And the angel answered me: In English the word answered gives the impression that the question of verse 4 is resolved in the same terms in which it was asked; but if the Revised Standard Version translation is correct, this is not the case. In languages that can make such distinctions, “responded” in English would be better (compare New American Bible), or even “explained” (Contemporary English Version).

These are going forth to the four winds of heaven: The word to is not in the Hebrew text. The following words the four winds of heaven can be taken either as referring to directions (Revised Standard Version, Moffatt, Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 1. Edition) or else as a fuller way of expressing These (“These are the four winds” in Good News Translation; other versions are similar). The second possibility makes these words more directly an answer to the prophet’s question, but it complicates the interpretation, and this must be considered a drawback. The expression the four winds (with or without the addition of of heaven) usually stands for the four main points of the compass (1 Chr. 9.24 [Revised Standard Version “four sides”]; Ezek 37.9; Ezek 42.20 [Revised Standard Version “four sides”]; Dan 8.8; Zech 2.6). Moreover, verse 6 goes on to speak of the directions in which the horses departed, and this supports the Revised Standard Version interpretation here. Another possible translation model is “These chariots are going out in four directions,” or even “These four chariots are going out, each in a different direction.” Some versions translate four winds as “four spirits” (New Living Translation, New Revised Standard Version footnote), but this seems less probable and is not recommended.

After presenting themselves before the LORD of all the earth: The phrase presenting themselves is literally “standing before” (King James Version, Revised Version, Jerusalem Bible; compare New International Version). Other renderings are “being reviewed by” (New American Bible) and “attending” (New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible). This is a case where a literal translation “standing before” may carry the correct meaning in many languages.

The LORD of all the earth in Hebrew is the same expression as that translated “the Lord of the whole earth” in 4.14. The word “Lord” does not represent the divine name and the use of capital letters (LORD) in Revised Standard Version here is therefore an error. This error also occurs in New Revised Standard Version. Curiously enough the same error occurs in New American Bible both here and in 4.14. See the comment on “Lord” in 4.14.

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 .