Zechariah 13WEB
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Zechariah13

World English Bible · Public Domain

1“In that day there will be a fountain opened to David’s house and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

2It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they will be remembered no more. I will also cause the prophets and the spirit of impurity to pass out of the land.

3It will happen that when anyone still prophesies, then his father and his mother who bore him will tell him, ‘You must die, because you speak lies in Yahweh’s name;’ and his father and his mother who bore him will stab him when he prophesies.

4It will happen in that day that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they won’t wear a hairy mantle to deceive,

5but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondservant from my youth.’

6One 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 Armies. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

8It 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.

9I 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.’”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Zechariah 13.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The Fountain for the remission of sins, The conviction of the false prophets. (1–6). The death of Christ, and the saving of a remnant of the people. (7–9).

vv1-6

In the time mentioned at the close of the foregoing chapter, a fountain would be opened to the rulers and people of the Jews, in which to wash away their sins. Even the atoning blood of Christ, united with his sanctifying grace. It has hitherto been closed to the unbelieving nation of Israel; but when the Spirit of grace shall humble and soften their hearts, he will open it to them also. This fountain opened is the pierced side of Christ. We are all as an unclean thing. Behold a fountain opened for us to wash in, and streams flowing to us from that fountain. The blood of Christ, and God's pardoning mercy in that blood, made known in the new covenant, are a fountain always flowing, that never can be emptied. It is opened for all believers, who as the spiritual seed of Christ, are of the house of David, and, as living members of the church, are inhabitants of Jerusalem. Christ, by the power of his grace, takes away the dominion of sin, even of beloved sins. Those who are washed in the fountain opened, as they are justified, so they are sanctified. Souls are brought off from the world and the flesh, those two great idols, that they may cleave to God only. The thorough reformation which will take place on the conversion of Israel to Christ, is here foretold. False prophets shall be convinced of their sin and folly, and return to their proper employments. When convinced that we are gone out of the way of duty, we must show the truth of our repentance by returning to it again. It is well to acknowledge those to be friends, who by severe discipline are instrumental in bringing us to a sight of error; for faithful are the wounds of a friend, Pr 27:6. And it is always well for us to recollect the wounds of our Saviour. Often has he been wounded by professed friends, nay, even by his real disciples, when they act contrary to his word.

vv7-9

Here is a prophecy of the sufferings of Christ. God the Father gave order to the sword of his justice to awake against his Son, when he freely made his soul an offering for sin. As God, he is called “my Fellow.” Christ and the Father are one. He is the Shepherd who was to lay down his life for the sheep. If a Sacrifice, he must be slain, for without shedding of the life-blood there was no remission. This sword must awake against him, yet he had no sin of his own to answer for. It may refer to the whole of Christ's sufferings, especially his agonies in the garden and on the cross, when he endured unspeakable anguish till Divine justice was fully satisfied. Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. This passage our Lord Jesus declares was fulfilled, when all his disciples, in the night wherein he was betrayed, forsook him and fled. It has, and shall have its accomplishment, in the destruction of the corrupt and hypocritical part of the professed church. Because of the sin of the Jews in rejecting and crucifying Christ, and in opposing his gospel, the Romans would destroy the greater part. But a remnant would be saved. And if we are his people, we shall be refined as gold; he will be God, and the end of all our trials and sufferings will be praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Key Words

dayH3117Hebrew

יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)

fountainH4726Hebrew

מָקוֹר: properly, something dug, i.e. a (general) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of the female pudenda); figuratively, of happiness, wisdom, progeny)

openedH6605Hebrew

פָּתַח: to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

houseH1004Hebrew

בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

DavidH1732Hebrew

דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse

inhabitantsH3427Hebrew

יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

JerusalemH3389Hebrew

יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine

sinH2403Hebrew

חַטָּאָה: an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender

uncleannessH5079Hebrew

נִדָּה: properly, rejection; by implication, impurity, especially personal (menstruation) or moral (idolatry, incest)

thatH1931Hebrew

הוּא: he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are

Cross References

Zechariah 13
v7Matthew 26:31fulfillment

Explicitly cited by Christ as fulfilled when His disciples were scattered after His arrest.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

The Mosaic law prescribing death for false prophets, even if initiated by parents.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v7Mark 14:27fulfillment

Jesus quotes the smiting of the shepherd and scattering of the sheep.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v1Ezekiel 36:25thematic

Prophetic parallel of clean water sprinkled to cleanse from all filthiness and idols.

Supported by JFB

v5Amos 7:14thematic

Parallel denial of being a prophet, claiming instead to be a simple herdsman.

Supported by JFB

v6Proverbs 27:6allusion

Verbal echo regarding the 'wounds of a friend' received in discipline or correction.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2Hosea 2:17thematic

The removal of the names of idols so they are no longer remembered.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Matthew 10:37thematic

Loving Christ above family ties, paralleling the parents' execution of the false prophet.

Supported by JFB

v42 Kings 1:8thematic

Elijah's hairy/rough garment, which false prophets wore to deceitfully mimic true prophets.

Supported by JFB

v7John 10:30thematic

Christ declaring He and the Father are one, supporting 'my fellow'.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v9Malachi 3:3thematic

The refining and purifying of the sons of Levi like gold and silver.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v9Hosea 2:23thematic

Covenant formula: 'they shall say, Thou art my God; and I will say... My people'.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v1Exodus 30:18contrast

The temporary tabernacle laver contrasted with the perpetual, open fountain for sin.

Supported by JFB

v2Exodus 23:13thematic

Command not to mention the name of other gods, matching the cutting off of idol names.

Supported by JFB