Zechariah 12:10 kjv
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10 nkjv
"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10 niv
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Zechariah 12:10 esv
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10 nlt
"Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.
Zechariah 12 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zechariah 12:10 | And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. | Main verse |
| John 19:34 | But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. | Fulfillment of piercing |
| John 19:37 | Another Scripture says, "They will look on the one they pierced." | Direct Messianic link |
| Acts 2:23 | this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. | Messianic crucifixion |
| Acts 2:37 | Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” | Mourning and repentance |
| Acts 4:24-28 | when they heard it they lifted their voices together to God and said...For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. | Unified opposition to Christ |
| Romans 11:26 | And in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written, “The deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish godlessness from Jacob”; | Universal Israel salvation |
| Revelation 1:7 | Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. | Universal recognition |
| Joel 2:28-29 | “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh... | Divine Spirit outpouring |
| Jeremiah 31:9 | they shall come with weeping, and with consolations I will lead them back. I will make them walk by a watercourse, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. | Fatherly love, firstborn |
| Isaiah 53:3-5 | He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief...Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows...and with his wounds we are healed. | Suffering Servant |
| Luke 24:44-47 | Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning with Jerusalem. | Messianic suffering and repentance |
| Matthew 24:30 | Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. | Mourning at second coming |
| 1 Corinthians 12:7 | To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. | Spirit's manifestations |
| Galatians 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. | Fruit of the Spirit |
| Ephesians 1:17 | that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, | Strengthening by the Spirit |
| Ephesians 4:30 | And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. | Grieving the Spirit |
| John 16:7-8 | Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment... | The Helper's conviction |
| Philippians 3:10 | and to know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, | Fellowship in suffering |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. | Power from the Spirit |
Zechariah 12 verses
Zechariah 12 10 Meaning
This verse describes a pivotal moment of divine intervention and repentance following a great tribulation upon Jerusalem. The people will look upon the one they pierced and mourn, recognizing him as their Messiah. God promises to pour out His Spirit upon the house of David, bringing about a transformation and a spirit of grace and supplication, leading to salvation and forgiveness.
Zechariah 12 10 Context
Zechariah 12:10 is the climactic verse of Zechariah chapter 12. This chapter describes a future outpouring of judgment and subsequent blessing upon Jerusalem. Initially, Jerusalem will face severe attack from the surrounding nations (Zech. 12:1-3). In the midst of this fierce assault, God will intervene miraculously, protecting Jerusalem and devastating its enemies (Zech. 12:4-9). Following this military deliverance, a profound spiritual transformation will occur within the inhabitants of Jerusalem, specifically the "house of David" and all the people of Jerusalem. This spiritual awakening, detailed in verse 10, leads to universal repentance and recognition of their Messiah. This future event is understood within a broader prophetic narrative of Israel's restoration and the establishment of God's kingdom. The context points to a time of extreme crisis preceding a period of unparalleled divine grace and salvation.
Zechariah 12 10 Word Analysis
- וְאֶל־בֵּית־דָּוִד (Ve'el-beit-David): "And upon the house of David." This refers to the royal line of David, symbolizing leadership and authority, but also extended to include all the royal descendants and their influence, representing the spiritual leadership and the covenant people.
- וְאֶל־יֹשְׁבֵי֙ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Ve'el-yoshvei-Yerushalayim): "and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem." This signifies the entirety of the population of Jerusalem, the spiritual and physical center of Israel.
- רוּחַ־חֵן (Ruach-chen): "a spirit of grace." "Ruach" (רוּחַ) means spirit, wind, or breath. "Chen" (חֵן) means grace, favor, or charm. Together, it signifies a disposition empowered by God’s favor, marked by graciousness, mercy, and benevolence.
- וְתַחֲנוּנִים (Ve-tachanunim): "and pleas for mercy" or "supplications." This plural noun emphasizes earnest and repeated requests, indicating deep humility and dependence on God's compassion. It suggests a turning to God with fervent prayer.
- וְהִבִּיטוּ (Ve-hibitu): "and they shall look." The root word "Habet" (הבט) implies a focused, fixed gaze, suggesting a revelation or an unveiling. It is not a casual glance but a discerning observation.
