Zechariah 13:9

9 And I shall lead the third part by (the) fire, and I shall burn them, as silver is burnt, and I shall prove them, as gold is proved. He shall call to help my name, and I shall graciously hear him; and I shall say, Thou art my people, and he shall say, Thou art my Lord God. (And I shall lead the third part through the fire, and I shall burn them, like silver is burned, and I shall prove them, like gold is proved. They shall call my name for help, and I shall graciously hear, or I shall graciously answer, them; and I shall say, Thou art my people, and they shall say, Thou art the Lord our God.)

Zechariah 13:9 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 13:9

And I will bring the third part through the fire
Into tribulation, as the Targum explains it; or into great distresses, comparable to fire, as Kimchi observes; this is the hour of temptation that will be in the Philadelphian church state, ( Revelation 3:10 ) . Daniel's time of trouble, such as there never was since there was a nation, ( Daniel 12:1 ) and the time of the slaying of the witnesses, ( Revelation 11:7-9 ) : and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as
gold is tried;
their graces, principles, and profession, will be tried; their dross and tin will be removed, and they will be purged and purified; a more pure and glorious state of the church will take place, in which there will be great purity of Gospel worship, discipline, and conversation; when the word will be more purely preached, the ordinances more purely administered, and the saints will live more holy lives and conversations, signified by the witnesses ascending up into heaven, ( Revelation 11:12 ) : they shall call on my name;
which includes the whole of divine worship, and particularly designs prayer, that pure offering and incense, which shall now be offered to the name of the Lord in every place, ( Malachi 1:11 ) hence it follows, and I will hear them;
accept their prayers, and give an answer to them: so the Targum paraphrases the words,

``he shall pray in my name, and I will receive his prayer:''

I will say, It [is] my people;
the Lord will make it appear to themselves and others that they are his special, peculiar, and covenant people, by calling them out of Babylon; by bestowing his favours upon them; and by granting his presence with them, as well as by the witnessing of his Spirit to them; see ( Revelation 18:4 ) ( 19:1 ) : and they shall say, The Lord [is] my God:
they shall know him to be their covenant God and Father, and claim their interest in him, and acknowledge him as such; which is the greatest happiness that can be enjoyed, ( Psalms 144:15 ) ( Revelation 21:3 ) .

Zechariah 13:9 In-Context

7 Sword, be thou raised on my shepherd, and on a man cleaving to me, saith the Lord of hosts; smite thou the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered. And I shall turn mine hand to the little (ones). (Sword, be thou raised against my shepherd, and against a man cleaving to me, saith the Lord of hosts; strike thou down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered. And then I shall turn my hand against the young ones.)

8 And two parts (of the people) shall be in each land, saith the Lord, and they shall be scattered, and shall fail, and the third part shall be left in it.

9 And I shall lead the third part by (the) fire, and I shall burn them, as silver is burnt, and I shall prove them, as gold is proved. He shall call to help my name, and I shall graciously hear him; and I shall say, Thou art my people, and he shall say, Thou art my Lord God. (And I shall lead the third part through the fire, and I shall burn them, like silver is burned, and I shall prove them, like gold is proved. They shall call my name for help, and I shall graciously hear, or I shall graciously answer, them; and I shall say, Thou art my people, and they shall say, Thou art the Lord our God.)