Zaccaria 13:4-9

4 Ed avverrà in quel giorno, che i profeti saran confusi, ciascuno della visione ch’egli avrà proposta, quando egli profetizzava; e non si vestiranno più d’ammanto velloso, per mentire.

5 E ciascun di loro dirà: Io non son profeta, io son lavorator di terra; perciocchè altri mi ha fatto andar dietro al bestiame fin dalla mia giovanezza.

6 E gli si dirà: Che voglion dire quelle ferite, che tu hai in mezzo delle mani? Ed egli dirà: Son quelle che mi sono state date nella casa de’ miei amici.

7 O SPADA, destati contro al mio Pastore, contro all’uomo che è mio prossimo, dice il Signor degli eserciti; percuoti il Pastore, e le pecore saran disperse; ma pure io volgerò la mia mano sopra i piccoli.

8 Ed avverrà in tutta la terra, dice il Signore, che le due parti ne saranno sterminate, e morranno; e la terza dimorerà sol di resto in esse.

9 E ancora metterò quella terza nel fuoco, e nel cimento, come si mette l’argento; e li proverò, come si prova l’oro; essi invocheranno il mio Nome, ed io risponderò loro, e dirò: Essi sono mio popolo; e ciascun di loro dirà: Il Signore è l’Iddio mio.

Zaccaria 13:4-9 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.