Lexical Summary roshah: top Original Word: רֹאשָׁה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance headstone Feminine of ro'sh; the head -- head(-stone). see HEBREW ro'sh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of rosh Definition top NASB Translation top (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs ראֹשָׁה noun feminine top; — apposition ׳הָאֶבֶן הָר Zechariah 4:7 i.e. the topmost stone. Topical Lexicon Canonical OccurrenceZechariah 4:7 records the sole appearance of רֹאשָׁה (roshah), rendered by the Berean Standard Bible as “capstone”: “Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” The word denotes the final, crowning stone set atop a structure—here, the Second Temple that Zerubbabel was charged to finish after the Babylonian exile. Historical Context The prophecy is dated to the early Persian period (circa 520–518 BC). Judah’s small remnant had laid a foundation sixteen years earlier but opposition and discouragement had stalled progress (Ezra 4:4–5, 24). Through Zechariah’s night visions, the Lord ignited fresh faith in Zerubbabel. The single occurrence of roshah thus functions in real time as a promise that the rebuilding—begun in weakness—would be completed “not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6). Symbolic Significance 1. Completion and Assurance Bringing forth the capstone publicly attested that every stage of construction, from foundation to finish, was under God’s sustaining grace. Shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” magnified divine initiative and prevented human boasting. 2. Triumph over Opposition The “great mountain” (Zechariah 4:7) stands for every political, spiritual, or psychological barrier. Its leveling into a plain dramatizes God’s sovereignty in advancing His redemptive plan irrespective of hostile powers. 3. Continuity with Earlier Revelation The Temple’s capstone echoes the “chief stone” imagery of Psalms 118:22. Both passages celebrate an unexpected reversal: a stone once overlooked (or as yet unused) becomes the pivotal element in God’s building project. Christological Fulfillment Although roshah literally pertains to Zerubbabel’s Temple, the New Testament repeatedly draws on the head-stone motif to portray Jesus Christ: • Psalms 118:22 is cited in Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, and 1 Peter 2:7. Thus, the historical capstone prefigures the incarnate Son who completes God’s dwelling with humanity. Just as Zerubbabel lifted the roshah amid cries of grace, so the Gospel proclaims Christ crucified and risen as the consummation of salvation history. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Encouragement in Kingdom Work Leaders and congregations facing prolonged or stalled projects (physical or spiritual) may draw confidence that God finishes what He authors (Philippians 1:6). The capstone narrative converts delays into testimonies of grace. 2. Humility and Worship Public acclaim was not for Zerubbabel’s skill but for the Lord’s favor. Modern ministry likewise calls for celebrating divine enablement rather than human ingenuity. 3. Perspective on Opposition Obstacles that loom like “great mountains” are ultimately subject to God’s transforming power. Faith therefore prays and labors expectantly, knowing the final stone will be set. Related Biblical Themes • God as Master Builder (Hebrews 11:10) Summary Roshah encapsulates the certainty that God brings to completion what He begins, both in post-exilic Jerusalem and supremely in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The solitary occurrence in Zechariah 4:7 reverberates through Scripture, inspiring faith that every stone laid in obedience will culminate in a capstone of grace. Forms and Transliterations הָרֹאשָׁ֔ה הראשה hā·rō·šāh hārōšāh haroShahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Zechariah 4:7 HEB: אֶת־ הָאֶ֣בֶן הָרֹאשָׁ֔ה תְּשֻׁא֕וֹת חֵ֥ן NAS: and he will bring forth the top stone INT: will bring stone the top shouts of Grace 1 Occurrence |
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