In some versions (New American Bible, Good News Translation, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) the angel’s words end at the end of verse 5, but the majority of versions include verse 6 in the angel’s speech. This seems to be the more likely option and we recommend that translators follow it.

Since “four winds” have been mentioned in the previous verse, we would expect the descriptions to continue by saying that the four different colored horses all pulled their chariots off in different directions. However, only three colors and three directions can be found in the Hebrew text as it now stands. The red (or, brown) horses and the eastward direction are absent. Some scholars believe that the omissions are deliberate while others think there is something missing from the traditional text. Some versions such as Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 1. Edition (but not Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 2. Edition) and Jerusalem Bible (but not Bible de Jérusalem or New Jerusalem Bible) add a statement about the red horses going to the east. However, the majority of versions do not do this, and translators are advised not to do so either. The focus of attention is on the black horses that go north (verse 8) and no further attention is paid to any of the others, so there is no real gain in restoring the red/brown horses to verse 6. It is possible that the red/brown horses did not go anywhere, but that their chariot contained an angel commander. Compare the rider of the red horse in 1.8, who was apparently the leader.

The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country: The Hebrew word for north was associated with darkness, and this may be why the black horses go in this direction. The north was the direction from which enemies normally attacked Judah, and Good News Translation tries to indicate something of this by saying “north to Babylonia.” Translators may either follow this example, or include the information in a footnote, as do Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente. Compare 2.6-7, where the north is linked with Babylonia in the Hebrew, and see the notes on 2.6.

The white ones go toward the west country: The traditional Hebrew text has a word meaning “after them” (Revised Standard Version footnote) instead of toward the west country, and a number of versions such as New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 2. Edition, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, and Biblen: Det Gamle og Det Nye Testamente translate this so as to say that the white horses follow the black ones. However, it requires the addition of only one letter to give the meaning toward the west country. This fits the context better, and is accepted by many modern versions. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the Hebrew as it stands can mean “toward the west,” and we recommend that translators accept this meaning. From the Hebrew point of view, the west would represent Asia Minor and Greece, but since there is no further mention of the white horses, there is no need to say anything about this in translation.

And the dappled ones go toward the south country: The south would represent Egypt, but again since these horses receive no further mention, there is no need to say anything more. For dappled see the comments on verse 3.

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 .