John Calvin Commentary Zechariah 10:4

"From him shall come forth the corner-stone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together." — Zechariah 10:4 (ASV)

This is a confirmation of the last verse, but the metaphors are different. For he says that the Jews would be fortified by every defense necessary for their security, nor is he inconsistent with himself. In the last chapter, he indeed taught us that, though exposed to all kinds of wrongs, they would yet be safe through aid from heaven. But now he promises that from them would come the corner-stone, the nail, the bow, and the exactor. This might seem a different doctrine, but it is the same as if he had promised that, though they stood in need of many helps, they would yet be sufficiently furnished, as God would be ready to aid them whenever there was need.

By the corner-stone he means the firmness of the building. From the Jews then will come the corner-stone; that is, there will always be among that people those capable of carrying on the public government.

Then, from you the nail; beams, we know, and other parts of the building are fastened by nails, and we also know that the ceiling is thereby made secure. Zechariah then mentions here all the supports that sustain a building from its very foundation.

He afterwards adds the bow of war—that is, what is necessary to overcome enemies—and, lastly, the exactor—one who has power over bordering nations and demands tribute or tax from them, as conquerors are accustomed to do from their subjects.

We now see what the Prophet means: that when God would manifest his care for his people and openly show his favor, the Jews would be fortified by all kinds of help, so as to be well established, and that they would possess so much public authority as to have strength enough to resist all enemies; in short, that they would gain the fruit of conquest and constrain all nations to be tributaries to them.

If anyone asks when this has been fulfilled, my answer is that some preludes of this were given when God raised up the Maccabees and made the Jews live again according to their own laws and enjoy their own rights. But no doubt the Prophet includes the whole course of redemption.

Since God then redeemed his people only to a small extent until Christ appeared, it is no wonder that Zechariah, in speaking of full and complete redemption, extends his words to the kingdom of Christ. This was necessary.

We therefore learn that the Church stands abundantly firm and is also furnished with all needful things while it continues under the protection of God, and that it is endowed with sufficient power to resist all its enemies.