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

Zechariah 11:6 pronounces a severe divine judgment: God declares that He will no longer show mercy to the people inhabiting the land. He states His intention to deliver humanity, specifically those in the covenant community and surrounding regions, into a state of self-destruction and oppressive governance. This will lead to the devastation of the land, with God definitively withdrawing His protection and refusing to rescue them from these calamitous consequences.

Zechariah 11 6 Context

Zechariah 11 is a distinct prophetic oracle, separate from the more encouraging prophecies concerning the first and second comings of the Messiah found in earlier and later chapters of Zechariah. Chapter 11 depicts the coming judgment on Israel through a symbolic act performed by the prophet. Zechariah is commanded to act as a shepherd, tending a flock destined for slaughter, illustrating God's care for His people despite their unfaithfulness. The narrative involves two staffs, "Favor" (or "Graciousness") and "Union" (or "Bonds"), which are broken. The breaking of "Favor" (v. 10) symbolizes the nullification of God's covenant relationship, specifically His grace, with His people, allowing them to suffer at the hands of one another and foreign oppressors. Verse 6 directly states the reason for and the consequence of this divine withdrawal: God's mercy will cease, leading to Israel's internal strife and the devastation of their land, with no divine intervention. The chapter contrasts God's good shepherd role with the "worthless shepherd" (v. 15), symbolizing the corrupt spiritual and political leadership that will ultimately lead Israel astray and contribute to its ruin, culminating in the payment of "30 pieces of silver" (v. 12-13), which Jesus fulfilled.

Zechariah 11 6 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): A causal conjunction, introducing the reason for God's prior action or the preceding statement. Here, it explains why God is now acting decisively in judgment, linking directly to the overall rejection of the true shepherd's care.
• I will no longer have pity (לֹא־אוֹסִיף עוֹד לַחְמוֹל, lo-osiph ‘od laḥmol):
  • לא (lo) - "no, not." A strong negative.
  • אוֹסִיף (osiph) - Hiphil imperfect of יָסַף (yasaph), "to add, continue, do again." Here, "I will add no more," indicating cessation.
  • עוֹד (‘od) - "again, anymore." Reinforces the finality and irrevocability of the declaration.
  • לַחְמוֹל (laḥmol) - Infinitive of חָמַל (ḥamal), "to have pity, spare, show compassion." This phrase declares an end to divine compassion, a significant and fearsome statement, indicating a final judicial act of withdrawing mercy, usually reserved for extreme apostasy.
• on the inhabitants of the earth (עַל־יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ, ‘al-yoshvē hā’āreṣ):
  • While literally "inhabitants of the land/earth," in prophetic context, hā’āreṣ often refers to the land of Israel or the region under immediate prophetic judgment (e.g., Jer 1:18, Isa 6:12). It implies a particular segment of humanity—those dwelling within the specific domain of the prophet's concern, in this case, primarily the covenant people and possibly the surrounding nations who inflict suffering.
• declares the LORD (נְאֻם־יְהוָה, ne’um-YHWH): A standard prophetic formula indicating a direct, authoritative word from God Himself. It confirms the divine origin and unchangeable nature of the declaration.
• Indeed, I will hand mankind over (וְהִנֵּה אֲנִי מַפְקִד אֶת־הָאָדָם, vehinneh ’ani maphqid ’et-hā’ādām):
  • וְהִנֵּה (vehinneh) - "and behold, indeed," introducing something new, significant, and immediate.
  • אֲנִי מַפְקִד (ani maphqid) - "I am appointing/delivering." Maphqid is Hiphil participle of פָּקַד (paqad), meaning to "visit, appoint, number, entrust, commit, give over." Here, it signifies divine agency in actively delivering or entrusting humanity into a difficult situation. It's not a passive withdrawal, but an active turning over.
  • אֶת־הָאָדָם (et-hā’ādām) - "the man, humanity." Parallel to "inhabitants of the earth," referring to the specific populace undergoing judgment.
• each to his neighbor and each to his king (אִישׁ בְּיַד־רֵעֵהוּ וּבְיַד מַלְכּוֹ, ’ish bəyaḏ-rē‘ēhu ūbəyaḏ maləko):
  • אִישׁ בְּיַד־רֵעֵהוּ (’ish bəyaḏ-rē‘ēhu) - "each man into the hand of his neighbor." This describes internal strife, betrayal, and civil discord. They will oppress each other, indicating societal breakdown and a lack of brotherhood. The Hebrew idiom "into the hand of" (בְּיַד) signifies power, control, or surrender.
  • וּבְיַד מַלְכּוֹ (ūbəyaḏ maləko) - "and into the hand of his king." This indicates external oppression by their own corrupt rulers or even foreign powers, which God permits. It speaks of failed leadership that becomes a source of suffering, rather than protection. This points to both the internal moral decay and the consequential external oppressive forces God allows.
• And they will devastate the land (וְהִכּוּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ, vəhikku ’et-hā’āreṣ):
  • וְהִכּוּ (vəhikku) - "and they will strike/smite/devastate." Qal perfect from נָכָה (nakah). The action implies severe destruction and ruination, a direct result of the preceding delivery into the hands of neighbors and kings. This emphasizes the consequence on the land itself.
  • אֶת־הָאָרֶץ (et-hā’āreṣ) - "the land," specifically referring to the physical territory where these inhabitants reside, highlighting the tangible destruction that will occur.
• and I will not rescue them from their hand (וְלֹא אַצִּיל מִיָּדָם, vəlo ’aṣṣil miyyādām):
  • וְלֹא אַצִּיל (vəlo ’aṣṣil) - "and I will not deliver/rescue." Hiphil imperfect of נָצַל (naṣal), "to deliver, snatch away, save." This is the ultimate statement of divine withdrawal – no intervention, no saving hand, reinforcing the finality of the judgment and the full consequences of being left to their own devices and their oppressors.
  • מִיָּדָם (miyyādām) - "from their hand." Referring to the hand of their neighbors and their kings, the very ones to whom God has delivered them. It solidifies the idea that they are trapped by the very circumstances God allowed.

