Zechariah 12:13 kjv
The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
Zechariah 12:13 nkjv
the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves;
Zechariah 12:13 niv
the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives,
Zechariah 12:13 esv
the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves;
Zechariah 12:13 nlt
the clan of Levi, and the clan of Shimei.
Zechariah 12 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zec 12:10-14 | "...look on me, the one they have pierced, and mourn..." | Immediate context of national mourning. |
| Rev 1:7 | "Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the tribes..." | NT echo of Zechariah's prophecy. |
| Joel 2:16-17 | "...let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet." | Command for men and women to separate for solemn repentance. |
| Matt 24:30 | "...then all the tribes of the earth will mourn..." | NT prophecy of mourning at Christ's coming. |
| Rom 11:25-27 | "...all Israel will be saved... as it is written..." | National repentance and salvation of Israel. |
| Jer 6:26 | "O daughter of my people, dress yourself in sackcloth and weep bitterly, as for an only son..." | Example of deep, severe mourning for an only child. |
| Amos 8:10 | "...I will make it as the mourning for an only son..." | Echo of profound sorrow as for an only son. |
| Zep 1:10-14 | "...There will be a sound of a cry from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter..." | Description of widespread wailing on the Day of the Lord. |
| Ezr 9:4-6, 10:1-6 | Ezra's deep personal and communal mourning for Israel's sin, leading to confession. | Intense corporate yet personal mourning. |
| 2 Cor 7:9-10 | "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation..." | NT explanation of the spiritual nature of this mourning. |
| James 4:9 | "Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning..." | Call for deep, genuine sorrow for sin. |
| Isa 22:12 | "...the Lord GOD of hosts called for weeping and for lamentation..." | Divine call for national weeping and mourning. |
| Jer 31:15 | "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children..." | Illustration of profound national sorrow. |
| Luke 23:27-28 | "...Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves..." | Foreshadowing of a future time for Israel's sorrow. |
| Eze 7:16 | "But on the mountains they will mourn, all of them, each for his iniquity." | Emphasis on individual mourning for sin. |
| Num 3:20-21 | Identifies Shimei as a Levite, son of Gershon. | Context for "Shimeites" as a Levite sub-family. |
| Num 8:14 | "...thus you shall set apart the Levites from among the people of Israel." | Levites consecrated and set apart for service. |
| Exo 19:15 | "Do not go near a woman." | Principle of separation for solemnity or holiness. |
| Isa 53:5-6 | "...he was pierced for our transgressions... laid on him the iniquity of us all." | Prophecy of Messiah's suffering and atonement (related to 'pierced'). |
| Psa 38:17-18 | "For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin." | Example of personal sorrow and confession for sin. |
| Hosea 5:15 | "...In their affliction they will seek Me earnestly." | Prophetic promise of seeking God in distress. |
| Acts 2:37 | "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter..." | NT example of corporate conviction leading to repentance. |
Zechariah 12 verses
Zechariah 12 13 Meaning
Zechariah 12:13 describes a profound, intensely personal, and national mourning in Israel during an eschatological time when the nation recognizes and laments over "Him whom they have pierced" (Zec 12:10). This mourning is so deep that it transcends typical communal grieving, causing families, and specifically men and women within those families, to grieve separately. The mention of "the house of Levi" and "the Shimeites," representing the priestly and Levitical classes, highlights that this repentance is comprehensive, touching every strata of society, from religious leaders to every common household, emphasizing a universal yet uniquely individual sorrow before God.
Zechariah 12 13 Context
Zechariah 12:13 is part of the "Burden of the word of the Lord concerning Israel" (Zec 12:1). The preceding verses (Zec 12:1-9) establish Jerusalem's invincibility against surrounding nations in the end times. The immediate context of verses 10-14 describes an unparalleled national spiritual awakening within Israel. God will pour out "a spirit of grace and supplication" upon Jerusalem and the house of David. This outpouring leads the nation to "look upon Him whom they have pierced," and respond with profound grief "as one mourns for an only son" and "a bitter weeping as one weeps for a firstborn." Verse 13 details how this collective grief becomes deeply individual, causing even families, specifically husbands and wives within various tribal groups, to separate themselves to lament "apart" from one another. This illustrates an intimate, personal confrontation with sin and their Messiah, a repentance so thorough that it overrides social norms of communal mourning.
