who was talking with me, “What are these?” And he said to me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” Then Yahweh showed me four skilled craftsmen, and I asked, “What are these coming to do?” And he answered, saying, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head; but these have come to frighten them, to strike down the horns of the nations that lifted a horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

KJV 1900King James Version

Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. And the Lord shewed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

Public Domain