Zechariah 13:8

8 It shall happen that in all the land," says Yahweh, Two parts in it will be cut off and die; But the third will be left in it.

Zechariah 13:8 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 13:8

And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the land, saith
the Lord
Either in all the land of Israel, as Kimchi interprets it; or rather in all the world, as Aben Ezra and others; for this prophecy seems to have respect, not to the calamities of the Jews at the destruction of Jerusalem, after the death of Christ, when a few were saved, a remnant according to the election of grace, yet so as by fire, for whose sake the days of tribulation were shortened; but to the external state of the church, and the trouble of it throughout Christendom, about the time of the destruction of antichrist: two parts therein shall be cut off [and] die;
all hypocrites, formalists, and outward court worshippers; who seem as if they would be at this time two thirds of the professors of true religion; who will not be able to stand the hour of temptation that will come upon all the earth, to try the inhabitants of it; which will be the last struggle of the beast of Rome, ( Revelation 3:10 ) but will be twice dead, plucked up by the roots; will die to the profession of religion, and be cut off from the people of God, and have no more a name with them: but the third shall be left therein;
the few names in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; the hundred forty and four thousand that will stand with Christ, and by him, on Mount Zion, being redeemed from among men, ( Revelation 3:4 ) ( Revelation 14:1 Revelation 14:4 ) compare with this ( Revelation 16:19 ) .

Zechariah 13:8 In-Context

6 One will say to him, 'What are these wounds between your arms?' Then he will answer, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.'

7 "Awake, sword, against my shepherd, And against the man who is close to me," says Yahweh of Hosts. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; And I will turn my hand against the little ones.

8 It shall happen that in all the land," says Yahweh, Two parts in it will be cut off and die; But the third will be left in it.

9 I will bring the third part into the fire, And will refine them as silver is refined, And will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say, 'It is my people;' And they will say, 'Yahweh is my God.'"