Zechariah 12 13 Word analysis
- the family (מִשְׁפַּחַת - mishpakhath): Refers to a clan, a tribal subdivision, or an extended family unit. It emphasizes that this mourning will penetrate specific segments of the larger nation, down to closely related groups.
- of the house of Levi (בֵּית לֵוִי - beit Levi): Identifies the priestly and Levite tribe, whose members were consecrated for service to God. Their explicit mention signifies that spiritual leaders, and not just the common people, will partake in this profound, individual repentance. It implies a recognition of the entire nation's collective guilt, extending to those most responsible for Israel's spiritual life.
- apart (לְבַדָּהּ - ləḇaḏḏāh): This Hebrew adverb with a feminine singular suffix (referring to "family," which is grammatically feminine) means "alone," "separately," or "by itself." Its repetition strongly emphasizes the deeply individualized nature of this sorrow and repentance, moving beyond collective rituals to an intense, private introspection and confession before God. This spiritual separation is a hallmark of genuine remorse.
- and their wives apart (וּנְשֵׁיהֶם לְבַדָּהּ - u̅nəshēhem ləḇaḏḏāh): Literally "and their women, alone." This explicitly highlights the segregation of men from women within the mourning process. It indicates that the personal grief and repentance are so intense that even the most intimate bond of husband and wife is temporarily set aside for individual lamentation before God. Both genders participate in this unique, separate expression of sorrow.
- the family of the Shimeites (מִשְׁפַּחַת הַשִּׁמְעִי - mishpakhath haššimə'î): Shimei was a son of Gershon, a descendant of Levi (Num 3:18, 21). By specifically naming a sub-family within the tribe of Levi, the prophecy demonstrates the exhaustive and meticulously thorough nature of this national repentance. It extends beyond the general tribe to its specific clans, further ensuring that no segment of the nation, however large or small, will be exempt from this personal lament. This mirrors the detailed enumeration of the Davidic line in Zec 12:12, ensuring every aspect of society is covered.
Zechariah 12 13 Bonus section
- The repetitive use of "apart" (לְבַדָּהּ) acts as a powerful literary device to emphasize the individual and introspective nature of this eschatological mourning. It's not just a communal crying, but a spiritual solitude where each person individually grapples with their complicity and the national sin of rejecting the Messiah.
- This segregation during mourning, particularly the separation of bride and groom, finds a direct prophetic parallel in Joel 2:16 during a call for national repentance, signaling an utmost solemnity where all other earthly bonds become secondary to one's individual posture before God.
- The specific mention of the royal lineage (David, Nathan in v. 12) and the priestly lineage (Levi, Shimeites in v. 13) covers the full spectrum of Israelite leadership and society, indicating that the mourning and repentance will be truly universal, embracing all roles and responsibilities within the nation. No one will be exempt from this deeply personal spiritual encounter.
Zechariah 12 13 Commentary
Zechariah 12:13 vividly portrays the depth of future national repentance in Israel, following their realization of having rejected their Messiah. This lament is not a mere public display but a profoundly internalized spiritual experience, so powerful that it calls for a separation of men and women within families, a deviation from typical communal mourning. By specifying "the house of Levi" and then drilling down to "the Shimeites," a particular Levitical family, the text demonstrates that this repentance will permeate every level of Israelite society. It underscores that spiritual leadership and all those consecrated to God's service will also engage in deeply personal sorrow for their part in the national sin. This intricate, personal separation highlights the unique intensity of the remorse, suggesting that each individual's heart is personally moved by the Holy Spirit to confess and grieve for their actions concerning the "pierced one," ultimately leading to a spiritual restoration.Example: A congregation, collectively reflecting on a past societal injustice, feels such profound personal sorrow that each member chooses to retreat to individual prayer, reflecting a private confession of complicity before coming together again for communal worship and healing.