Zechariah 11 6

Zechariah 11:6 kjv

For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.

Zechariah 11:6 nkjv

For I will no longer pity the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD. "But indeed I will give everyone into his neighbor's hand and into the hand of his king. They shall attack the land, and I will not deliver them from their hand."

Zechariah 11:6 niv

For I will no longer have pity on the people of the land," declares the LORD. "I will give everyone into the hands of their neighbors and their king. They will devastate the land, and I will not rescue anyone from their hands."

Zechariah 11:6 esv

For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, declares the LORD. Behold, I will cause each of them to fall into the hand of his neighbor, and each into the hand of his king, and they shall crush the land, and I will deliver none from their hand."

Zechariah 11:6 nlt

Likewise, I will no longer have pity on the people of the land," says the LORD. "I will let them fall into each other's hands and into the hands of their king. They will turn the land into a wilderness, and I will not rescue them."

Zechariah 11 verses

Zechariah 11 6 Meaning

This verse speaks of the devastation and despair that will come upon the inhabitants of the land. It emphasizes the inability of people to trust or rely on anyone, indicating a widespread breakdown of social order and security. The land is emptied of its sustenance, leading to famine and hardship for all.

Zechariah 11 6 Context

Zechariah chapter 11 vividly portrays a time of judgment and devastation for the people of Judah. The prophet is instructed by God to shepherd the flock of slaughter. The chapter's initial verses set a scene of divine abandonment and coming wrath upon the land. This particular verse, verse 6, highlights the specific nature of this judgment: social disintegration and universal distrust. The leadership is seen as ineffective or complicit in the downfall. The emphasis on the land being emptied reflects a spiritual barrenness as well as a physical desolation, a consequence of their covenant infidelity. This paints a grim picture of a community ripe for further calamity.

Zechariah 11 6 Word Analysis

• ki (כִּי) - "for," "because," "that." Introduces a reason or explanation. Here it explains the following consequence.
• lɔʾ-ˈɔd (לֹא־עוֹד) - "no more," "no longer." Signifies a cessation of a previous state. The ability to rely on leadership or resources ceases.
• rɔʿîm (רֹעִים) - "shepherds." Plural of rōʿēh (רֹעֶה). In this context, it refers to the rulers or leaders of the people, those who are meant to care for the flock (the nation).
• yisənū (יִסְנוּ) - "will lead astray," "will deceive." A Hiphil (causative) verb from the root nsʾ. It indicates active misguidance.
• la-ššaw (לַשָּׁוְא) - "in vain," "to nothing," "for falsehood." Refers to futility or deception. The shepherds' actions will be in vain or deceitful.
• ˈæṯ-ˈaḥ (אֶת־אָח) - "brother." Can refer to literal brother or countrymen, fellow citizens. It signifies a close relationship within the community.
• yisənū (יִסְנוּ) - "will lead astray," "will deceive." Again emphasizes the misguided actions within the populace.
• rɛʿēhū (רֵעֵהוּ) - "his neighbor," "his friend." Refers to fellow men, those one encounters and potentially trusts.
• wə-ˈis (וְ־אִישׁ) - "and man." Connects "his neighbor" with the next phrase.
• ˈiš (אִישׁ) - "man," "person."
• ˈəqərov (קְרֹבָו) - "his kinsman," "his close relation." Can also refer to one who is near. Denotes those even closer than a neighbor, family or intimate relations.
• yisənū (יִסְנוּ) - "will lead astray," "will deceive." This third instance of the verb drives home the pervasive nature of the deception.
• la-maḫəqēq (לַמַּחֲקֵק) - "for a ruler," "for possession," "for the planner." Can be a bit obscure. May refer to kings or those who govern and acquire possession or establish laws.
• tōw (תּוֹ) - "evil."
• wə-ˈēš (וְ־אֵשׁ) - "and fire."
• wə-ləhabah (וּלְהָבָה) - "and flame." Conveys destruction and consumption.
• yisənū (יִסְנוּ) - "will lead astray," "will deceive." The verb reappears, perhaps linking the destruction to the internal breakdown and deception. Or the sense shifts slightly to mean "will make desolate."

Phrase/Group Analysis:

• "the shepherds will lead astray the flock" – Highlights the failure of leadership to guide and protect the people.
• "everyone will lead astray his brother, and his neighbor" – Emphasizes the societal breakdown where even close relationships are marked by betrayal and misdirection.
• "and man will eat the flesh of his own arm" – This is a powerful idiom signifying extreme self-destruction, starvation, and the consumption of one's own resources or people, even akin to cannibalism in a state of desperation.
• "the land will be eaten up" – Metaphorically, the land will be devoured by destruction, famine, or external forces, signifying utter desolation.

Zechariah 11 6 Bonus Section

The idiom "man will eat the flesh of his own arm" is incredibly strong, signifying absolute ruin and the destruction of the very fabric of society. It is reminiscent of other intense prophetic judgments described by means of gruesome imagery, such as cities being so besieged that mothers eat their infants, or communities resorting to extreme cannibalism due to starvation. This vivid metaphor underscores the depth of despair and the complete loss of order that will characterize this judgment. The repetition of the verb "lead astray" or "deceive" accentuates the role of misinformation and false hope in the downfall, suggesting that even in the midst of judgment, people are still being misguided rather than seeking true repentance and divine intervention.

Zechariah 11 6 Commentary

Zechariah 11:6 paints a stark picture of societal collapse during a period of divine judgment. The leadership ("shepherds") fails its people, not only by inaction but by actively misleading them. This failure cascades down to the individual level, where trust breaks down, and people turn on each other ("his brother," "his neighbor," "his kinsman"). The inability to rely on others leads to extreme self-destruction and desperation, graphically illustrated by the idiom "man will eat the flesh of his own arm." The land itself is depicted as being consumed, indicating widespread devastation. This is a consequence of covenant unfaithfulness, leading to both spiritual barrenness and physical ruin, a theme that resonates throughout the prophetic literature and points towards the ultimate consequences of turning away from God's guidance and protection.