Zechariah 11:10

10 And I took my staff, Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples.

Zechariah 11:10 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 11:10

And I took my staff, [even] Beauty, and cut it asunder,
&c.] Signifying that he dropped his pastoral care of them: the Gospel indeed, which is meant by the staff "Beauty", cannot be made void; it will have its designed effect; it is the everlasting Gospel, and will endure; its blessings, promises, doctrines, ordinances, and ministers, shall continue, till all the elect are gathered in, even unto the second coming of Christ: but then it may be removed from one place to another; it may be taken from one people, and given to another; and which is generally owing to contempt of it, unfruitfulness under it, and indifference to it; and this is the case here, it designs the taking away of the Gospel from the Jews, who despised it, and the carrying of it into the Gentile world; see ( Matthew 21:43 ) ( Acts 13:46 Acts 13:47 ) : that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the
people;
not the covenant of works, that was made with all mankind in Adam; that was broke, not by the Lord, but by man; and was broke before the Gospel was published; nor the covenant of grace, for this was not made with all the people, nor can it be broken; but the Mosaic economy, the Sinai covenant, called the old covenant, which gradually vanished away: it was of right abolished at the death of Christ; when the Gospel was entirely removed, it more appeared to be so; and this was thoroughly done at the destruction of the city and temple. The last clause may be rendered, "which" covenant "I have made with all the people"; the Gentiles, having promised and given orders to send the Gospel unto them, which was accordingly done.

Zechariah 11:10 In-Context

8 And I destroyed three shepherds in one month; and my soul was vexed with them, and their soul also loathed me.
9 And I said, I will not feed you: that which dieth, let it die; and that which perisheth let it perish; and let them which are left eat every one the flesh of another.
10 And I took my staff, Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples.
11 And it was broken in that day; and so the poor of the flock that gave heed to me knew that it was the word of Jehovah.
12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give [me] my hire; and if not, forbear. And they weighed for my hire thirty silver-pieces.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Ammim: see Deut. 33.3; Ps. 66.8; 67.3,5.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.