13:1 that day The Day of Yahweh was a day of judgment (Zech 12:2–3) as well as a day of restoration.

the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem Representative of the whole redeemed people.

cleanse them from sin and from impurity The people must be restored to a state of purity before God. Washing with water was one of the methods for restoring cleanness outlined in biblical law (e.g., Lev 13–14).

13:2 I will cut off the names of the Refers to removing the idols completely so that not even the memory of them remains.

the prophets Refers to the false prophets.

the spirit of uncleanness A spirit that dwells in the false prophets (1 Kgs 22:19–23).

13:3 You shall not live Deuteronomy 13:1–11 commands the death penalty for those who engage in idolatry and false prophecy. In this restored future, loyalty to Yahweh trumps loyalty to family.

a lie in the name of Yahweh Falsely claiming to speak for Yahweh also merited the death penalty (see Deut 18:20).

13:4 they will not put on The false prophet’s shame is demonstrated by his refusal to wear a prophet’s uniform and his denial of being a prophet (Zech 13:5).

13:5 I am not a prophet False prophets will go into hiding and masquerade as farmers. The false prophets’ claim echoes Amos 7:14, where Amos asserts that he is not a professional prophet—just a working man called by God. By contrast, the false prophet is speaking the truth that he is no prophet in actuality; God has not called him, but he is hiding his past—that he once claimed to speak for God.

13:6 these wounds between your arms False prophets often cut themselves as part of their idolatrous rituals. The custom originated as a way to show one’s devotion to the gods.

in the house of the ones who love me Possibly a reference to a pagan temple.

13:7 my shepherd Here the metaphor of the shepherd likely represents a royal leader, using the imagery in the sense of Ezekiel and Jeremiah (see Ezek 34:1–10; Jer 23:1–6; compare 1 Kgs 22:17). The shepherd imagery of Zech 10–11 likely included religious leaders such as false prophets (see 11:16–17).

Strike the shepherd The nt quotes this verse in relation to the arrest of Jesus (see Matt 26:31; Mark 14:27).

the sheep may be scattered A common consequence of removing the leader (compare 1 Kgs 22:17; Ezek 34:5–6).

13:9 into the fire Possibly a reference to going into exile.

They are my people A covenant formula expressing the intimate relationship between Yahweh and Israel (see Exod 6:7; Lev 26:12). Hosea uses this formulaic language to describe breaking as well as restoring the relationship (Hos 1:9; 2:23). Variations on the formula appear a number of times in Jeremiah and Ezekiel (e.g., Jer 7:23; 11:4; 24:7; 31:33; Ezek 36:28; 37:27).