זכריה, פרק ד׳, פסוק י״ג

The exchange between the angel and the prophet raises a natural question about why the prophet cannot understand the vision on his own. The primary approach among commentators is that he was expected to think through the imagery and figure out the meaning of the two olive trees independently [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. The olive serves as an intuitive symbol, pointing directly to individuals who are consecrated with anointing oil [מלבי״ם].

Despite this expectation, the prophet openly admits his ignorance, confessing that he still does not know the answer [ביאור שטיינזלץ] and has not grasped the true meaning of the vision [מצודת דוד]. However, his confusion does not necessarily stem from a failure to recognize the basic symbol of the olive tree. Rather, his uncertainty lies in the deeper context; he simply does not understand the specific purpose and role of these anointed individuals in relation to the lampstand [מלבי״ם].