Zechariah 13:2-9

2 On that day, says the LORD of heavenly forces, I will eliminate the names of the idols from the land; they will no longer be remembered. Moreover, I will remove the prophets and the sinful spirit from the land.

3 If anyone again prophesies, then that person's birth father and mother will say, "You won't live, for you have told a lie in the name of the LORD." That person's own birth father and mother will stab him when he prophesies.

4 On that day each of the prophets will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies and won't put on a shaggy coat in order to deceive.

5 Each will say, "I'm not a prophet. I'm a man who works the ground, for the soil has been my occupation since I was young."

6 Someone will say to him, "What are these wounds between your hands?" And he will say, "These happened when I was hit in my friends' home."

7 Sword, arise against my shepherd, against the man responsible for my community, says the LORD of heavenly forces! Strike the shepherd in order to scatter the flock! I will turn my hand against the little ones.

8 Throughout all the land, says the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and die; but one-third will be left in it.

9 I will put the third part into the fire. I will refine them like one refines silver; I will test them like one tests gold. They will call on my name, and I will respond to them. I will say, "They are my people." And they will say, "The LORD is our God."

Zechariah 13:2-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 13

In this chapter are prophecies concerning the purification of the penitent Jews before spoken of; the removal of idols, and false prophets, out of the earth; the death of Christ; the destruction of the greater part of men, and the salvation of a few of them. The cleansing of such that mourn for sin, in a fountain opened for that purpose, is spoken of, Zec 13:1 the utter abolition of idols, and false prophets, and unclean spirits, is affirmed, Zec 13:2 the parents of false prophets will forbid them to prophesy; they themselves will be ashamed of their visions; they will throw off the rough garment, which was a token of their being prophets, and by which they deceived: they will confess they are no prophets, and what they are, and own the wounds they have received from their friends on that account, Zec 13:3-6 and whereas the Messiah, as pierced and crucified, is spoken of in the preceding chapter Zec 12:10, whose blood is the cleansing fountain mentioned in this, an account is given of his death; who is described by his office, the Shepherd of the Lord; and by his natures, human and divine, the Man his fellow; his death is signified by smiting with the sword, which was done by the order of the Lord; the consequences of which were the scattering of the sheep, and the turning of the hand of the Lord upon them in a way of mercy, Zec 13:7 and then it is declared that two parts in three of the land should be cut off, and a third part saved, but yet so as by fire, whom the Lord would own as his people, and they should acknowledge him to be their God, Zec 13:8,9.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb lacks responsible for.