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 11:10 | "And I took my staff, Famine, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant..." | Zech 11:10 (Original sin of shepherds) |
| Zech 11:14 | "Then I cut asunder mine other staff, Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel." | Zech 11:14 (Division and judgment) |
| Isaiah 9:21 | "Manasseh also against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh: they are together against Judah." | Isaiah 9:21 (Internal division) |
| Jeremiah 31:31 | "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:" | Jer 31:31 (Promise of future restoration) |
| Romans 11:25 | "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel." | Rom 11:25 (Partial hardening of Israel) |
| Galatians 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." | Gal 3:28 (Unity in Christ transcending divisions) |
| John 10:16 | "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." | John 10:16 (Christ's shepherd for all) |
| Matthew 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" | Matt 23:37 (Jesus mourning Jerusalem's rejection) |
| Acts 1:8 | "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." | Acts 1:8 (Gospel commission across divisions) |
| Hebrews 8:8 | "For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:" | Heb 8:8 (New covenant applied to Israel and Judah) |
| Hosea 1:6 | "And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will have mercy no more upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away." | Hosea 1:6 (God withdrawing mercy from Israel) |
| Hosea 1:9 | "Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God." | Hosea 1:9 (God disowning Israel) |
| 1 Kings 12:16 | "So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David." | 1 Kings 12:16 (Original division of the kingdom) |
| 2 Kings 15:29 | "In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kadesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria." | 2 Kings 15:29 (Assyrian captivity of Israel) |
| Amos 6:1 | "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mount of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!" | Amos 6:1 (Pride and security of northern kingdom) |
| Jeremiah 13:11 | "For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for praise: but they have not hearkened." | Jer 13:11 (Former unity of Israel and Judah) |
| Psalm 41:9 | "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." | Psalm 41:9 (Betrayal by a close associate) |
| Ezekiel 34:2 | "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flock?" | Ezek 34:2 (Condemnation of false shepherds) |
| Acts 4:25 | "Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?" | Acts 4:25 (Messianic prophecy through David) |
Zechariah 11 verses
Zechariah 11 14 Meaning
This verse describes the rejection and casting off of the brotherhood between Israel and Judah by the Lord. The shepherds of Israel had corrupted their flock, leading to divine judgment. Verse 14 signifies the end of the covenant relationship between the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah) as distinct entities under God's guidance, signifying a unified but broken nation rejected by Him.
Zechariah 11 14 Context
Zechariah 11 vividly portrays the Lord's rejection of Israel due to the corruption of its shepherds. The prophet, acting as a symbolic shepherd, divides his staff "Famine" (representing judgment and depletion) and "Bands" (representing unity and brotherhood). Verse 14 focuses on the severing of the "Bands," symbolizing the end of the brotherly relationship between the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah. This action reflects a historical reality of division and ongoing strife between them. Culturally, the concept of brotherhood implied a covenant bond and shared heritage under God. The polemic aspect here is God's direct response to the sin and apostasy of both kingdoms, especially their spiritual leaders who failed to care for the flock. This sets the stage for the further suffering and dispersion that Israel would endure.
Zechariah 11 14 Word Analysis
Then (וְאָז / ve'az) - Conjunction indicating sequence, signifying what happens as a result of the previous actions.
I cut asunder (וָאֶגְזָר / va'egzar) - Verb "gazar" means to cut off, divide, separate. This emphasizes a decisive act of separation.
mine other staff (מַטֵּה־שֵּׁנִ֔י / mateh-sheni) - Refers to the second staff, which is "Bands."
Bands (חֶבְלִ֑ים / hevlim) - Plural of "hevhel," meaning bands, cords, ropes, ties. This signifies unity, connection, brotherhood, or relationships bound together.
that I might break (לְמַעַן֙ / lema'an) - "lema'an" introduces a purpose or intent. The purpose of cutting the staff was to break something.
the brotherhood (אֲחָד֖וּת / achadut) - Noun meaning unity, oneness, brotherhood. This directly names the relationship being severed.
between Judah and Israel (בֵּ֥ין יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבֵ֣ין יִשְׂרָאֵֽל / bein Yehudah u'vein Yisra'el) - Clearly identifies the two parties whose brotherly bond is broken.
Words Group: The severing of the "Bands" staff
- This phrase, "that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel," signifies the dissolution of the special, divinely-intended relationship between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. It reflects the historical reality of their fractured state and points to a deeper divine rejection of their collective unity as a divided people due to sin.
Zechariah 11 14 Bonus Section
The breaking of the staff "Bands" speaks to a recurring theme in the Old Testament: the consequences of sin leading to national disunity and divine abandonment. The division of the united monarchy under Solomon into Israel and Judah (1 Kings 12) is the foundational event to which Zechariah's prophecy alludes. While this verse speaks of breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel, the internal breaking of unity within each kingdom was also prevalent due to the corruption of leadership. The prophecy also foreshadows a period of greater dispersion for the house of Israel (the ten northern tribes), who had already been largely scattered by the Assyrians. The "brotherhood" broken here is a conditional one, predicated on covenant faithfulness. When that faithfulness fails, the Lord can and does withdraw the blessings associated with that relationship. This rejection, however, is not the final word, as the promise of a New Covenant, which will truly unite God's people, is woven through the prophetic books and fulfilled in Christ.
Zechariah 11 14 Commentary
The Lord, through the prophet Zechariah, enacts a powerful symbolic judgment. Having already broken the staff of "Famine," signifying judgment and hardship, He now breaks the staff of "Bands." This second act declares the definitive end of the spiritual and national brotherhood between the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel. The reason is the failure of their leadership, the shepherds who corrupted the flock and fostered division rather than unity. This breaking is not arbitrary; it is a consequence of sin. God had bound them together, but their infidelity severed that bond from their end. This event underscores the serious implications of internal division and apostasy within God's people, leading to a deeper scattering and a severance of their blessed covenant relationship, though ultimately pointing to a future hope of a different, unified restoration under a true Shepherd.