Zechariah 11:14 kjv
Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Zechariah 11:14 nkjv
Then I cut in two my other staff, Bonds, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Zechariah 11:14 niv
Then I broke my second staff called Union, breaking the family bond between Judah and Israel.
Zechariah 11:14 esv
Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Zechariah 11:14 nlt
Then I took my other staff, Union, and cut it in two, showing that the bond of unity between Judah and Israel was broken.
Zechariah 11 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zech 11:7 | So I fed the flock destined for slaughter... taking for myself two staffs: | Context of the two staffs |
| Zech 11:10 | Then I took my staff 'Favor' and broke it, annulling the covenant... | The first staff broken, foreshadowing |
| Zech 11:12-13 | "Pay me my wages... they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver." | Rejection of the Shepherd for 30 silver, Judas' price |
| Matt 27:9-10 | Then what was said through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took... | Fulfillment of Zech 11:12-13, potter's field |
| 1 Kgs 11:31 | "Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel,... | Prophecy of the division of the kingdom |
| 1 Kgs 12:16 | So when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them... | Actual division of Israel and Judah |
| Isa 11:13 | The envy of Ephraim shall depart, and those who harass Judah shall be cut... | Future Messianic reunion of Judah and Ephraim |
| Jer 3:8 | ...because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I had sent her away... | God divorces Israel due to unfaithfulness |
| Jer 31:1 | "At that time," declares the Lord, "I will be the God of all the clans... | Future promise of reunion and new covenant |
| Ezek 37:16-17 | "Son of man, take a stick and write on it, 'For Judah, and the children... | Symbolic reunion of Judah and Ephraim sticks |
| Ezek 37:21-22 | And I will take the people of Israel from the nations...and will make them.. | God's promise to reunite and make them one nation |
| Psa 133:1 | Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! | Value of brotherhood and unity |
| Hos 1:9 | And the Lord said, "Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people,... | Rejection of Northern Israel by God |
| Amos 1:9 | Thus says the Lord: "For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will.. | Violation of covenant of brothers punished |
| John 1:11 | He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. | Rejection of Jesus, the true Shepherd |
| Matt 23:37-39 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets... | Jesus' lament over Jerusalem's rejection |
| John 10:11-13 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.. | Contrast between good and bad shepherds |
| Lev 26:15 | ...if you spurn My statutes and if your soul abhor My rules, so that you.. | Consequences of rejecting God's covenant/rules |
| Heb 8:13 | In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. | Obsoleteness of the old covenant |
| Matt 12:25 | Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house.. | Principle of internal division leading to destruction |
| Rom 9:4-5 | They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants.. | Historical status and lineage of Israel |
| Isa 49:1 | "Listen, O coastlands, to me; and pay attention, O peoples from afar!... | The servant (Messiah) will restore Israel |
Zechariah 11 verses
Zechariah 11 14 Meaning
Zechariah 11:14 depicts a symbolic action by the Lord, breaking His second staff, named "Union" (or "Bands"). This act signifies the complete dissolution of the fraternal bond and covenantal unity between the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and the southern kingdom of Judah. It represents a divine judgment, terminating the spiritual and political kinship that should have existed between the two houses, leading to irreparable division and conflict due to their rejection of God's leadership and the Messianic Shepherd.
Zechariah 11 14 Context
Zechariah chapter 11 presents a prophetic vision acted out by the prophet, symbolizing God's judgment on Israel through the metaphor of a shepherd and his flock. God (or Zechariah acting on His behalf) becomes the shepherd of a flock "destined for slaughter" (v. 4-7), representing the nation of Israel. He carries two staffs: "Favor" (נועם, No'am) and "Union" (חבְלִים, Chavlim). The "Favor" staff, broken in verse 10, signifies the annulment of God's protective covenant with the entire nation, withdrawing His providential care. Immediately preceding our verse (11:12-13), the "shepherd" demands his wages from the ungrateful flock and is paid a meager 30 pieces of silver, a pittance signaling their contempt. This prophetic act foreshadows the betrayal of Jesus, the True Shepherd, for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 27:9-10). The breaking of the second staff, "Union," in verse 14, is the direct consequence and culmination of this rejection. It speaks to the deep-seated historical division between Judah and Israel, a division that the Lord would no longer seek to bridge, confirming the state of spiritual and national fracture. The context is one of divine rejection of an unfaithful people, leading to internal strife and ultimately judgment.
