And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him - the ministering angels (cf. for the phrase, "stood before Him" - namely, as those who are admitted to the high honours of "standing continually before" an Oriental king, 1 Kings 10:8; Daniel 1:5).
Take away the filthy garments from him. In Zechariah 3:9 it is "remove the iniquity of that land;" therefore Joshua represents the Jewish land.
From him, х mee`al (H5921)] - literally, from upon him: pressing upon him as an overwhelming burden.
And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment - festal robes of the high priest, most costly and gorgeous; symbol of Messiah's imputed righteousness, represented in the Saviour's parable by the wedding garment (Matthew 22:11). The restoration of the glory of the priesthood is implied: first, partially, at the completion of the second temple; fully realized in the great High Priest Jesus, whose name is identical with Joshua (Hebrews 4:8), the Representative of Israel, the "kingdom of priests" (Exodus 19:6); He, our heavenly High Priest, once clad in the filthy garments of our vileness, but being the chosen of the Father (Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 44:1; Isaiah 49:1-3). He hath by death ceased from sin, and in garments of glory hath entered the heavenly holy place as our High Priest (Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 9:24). Then, as the consequence (1 Peter 2:5), the "holy priesthood" is not restricted to one privileged order, but is realized in the Church generally: all who repent and believe exchange their "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) for "the best robe," and the "ring on the hand and shoes on the feet" (Luke 15:22); and wear "fine linen, clean and white," even "the righteousness of saints" (Revelation 19:8). Israel in particular, as a nation of priests, will "greatly rejoice in the Lord," because He hath "clothed her with the garments of salvation," and "covered" her with the bridal "robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10: cf. Isaiah 3:6; Isaiah 66:21).