“Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow…” Zechariah 10:4.
There are three wonderful types of Christ in this verse, and each topic is a lengthy study in itself. The context is a prophecy about the return of Israel to their promised land, and out of the tribe of Judah will come the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, He is called “The Corner.” Throughout the Old Testament, the LORD is called “The Rock” of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus is often referred to as a stone. Jesus rebukes the Priest and the elders for their unbelief. “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?? Matthew 21:42.
When the temple or a great building was constructed, the corner stone was the most important part of the building. It was larger than the other stones, and it had to be perfectly square. A square was placed on all four sides to insure that it was perfect. The placement of it must be perfectly level. It would be the starting point of the building. Each stone used to build the walls, must be in perfect alignment from the corner stone.
The corner stone symbolizes strength, stability, truth, justices, righteousness, and perfection. Jesus is the embodiment of all these, and more. He is the Stone that was rejected at His first coming. He will be to the nation of Israel, all the corner stone is to the temple. Note- I encourage you to do an exhaustive study of the stone that is a type of Jesus.
The Nail: The nail was usually a wooden peg used as a tent stake, or to secure two timbers together. “Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail…” Not only was the nail used to secure the timbers of the temple together, it would be driven into the wooden walls for a place to hang various items.
Jesus is the Nail that holds the building firmly in place, and He is the Nail on which all hopes, and burdens could be hung. The type is clear. When Jesus comes to Israel the second time, He will secure the temple, and the nation, and place them securely in their land. He will be their righteous Corner Stone, and their Nail of security.
The Bow. The bow is a symbol of war. It could be used as a defensive or offensive weapon. The context of Zechariah 10:4 is the second coming of Christ to establish His Kingdom promises with Israel through the tribe of Judah. The following lengthy passages speak of those days when Jesus will be Israel’s Bow.
- “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God. 6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7 The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. 8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.” Zechariah 12:1-8
This age and dispensation ends with the most spectacular war the world has ever experienced. Jesus Christ will come as The Bow to the defense of Israel, and the destruction of all who are assembled at Armageddon.
Thus, He is the Stone upon which the nation will be founded. He is the Nail that will secure them, and their temple in their land, and He is the Bow that will defeat all their enemies.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.