Zechariah 11 11

Zechariah 11:11 kjv

And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.

Zechariah 11:11 nkjv

So it was broken on that day. Thus the poor of the flock, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD.

Zechariah 11:11 niv

It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the LORD.

Zechariah 11:11 esv

So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD.

Zechariah 11:11 nlt

That was the end of my covenant with them. The suffering flock was watching me, and they knew that the LORD was speaking through my actions.

Zechariah 11 verses

Zechariah 11 11 Meaning

Zechariah 11:11 reveals a pivotal moment in the prophetic drama concerning the good shepherd and the flock destined for slaughter. Following the breaking of the staff called "Favor," which symbolized the rupture of God's covenantal grace and protection, this verse declares that a specific group within the flock, identified as "the afflicted of the flock who were watching me," came to understand and acknowledge that the events unfolding were indeed "the word of the LORD." This understanding implies not mere intellectual assent, but a profound spiritual recognition that the shepherd's actions and the resulting judgments were sovereignly ordained by God, demonstrating the divine hand behind the unfolding history of Israel and the future rejection of the Messiah. It highlights the spiritual discernment of the humble and faithful few, in contrast to the blindness of the corrupt leaders and the majority.

Zechariah 11 11 Context

Zechariah 11 forms a striking prophetic allegory, portraying a divine shepherd's interaction with a doomed flock. The "flock for slaughter" represents Israel under corrupt leadership, being led to judgment. The prophet Zechariah himself acts out the role of the good shepherd, symbolically caring for this ill-fated flock, in stark contrast to the existing oppressive leaders (shepherds who kill the sheep without guilt, 11:5). He wields two staffs: "Favor" (No'am), representing God's covenantal grace and protection over His people, and "Union" (Hebel), symbolizing the unity of Judah and Israel.

Verse 11 directly follows the shepherd's breaking of the staff "Favor" (11:10), a powerful act signifying the revocation of God's protective covenant with the nations and potentially with Judah. This drastic action is witnessed by the "afflicted of the flock," who unlike others, discern its divine significance. The subsequent request for wages (30 pieces of silver, 11:12-13) and its symbolic casting into the temple treasury for the potter solidify the prophetic act's meaning as representing the rejection and devaluation of the shepherd (Messiah) by the people of Israel, especially their leaders. This rejection leads to the breaking of the second staff, "Union," signifying the disunity within Israel (11:14), and eventually to a "worthless shepherd" (11:15-17), symbolizing the arrival of false, oppressive leaders and subsequent judgment. Therefore, Zechariah 11:11 serves as a critical turning point, highlighting divine action and the varying degrees of human perception.

Zechariah 11 11 Word Analysis

• So: (וַיֵּדְעוּ כֵן֙, vayēdʿū kēn) The Hebrew particle kēn (כֵן) indicates affirmation or confirmation, often translated as "thus" or "indeed." It ties the knowing to the preceding action (the breaking of "Favor" in Zech 11:10), signifying a direct consequence or observation of that event.

• the flock, those who were watching me: (עֵדֵי הַצֹּאן הַשֹּׁמְרִ֣ים אֹתִ֔י, ‘ēḏê haṣṣōn haššōmərîm ’ōṯî)

  • ‘ēḏê haṣṣōn: This phrase is critical. While sometimes rendered "sheep-merchants" or "dealers" in certain contexts (based on other uses of ‘ēḏî), here, in parallelism with Zechariah 11:7 and its description of "the most miserable (or poor/afflicted) of the flock," it is most widely understood as referring to the humble, poor, or afflicted ones among the flock. These are the genuinely God-fearing individuals who are burdened by the corrupt leaders, contrasting sharply with the destructive "shepherds" and "dealers" mentioned elsewhere in the chapter.
  • haššōmərîm ’ōṯî: Literally, "the ones watching/observing me." The Hebrew participle šāmar (שָׁמַר) implies active observation, guarding, or paying attention. This is not passive looking but an attentive discernment of the shepherd's actions and ministry. These individuals are attentive and spiritually open to recognizing the true Shepherd.

