1 Heb “two mountains, and the mountains [were] mountains of bronze.” This has been simplified in the translation for stylistic reasons. Bronze, a hard, almost impenetrable metal, is an apt figure to speak of the obstacles standing in the way of the accomplishment of God’s purposes for the postexilic Jewish community (cf. 4:7). The cleft between the two from which the chariots emerge might be related to the eschatological triumph of the Lord who will return to the Mount of Olives and divide it into two mountains, one on the north and the other on the south (cf. Zech 14:1–8; Ezek 47:1–12).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two mountains. The mountains were made of bronze.

NLTNew Living Translation

Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I looked up again, and I saw, and look!—four chariots coming out from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze.

KJV 1900King James Version

And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.

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