Zechariah 11 6 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates a crucial biblical principle: when people (or a nation) persistently reject God's gracious intervention and good leadership, God's patience can indeed reach an end. His withdrawal of mercy is a judgment in itself, leading to cycles of self-destruction, internal conflict, and the rise of oppressive leaders who bring further ruin. The reference to "their hand" is deeply significant; it means that the very people and leaders into whose hands God "delivers" the inhabitants are those who will then inflict devastation, and God will not save them from those same hands. This signifies a profound theological concept: the consequences of sin are often experienced at the hands of those very agents or forces that initially drew one away from God or were allowed by God as a means of discipline. This principle is not only a warning of future judgment but also explains historical cycles of decline, particularly evident in Israel's history of rebellion and subsequent oppression.

Zechariah 11 6 Commentary

Zechariah 11:6 is a pronouncement of severe judicial judgment, a divine "giving up" that marks the cessation of God's active compassion towards a wayward people. This is not arbitrary anger, but a just response to persistent rebellion and the rejection of divine guidance, foreshadowed in the breaking of the staff "Favor." God states He will cease to pity the inhabitants of the land, an alarming declaration signifying a complete withdrawal of protective grace. Instead of rescue, God actively delivers the people into internal strife (each to his neighbor) and destructive, perhaps self-inflicted, governance (each to his king). This leads to the devastating consequence of the land's ruination. The chilling conclusion, "and I will not rescue them from their hand," underlines the finality of this divine decree. It represents God allowing the natural, and often severe, consequences of sin and foolish leadership to run their course without intervention, serving as a solemn warning against rejecting divine grace and faithful shepherding. The verse illustrates that ultimate self-destruction often results from the absence of God's restraining hand and His presence.