3:9 the stone. Possibly a reference to the Messiah. Several Old Testament passages about the stone were interpreted as messianic in the New Testament (Ps. 118:22; Is. 8:14; 28:16; Matt. 21:42; 1 Pet. 2:6–8).

seven eyes. The mixture of images is difficult to interpret but these eyes are symbols of God’s omniscient and watchful care (also used in 4:10).

remove the iniquity of this land. God will take away His people’s sin through the Branch. The priestly system in the Old Testament was not intended actually to cover sin but only to prefigure the One who would truly deal with man’s sin (Heb. 10:1–18).

in a single day. The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:30; 23:28) was an annual reminder of sin (Heb. 9:7–10), but Christ on a single day (Good Friday) once for all made atonement for the sins of God’s people (Heb. 9:11–14).