Zacharias 14:20
In that day that which is upon the bridle of the horse shall be holy to the Lord: and the caldrons in the house of the Lord shall be as the phials before the altar.
The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- In die illa, erit quod super frenum equi est, sanctum Domino : et erunt lebetes in domo Domini quasi phialæ coram altari.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἔσται τὸ ἐπὶ τὸν χαλινὸν τοῦ ἵππου ἅγιον τῷ κυρίῳ Παντοκράτορι· καὶ ἔσονται οἱ λέβητες ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Κυρίου ὡς φιάλαι πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου·
- Hebrew (WLC)
- בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִֽהְיֶה֙ עַל מְצִלּ֣וֹת הַסּ֔וּס קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַֽיהוָ֑ה וְהָיָ֤ה הַסִּירוֹת֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה כַּמִּזְרָקִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ
Haydock's commentary
Bridle. The golden ornaments of the bridles, &c., shall be turned into offerings in the house of God. And there shall be an abundance of cauldrons and phials for the sacrifices of the temple; by which is meant, under a figure, the great resort there shall be to the temple, that is, to the Church of Christ, and her sacrifice. (Challoner)
It is of a different nature, being the body and blood of Christ. But it shall not be confined to one place, nor the priesthood to one family, ver. 21. Hebrew, "they shall inscribe on the stables, Holy," &c. The most filthy places shall be purified and changed into temples; or, "what is upon the little bells for horses shall be sanctified;" or, on these "bells shall be inscribed, sacred to the Lord." (Calmet)
Metsilloth may signify a bell or bridle, &c. (Haydock)
The bits were often of gold. (Virgil, Æneid vii., and viii.) (Calmet)
St. Jerome's master said the word should be motsiluth, "trappings" and armour. (Haydock)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
Sozomen Book II, The Discovery of the Life-Bringing Cross and of the Holy Nails
When the business at Nicæa had been transacted as above related, the priests returned home. The emperor rejoiced exceedingly at the restoration of unity of opinion in the Catholic Church, and desirous of expressing in behalf of himself, his children, and the empire, the gratitude towards God which the unanimity of the bishops inspired, he directed that a house of prayer should be erected to God at Jerusalem near the place called Calvary. At the same time his mother Helena repaired to the city for the purpose of offering up prayer, and of visiting the sacred places. Her zeal for Christianity made her anxious to find the wood which had formed the adorable cross. …