Logos Bible Study

Zechariah 13:7–9

The NET BibleOther versions

English

Arabic

Czech

French

German

Hebrew

Hungarian

Italian

Korean

Latin

Portuguese

Russian

Simplified Chinese

Spanish

Traditional Chinese

13:7“Awake, sword, against my shepherd,

against the man who is my associate,”

says the Lord who rules over all.

Strike the shepherd that the flock may be scattered;10

I will turn my hand against the insignificant ones.

13:8It will happen in all the land, says the Lord,

that two-thirds of the people11 in it will be cut off and die,

but one-third will be left in it.12

13:9Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire;

I will refine them like silver is refined

and will test them like gold is tested.

They will call on my name and I will answer;

I will say, ‘These are my people,’

and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”13

Read in Logos

Footnotes

  1. 10 Despite the NT use of this text to speak of the scattering of the disciples following Jesus’ crucifixion (Matt 26:31; Mark 14:27), the immediate context of Zechariah suggests that unfaithful shepherds (kings) will be punished by the Lord precisely so their flocks (disobedient Israel) can be scattered (cf. Zech 11:6, 8, 9, 16). It is likely that Jesus drew on this passage merely to make the point that whenever shepherds are incapacitated, sheep will scatter. Thus he was not identifying himself with the shepherd in this text (the shepherd in the Zechariah text is a character who is portrayed negatively).
  2. 11 The words “of the people” are supplied in the translation for clarity (cf. , , ).
  3. 12 The fractions mentioned here call to mind the affliction of God’s people described by Ezekiel, though Ezekiel referred to his own times whereas Zechariah is looking forward to a future eschatological age. Ezekiel spoke of cutting his hair at God’s command (Ezek 5:1–4) and then of burning a third of it, striking a third with a sword, and scattering the rest. From this last third a few hairs would survive to become the nucleus of a new Israel. It is this “third” Zechariah speaks of (v. 9), the remnant who will be purified and reclaimed as God’s covenant people.
  4. 13 The expression I will say ‘It is my people,’ and they will say ‘the Lord is my God’ is reminiscent of the restoration of Israel predicted by Hosea, who said that those who had been rejected as God’s people would be reclaimed and once more become his sons and daughters (Hos 2:23).

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,

against the man who stands next to me,”

declares the Lord of hosts.

“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;

I will turn my hand against the little ones.

In the whole land, declares the Lord,

two thirds shall be cut off and perish,

and one third shall be left alive.

And I will put this third into the fire,

and refine them as one refines silver,

and test them as gold is tested.

They will call upon my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are my people’;

and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Awake, sword, against my shepherd,

against the man who is close to me!”

declares the Lord Almighty.

“Strike the shepherd,

and the sheep will be scattered,

and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

In the whole land,” declares the Lord,

“two-thirds will be struck down and perish;

yet one-third will be left in it.

This third I will put into the fire;

I will refine them like silver

and test them like gold.

They will call on my name

and I will answer them;

I will say, ‘They are my people,’

and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ ”

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Sword, awake against my shepherd,

against the man who is my associate—

this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.

Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;

I will turn my hand against the little ones.

In the whole land—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

two-thirds will be cut off and die,

but a third will be left in it.

I will put this third through the fire;

I will refine them as silver is refined

and test them as gold is tested.

They will call on my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are my people’,

and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ ”

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,

the man who is my partner,”

says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“Strike down the shepherd,

and the sheep will be scattered,

and I will turn against the lambs.

Two-thirds of the people in the land

will be cut off and die,” says the Lord.

“But one-third will be left in the land.

I will bring that group through the fire

and make them pure.

I will refine them like silver

and purify them like gold.

They will call on my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘These are my people,’

and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ ”

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“O sword, awake against my shepherd,

against the man who is my associate,”

declares Yahweh of hosts.

“Strike the shepherd,

so that the sheep may be scattered,

and I will turn my hand against the small ones.

And then in all the land,” declares Yahweh,

“two thirds will be cut off and perish,

and one third will be left alive in it.

And I will bring the remaining third into the fire,

and I will refine them like one refines silver,

and I will test them like one tests gold.

They will call my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are my people,’

and they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.’ ”

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow,

Saith the Lord of hosts:

Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered:

And I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord,

Two parts therein shall be cut off and die;

But the third shall be left therein.

And I will bring the third part through the fire,

And will refine them as silver is refined,

And will try them as gold is tried:

They shall call on my name, and I will hear them:

I will say, It is my people:

And they shall say, The Lord is my God.

Public Domain