And behold: This is translated in Good News Translation by “Then I saw.” Translators may also say, “After that I saw.”

The angel who talked with me is the same person as the one mentioned in 1.9, 13, 14, 19. For angel see the notes on 1.8.

Came forward presumably means from Zechariah’s side. Some translations (Moffatt, Jerusalem Bible) follow the Septuagint and translate “stood still,” but the Hebrew makes good sense and there is no need to depart from it. In certain languages Zechariah will be considered the focus or center of attention, and this will be shown by special auxiliary verbs giving the direction of the action. In such cases translators may express came forward as “stepped forward [go]” or “walked forward [go] away from me.” Compare “the angel who was talking to me walked away” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Another angel came forward to meet him: This is a new figure who has not appeared before, and should be clearly introduced as a new participant. In English the word another indicates that this is a new participant. As with the previous sentence, many languages use auxiliary verbs to show the direction of the motion; for example, “another angel walked forward [come] toward the first angel.” Compare New Jerusalem Bible “another angel came out to meet him.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• After that I saw the angel who had been speaking with me walk forward from beside me toward another angel who was coming forward to meet him.

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Zechariah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .