Zechariah 13 1

Zechariah 13:1 kjv

In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

Zechariah 13:1 nkjv

"In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

Zechariah 13:1 niv

"On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

Zechariah 13:1 esv

"On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

Zechariah 13:1 nlt

"On that day a fountain will be opened for the dynasty of David and for the people of Jerusalem, a fountain to cleanse them from all their sins and impurity.

Zechariah 13 verses

Zechariah 13 1 Meaning

Zechariah 13:1 speaks of a future time when a divine source of spiritual cleansing will be made available. "In that day," referring to a time of national repentance and divine intervention (following the piercing of the Messiah described in chapter 12), a unique "fountain" will be "opened." This fountain's purpose is to purify the "house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem"—representing the people of Israel—from "sin" (transgressions against God's law) and "uncleanness" (all forms of ritual and moral impurity that separate them from God). It signifies a complete and radical cleansing from all aspects of human defilement, divinely provided.

Zechariah 13 1 Context

Zechariah 13:1 follows immediately after the powerful vision in Zechariah 12:10, where the "house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem" are given a "spirit of grace and pleas for mercy," causing them to look on the one whom they have "pierced" and mourn for him as for an only son. This deep, national repentance is directly linked to the atoning sacrifice of the pierced Messiah. Chapter 12 details Jerusalem's ultimate victory and the turning point where Israel acknowledges their rejected Messiah. Chapter 13 then logically presents the immediate result of this recognition and mourning: the divine provision for the cleansing of sin and impurity. The entire section (Zech 12-14) describes the dramatic events of the "Day of the Lord" which involve war, the recognition of Messiah, and then the spiritual transformation and establishment of God's kingdom.

Historically and culturally, cleansing from sin and uncleanness was central to Israel's covenant relationship with God. The Mosaic Law provided elaborate rituals (sacrifices, washing, purification rites, the Day of Atonement) for dealing with various forms of defilement. Zechariah's prophecy speaks to the ultimate, permanent, and divinely initiated solution to these issues, transcending the temporary nature of the old covenant rituals. It stands in contrast to inadequate human efforts or existing cultic practices, offering a supernatural and comprehensive purification.

Zechariah 13 1 Word analysis

• In that day:

  • Hebrew: ba-yom ha-hu (בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא)
  • Signifies a specific, climactic eschatological time. It links this verse directly to the preceding events of Zechariah 12:9-10 and points forward to the new era initiated by God.
  • Connects to many prophetic passages pointing to a future day of God's intervention and fulfillment.

• there shall be:

  • Implies a definitive, divine act, not a human invention. This provision comes solely from God.

• a fountain:

  • Hebrew: maqor (מָק֣וֹר)
  • Literally, a "spring" or "source" of flowing water.
  • Symbolizes continuous, living water, unlike a stagnant pool. It suggests an inexhaustible, self-replenishing supply of cleansing and life.
  • In the OT, "fountain" is often a metaphor for divine wisdom or life (Ps 36:9; Jer 2:13).

• opened:

  • Hebrew: niphtaḥ (נִפְתָּ֔ח)
  • Niphal stem of paṭaḥ, meaning "to be opened" or "to be loosened."
  • Emphasizes the active divine initiative. The fountain does not naturally appear; it is deliberately made accessible by God.
  • Suggests previous closure or inaccessibility, now removed. This implies a new, unhindered access to God's purification.

• for the house of David:

  • Refers to the royal family and its lineage, but also symbolically represents the leadership and spiritual core of Israel.

• and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem:

  • Refers to the residents of the capital city, representing the broader populace of Israel.
  • Together, "house of David and inhabitants of Jerusalem" encompass the entire covenant people, both leadership and common folk. This cleansing is for the whole nation.

• for sin:

  • Hebrew: la-ḥaṭṭa't (לְחַטָּאָה֙)
  • "ḥaṭṭa't" means "sin," often referring to a specific transgression or rebellion against God's moral law.
  • This covers the legal guilt and moral defilement of wrong actions.

• and for uncleanness:

  • Hebrew: u-la-niddāh (וּלְנִדָּֽה)
  • "niddāh" refers to ritual impurity (like menstrual uncleanness, Ez 18:6, Lev 15:19ff) and by extension, all moral defilement and spiritual pollution that render a person unfit for worship or presence before God.
  • It covers a broader range of defilement beyond active sin, encompassing everything that makes one ritually or spiritually separated from a holy God.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "In that day there shall be a fountain opened": This phrase establishes the eschatological context and divine origin of the promised cleansing. The "fountain opened" indicates a new, permanent, and accessible source of purification provided by God. Its "opened" nature suggests it becomes available at a specific, crucial point in history, linked to the events preceding it.
  • "for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem": This specifies the primary beneficiaries: the covenant people of Israel. It denotes a national, not just individual, cleansing, affecting both leaders and common people, spiritually restoring the nation to God. While addressed to Israel, the New Testament extends this to all who become part of God's spiritual Israel through Christ.
  • "for sin and for uncleanness": This defines the comprehensive scope of the fountain's power. It addresses both active transgressions (sin) and all forms of inherited or contracted impurity (uncleanness), indicating a complete removal of everything that separates humanity from God. It covers the full spectrum of human defilement.

Zechariah 13 1 Bonus section

• Prophetic Tension: Zechariah 13:1 sits in prophetic tension, being primarily addressed to physical Israel but having immediate and ongoing spiritual fulfillment in the New Testament Church. While ultimately pointing to a future restoration and spiritual renewal for the Jewish people, its truths concerning Christ's atoning blood apply to all who believe now.
• The Trinity's Role: While the Old Testament attributes the opening of the fountain to Yahweh, the New Testament clearly identifies Jesus, the Messiah, as the ultimate source, and the Holy Spirit as the agent who applies this cleansing power in believers' lives. Thus, it reflects the triune God's work in salvation.
• Beyond Ritual: This "fountain" signifies a cleansing that goes far beyond ceremonial purification. It targets the deepest recesses of the heart, addressing moral guilt and spiritual defilement. It offers a new internal state of purity, rather than just an external ritualistic cleanliness, aligning with the spirit of the New Covenant that writes God's laws on the heart.

Zechariah 13 1 Commentary

Zechariah 13:1 presents a profound prophecy concerning God's ultimate solution to humanity's greatest problem: sin and impurity. The "fountain opened" is not a physical spring but a metaphorical expression for a spiritual source of complete purification. This divine provision directly flows from the national repentance for the "pierced one" foretold in the preceding chapter, thereby implicitly linking this cleansing fountain to the atoning work of the Messiah. John's account of blood and water flowing from Christ's pierced side (Jn 19:34) is often seen as a direct fulfillment and visual representation of this prophetic fountain, symbolizing the twin effects of His sacrifice: expiation (blood) and purification (water).

This fountain offers comprehensive cleansing from both "sin" (wilful transgression) and "uncleanness" (all forms of defilement, both ritual and moral, that disqualify one from God's holy presence). It marks a pivotal moment, "in that day," suggesting a New Covenant era where God actively and sovereignly cleanses His people, replacing the limited and temporary Old Testament purification rituals with a perfect and permanent solution. This purification enables restored communion with God and paves the way for genuine righteousness and peace within God's kingdom. Ultimately, this divine "fountain" is Christ Himself and the efficacy of His shed blood.