Zechariah 11 14 Word analysis
- Then I broke: The Hebrew, אֶשְׁבֹּר ('eshbor), signifies a decisive and complete act initiated by God. It indicates a deliberate cessation of a previous state, not a passive occurrence but an active intervention, specifically, judgment.
- my second staff: The staff (מַקְלִי, maqlī) is a symbol of the shepherd's authority, protection, and guidance. Being the "second" staff emphasizes that this judgment follows an earlier one (the breaking of "Favor" in Zech 11:10). The staffs represent the instruments or means by which God administered His people.
- 'Union,': The Hebrew term is חַבְּלִים (chabb'lîm), meaning "bonds" or "bands." It implies that which ties things together, ensuring unity and coherence. Its specific naming as "Union" here underscores its purpose to maintain a spiritual and national fraternity. The breaking of it signals the severance of those ties.
- cutting off: The infinitive phrase לְהָפֵר (lehafer) means "to break, to annul, to make void." It implies the termination of a covenant or relationship, emphasizing the finality of the separation and the undoing of what was once bound.
- the brotherhood: אַחֲוָה (akhawah) denotes a strong familial relationship, specifically of siblings or a fraternal bond. In the context of Israel, it highlights the ideal covenantal unity between the two halves of the nation, rooted in their common ancestry and shared covenant with God. Its cessation signifies a rupture of profound social, political, and spiritual harmony.
- between Judah and Israel: יְהוּדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל (Yehudah veYisrael). This refers to the historical division of the kingdom of Israel into two entities after the reign of Solomon (1 Kings 12). "Israel" here often refers to the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim), and "Judah" to the Southern Kingdom. The verse declares the breaking of their ideal, covenantal, brotherly unity, cementing their estrangement and opening the door to continued hostility and separate destinies under judgment.
Zechariah 11 14 Bonus section
The judgment symbolized by the breaking of "Union" speaks not only to the ancient division of Israel and Judah but also has broader theological implications for the people of God. The constant struggle for unity within the Church, often plagued by sectarianism, doctrinal disputes, and denominational divides, echoes the warning of Zechariah. When the body of Christ deviates from Christ's clear command to love one another and uphold the unity of the Spirit (Eph 4:3), it risks experiencing a breaking of its own "union." True brotherhood, or akhawah, among believers is a testimony to the world (John 13:35) and reflects God's desire for His people to be one (John 17:21). The consequences of allowing internal discord to fester can be just as devastating as the historical division that afflicted Israel. Ultimately, perfect and eternal unity among God's redeemed people is only realized in the New Creation, under the perfect reign of the returned Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Zechariah 11 14 Commentary
Zechariah 11:14 delivers a stark pronouncement of divine judgment through the breaking of the staff named "Union." This act serves as a vivid metaphor for the spiritual and national divorce between the two houses of God's chosen people, Judah and Israel. Following the rejection of the divine Shepherd, prophetically manifested in the Messiah's betrayal for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:12-13; Matt 27:9-10), the fragile unity that God had sustained is shattered.
The staff of "Union" represented the cohesive force, the binding love, and the common purpose that should have characterized God's people. Its severance signifies that the internal division between Judah and Israel, already a historical reality (1 Kings 12), now becomes a divine decree of estrangement. God ceases His efforts to unite them because they have rejected His ultimate leadership and care. This rejection made them susceptible to foreign rule and internal strife, culminating in the separate exiles of both kingdoms. The message is clear: rejecting God's benevolent rule leads inevitably to the breakdown of unity, both spiritual and national, leaving His people exposed and fractured. Ultimately, this paves the way for a future when true unity can only be achieved through the return of the rejected Good Shepherd and the establishment of a New Covenant, reuniting Judah and Israel under one King (Ezek 37:15-28). The passage thus underscores the critical importance of heeding God's voice and recognizing His chosen Shepherd for the well-being and unity of His people.