- אֵלַי֙ (Elai): "upon me." In the singular, this pronoun is often interpreted to refer to God Himself, specifically God the Son in his manifestation to Zechariah and later as the pierced one.
- אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־דָּקָ֔רוּ (Et-asher-daqaru): "on him whom they have pierced." "Daqar" (דקר) means to pierce, thrust through, or stab. This phrase is strongly Messianic, alluding to the crucifixion of Jesus.
- וְהִתְאַבְּלוּ (Ve-hit'ablu): "and they shall mourn." From the root "Avel" (אבל), meaning to mourn or grieve deeply, often in the context of death.
- עָלָיו֙ (Alav): "upon him." Singular, reinforcing the personal nature of their grief.
- כְּהִתְאַבְּל֣וּ (Ke-hit'ablu): "as one mourns." The particle "Keh" (כְּ) signifies "like" or "as."
- עַל־הַיָּחִ֔יד (Al-ha-yachid): "for an only child." "Yachid" (יחיד) means unique, sole, or only. It signifies an irreplaceable loss, conveying the depth of sorrow expected.
- וְהִתְמַרְמְר֣וּ (Ve-hitmar'ru): "and weep bitterly." From the root "Marar" (מרר), meaning bitter. This indicates intense, sorrowful weeping.
- עָלָ֛יו (Alav): "over him." Again, emphasizing the personal object of their lament.
- כְּהִתְמַרְמְר֖וּ (Ke-hitmar'ru): "as one weeps bitterly."
- עַל־הַבְּכ֑וֹר (Al-ha-b'chor): "over a firstborn." "B'chor" (בכור) means firstborn, often carrying significance of inheritance and special position. This evokes the deep pain of losing the most precious or cherished.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "A spirit of grace and pleas for mercy" (רוּחַ־חֵן וְתַחֲנוּנִים): This prophetic action signifies a complete transformation from resistance and rejection to one of penitence and supplication, initiated by God’s merciful Spirit. It’s God’s internal work that enables external acknowledgment.
- "They shall look on me, on him whom they have pierced": This phrase captures the core of the prophetic fulfillment. The singular "me" (אֵלַי) likely refers to God in His divine nature, and "him whom they have pierced" (אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־דָּקָ֔רוּ) points to the incarnate Christ who was pierced. The people will finally recognize their Messiah in His suffering and resurrected glory.
- "They shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn": This heightened description of mourning conveys an unparalleled depth of sorrow. It's a recognition of profound loss and sin, realizing the preciousness of the One they have wronged. The terms "only child" (הַיָּחִ֔יד) and "firstborn" (הַבְּכ֑וֹר) signify unique value and paramount importance.
Zechariah 12 10 Bonus Section
The piercing mentioned in this verse has a direct parallel in the New Testament. John’s Gospel records a soldier piercing Jesus’ side with a spear as he hung on the cross, and that blood and water flowed out (John 19:34). This event is understood as a fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy and other Old Testament scriptures pointing to the Messiah's suffering. The outpouring of the Spirit described here is also paralleled in Acts 2, where, after the pouring out of the Spirit on Pentecost, the people were "cut to the heart" and asked, "Brothers, what shall we do?" leading to repentance and salvation. The depth of mourning depicted (for an only child, a firstborn) emphasizes the uniqueness and preciousness of Jesus, highlighting the gravity of rejecting Him.
Zechariah 12 10 Commentary
This verse is a profound prophecy about Israel's ultimate national repentance. It foretells a time when they will turn to God and recognize Jesus Christ as their pierced Messiah. This turning is not of their own accord but is empowered by God’s Spirit. The Spirit brings both grace and a deep sense of penitence. The mourning described is not for temporal loss but for the eternal spiritual loss incurred by rejecting the Messiah. Their sorrow will be exceptionally deep, indicating the immense significance of their past actions and the glorious reality of their present recognition. This is a testament to God's faithfulness to His promises, ensuring Israel's final salvation, as described in Romans 11.