And they answered: They refers grammatically to the horses in Hebrew, since no riders have been mentioned. This means either that the horses are talking horses, or else that they have riders whose presence has been taken for granted. The latter seems far more probable, and if the riders have not been mentioned directly in translation in verse 10, then they should be mentioned here. Translators could say “the riders” or “the horsemen” (see verse 10); as noted above, however, it is best to introduce the riders at verse 8, then in subsequent verses to refer to them as “they” or “them.” The word answered is translated “reported” in Good News Translation. In English this is a good choice of word to maintain the military atmosphere created by the word “patrol” in verse 10. Curiously, of major English versions only New Jerusalem Bible and New Living Translation use both the military terms “patrol” in verse 10 and “report” in verse 11.
The angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees: The clause who was standing among the myrtle trees indicates that the figure mentioned in verses 8 and 10 is in mind. This is the first time he is called the angel of the LORD. Translators could indicate clearly which angel is meant by saying “Then the horsemen reported to the first angel” or “… to the first angel, the one among the myrtle trees.” It is not adequate to say just “to the angel,” as Good News Translation does.
We have patrolled the earth: The Hebrew uses the same terms as it used in describing the horsemen’s task in verse 10. This repetition helps to show how the passage hangs together and also keeps up its military tone. In many languages it would be good to use similar repetition. Another way of saying this is “We have just returned from carefully checking [or, monitoring] what is happening all over the world.”
The words “[we] have found” (Good News Translation) or “have discovered” (Contemporary English Version) are the equivalent of behold in Revised Standard Version. These are examples of avoiding old-fashioned language and expressing its meaning in the usage of today.
All the earth remains at rest: This is the main substance of the riders’ report. Good News Translation translates it as “the whole world lies helpless and subdued.” There are two main questions that arise from this statement:
(1) What historical period does it refer to?
(2) Is it a good thing or a bad thing?
On the first question, some scholars (for example Mitchell) have argued that to speak of the world being at rest in 519 B.C. does not make sense. They therefore say that this report must refer to an earlier period before the overthrow of Babylon in 539 B.C. However, there seems to be some uncertainty about whether Darius had finally crushed the rebellions in his empire by February 519 or not. The majority of modern commentators hold that he had, or at least that he had come near enough to success that the world could indeed be described as “subdued” (Good News Translation).
Translators do not have to decide the historical issue, but their understanding of it may influence their answer to the second question. The words remains at rest in normal English convey the sense that this is a good and desirable state. Most modern English translations seem to carry the same sense. However, translators should note that this does not fit the context at all well.
Good News Translation has used the words “helpless and subdued,” which give exactly the opposite sense, namely, that the stillness (or rest) is caused by a superior, oppressive power. This would be appropriate if Darius had virtually completed his victories over his enemies by February 519 B.C. It also fits with the following verses. The complaint in verse 12 is that the LORD’s people are still suffering injustice and this would hardly be the case if the worldwide stillness really had brought genuine peace and justice.
Furthermore, in verse 15 the LORD proclaims his anger against “the nations that are at ease” (Revised Standard Version). Although the Hebrew word for “at ease” is not the same word as that used for rest here, it is a word that usually refers to a lazy and self-indulgent ease, one that deserves the LORD’s punishment. This strengthens the view that verse 11 speaks of a similar situation.
Translators will need to think carefully about all the overtones of the words they use here. Good News Translation is the only modern English version which clearly conveys the sense that the rest is a bad thing, but this fits the context very well, and translators are recommended to follow the example of Good News Translation. In many languages it will be possible to find terms which convey the sense that the stillness is oppressive rather than good. If such terms cannot be found, then it may be possible to add some adjective or adverb that will state the situation directly. For example, translators could say “people all over the world have been subdued and are helpless,” “people all over the world have been completely defeated and are helpless,” or, in languages that do not use the passive, “the emperor has conquered people all over the world and they are helpless.”
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 .