Zechariah 13:8

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.

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 And it shall be said to him, What be these wounds in the middle of thine hands? And he shall say, With these I was wounded in the house of them that loved me. (And it shall be said to him, What be these wounds in the midst of thy hands? And he shall say, I was wounded with these in the house of those who loved me.)

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.)