Zechariah 13

King James Version

Full text for Zechariah Chapter 13

1¶ In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

2And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

3And it shall come to pass, [that] when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.

4And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:

5But he shall say, I [am] no prophet, I [am] an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.

6And [one] shall say unto him, What [are] these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, [Those] with which I was wounded [in] the house of my friends.

7¶ 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.

8And 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.

9And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Zechariah 13 prophesies a future day when a fountain will be opened for the house of David and Jerusalem, cleansing them from sin and uncleanness. In that same day, the Lord will eradicate idolatry and false prophecy from the land, with even families enforcing this judgment. The chapter culminates with the divine command to smite the shepherd, leading to the scattering of the flock, and the subsequent refining of a faithful remnant through tribulation.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with a promise of spiritual cleansing, as a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to purify them from sin and uncleanness. The Lord of hosts declares His intent to completely remove the names of idols and all false prophets and unclean spirits from the land. So severe will be the judgment against false prophecy that parents will condemn and even execute their own children who prophesy lies in the Lord's name. False prophets will be ashamed, abandoning their deceptive garments and denying their calling, claiming to be husbandmen. A pivotal prophecy then declares the smiting of the Lord's shepherd, His fellow, which will cause the sheep to be scattered. Following this, two-thirds of the land's inhabitants will be cut off and perish, but the remaining third will be brought through fire, refined like silver and gold, establishing a renewed covenant relationship with the Lord.

Long Summary

Zechariah 13 opens with a profound promise for a future day, declaring that a fountain shall be opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for the cleansing of sin and uncleanness. This purification marks a new era of spiritual restoration. The Lord of hosts further proclaims His unwavering commitment to eradicate all forms of idolatry, ensuring that the names of idols will be forgotten and that all false prophets and unclean spirits will be removed from the land. The suppression of false prophecy will be absolute; if anyone presumes to prophesy lies in the Lord's name, their own parents will condemn them, even thrusting them through. Consequently, prophets will experience profound shame concerning their past visions, discarding their deceptive rough garments and denying any prophetic calling, instead claiming to be mere husbandmen. An enigmatic exchange describes a man with wounds in his hands, which he attributes to being wounded in the house of his friends, hinting at betrayal or suffering within trusted circles. The chapter then shifts to a powerful divine decree: the Lord commands the sword to awake against His shepherd, the man who is His fellow, to smite him, which will result in the scattering of the sheep, though His hand will turn upon the little ones. This act of judgment will lead to a severe culling, where two parts of the land's inhabitants will be cut off and die. However, a third part will be preserved and brought through a refining fire, tried and purified like silver and gold. This refined remnant will call upon the Lord, and He will hear them, acknowledging them as His people, and they, in turn, will declare the Lord to be their God, signifying a restored and intimate covenant relationship.

Core Concepts

  • Fountain of PurificationA symbolic fountain will be opened for the house of David and Jerusalem, providing cleansing from sin and uncleanness in a future day.
  • Elimination of FalsehoodThe Lord promises to utterly remove the names of idols, false prophets, and unclean spirits from the land, ensuring their memory and influence cease.
  • Judgment on False ProphetsThose who prophesy lies in the Lord's name will face severe consequences, including condemnation and execution by their own parents, leading to their shame and denial of their prophetic claims.
  • Smiting of the ShepherdA divine command for a sword to strike the Lord's shepherd, identified as His fellow, which will result in the scattering of the flock.
  • Refining of the RemnantTwo-thirds of the land's inhabitants will perish, but the remaining third will be brought through a fiery trial, refined and purified like precious metals.
  • Covenant RestorationThe refined remnant will call upon the Lord, and He will acknowledge them as His people, and they will declare Him to be their God, signifying a renewed covenant relationship.