“Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.”
The angel asks if Zechariah does not know what these are, and Zechariah responds that he does not\u2014establishing that understanding requires divine revelation and that the prophet acknowledges his dependence on angelic interpretation. The interaction conveys both that the meaning should be knowable (the angel's do you not know) and that it requires explanation, suggesting a gap between external appearance and spiritual significance that only divine interpretation can bridge. This exchange establishes humility and openness as prerequisites for understanding: Zechariah does not presume but admits his need. The pattern parallels theological education generally: the learner must acknowledge ignorance and seek instruction. The verse prepares for the authoritative interpretation that follows, establishing that what is about to be revealed is genuine divine teaching, not mere speculation.
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