• knew: (וַיֵּדְעוּ, vayēdʿū) From the Hebrew verb yādaʿ (ידע), meaning to know, recognize, perceive, discern. This verb often carries the connotation of experiential knowledge, not just intellectual understanding. It suggests that this group gained an intimate and certain realization of the divine nature of the events.

• that it was: (כִּ֥י... הֽוּא׃, kî... hû’) The conjunction kî (כִּ֥י) introduces the content of what was known, signifying "that" or "for." hû’ (הֽוּא) simply means "it" or "he," affirming the identity.

• the word of the LORD: (דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה, dĕbar-YHWH)

  • dĕbar: From the Hebrew noun dāḇār (דָּבָר), which signifies not just spoken words but also matters, affairs, events, or revelations. Here it implies divine command, prophetic utterance, and God's sovereign will and action.
  • YHWH: The sacred, unutterable covenant name of God, indicating His self-existent, faithful, and personal nature. The phrase "word of the LORD" is a powerful declaration of divine origin and authority throughout the Old Testament. This confirms that the breaking of the staff, and by extension the entire prophetic action of the shepherd, was a divine act and revelation.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "So the flock, those who were watching me, knew": This grouping highlights the contrast between general observation and true understanding. Many in the flock might have seen the staff broken, but only this specific group of attentive, afflicted individuals grasped its deeper significance as a divine revelation. Their knowing is presented as a spiritual insight, distinct from the blind observation of others.
  • "that it was the word of the LORD": This concluding phrase establishes the divine imprimatur on the preceding prophetic action. It moves the entire narrative from merely symbolic acts to sovereignly ordained events. The shepherd's actions, culminating in the breaking of "Favor," are not random occurrences but divinely determined moments in the unfolding of God's plan for His people. This authenticates the prophecy as God's message, especially its implication for the Messiah's coming and rejection.

Zechariah 11 11 Bonus section

• The discerning remnant, the "afflicted of the flock," is a recurring biblical theme (e.g., Isa 29:19, Isa 61:1, Zeph 3:12). This group often stands in contrast to the majority or the corrupt leadership. They represent those who are receptive to God's truth, embodying spiritual humility.
• The breaking of the staff "Favor" and its recognition as "the word of the LORD" signifies God's sovereign plan for both judgment and salvation. Even in the breaking of a covenant of grace, there is a divine purpose, acknowledged by those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. This understanding serves to validate the divine orchestrations behind seemingly tragic historical events.
• This verse underpins the concept of the two Israels: a physical or nominal Israel and a spiritual Israel (Rom 9:6), where true discernment and belief reside within the faithful remnant rather than with the whole nation or its outward religious structures.
• The emphasis on "watching me" suggests a consistent, attentive engagement with the shepherd's actions, leading to revelation. Spiritual insight often comes to those who are diligent observers of God's ways and His servants.

Zechariah 11 11 Commentary

Zechariah 11:11 encapsulates a crucial point in the Messianic prophecy of the good shepherd. The "afflicted of the flock" who discerned that the shepherd's action was "the word of the LORD" stand as a counterpoint to the broader rejection portrayed in the chapter. These are the humble and spiritually discerning individuals within Israel who truly longed for God's redemption and were able to recognize the divine hand in the painful process of God withdrawing His favor from His people, culminating in the ultimate rejection of the Messiah. This verse prophesies that despite widespread unbelief and the actions of wicked leaders, there would be a remnant who possessed spiritual insight into God's plan. This points to those few faithful ones, like Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25-38), who recognized Jesus as the Messiah, even when He was rejected by the nation's leadership. The prophetic acts of Zechariah served as a direct word from God, and only those truly watching and waiting in humility were equipped to receive it. It foreshadows the truth that God's ways are revealed not to the proud and self-sufficient, but to the poor in spirit who earnestly seek His truth.