Zechariah 13 2

Zechariah 13:2 kjv

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

Zechariah 13:2 nkjv

"It shall be in that day," says the LORD of hosts, "that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land.

Zechariah 13:2 niv

"On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more," declares the LORD Almighty. "I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.

Zechariah 13:2 esv

"And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness.

Zechariah 13:2 nlt

"And on that day," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "I will erase idol worship throughout the land, so that even the names of the idols will be forgotten. I will remove from the land both the false prophets and the spirit of impurity that came with them.

Zechariah 13 verses

Zechariah 13 2 Meaning

Zechariah 13:2 declares God's solemn promise, to be fulfilled in a future, decisive era, to radically purify the land. This purification involves the complete eradication of idolatry, meaning the very remembrance and influence of false gods will cease. Furthermore, all false prophets who have misled God's people, along with the defiling, demonic spirits that empowered their deceitful utterances, will be permanently removed from the land, ushering in an era of truth and pure worship.

Zechariah 13 2 Context

Zechariah 13:2 is set within a broader prophetic context describing Israel's future purification and restoration in "that day." This phrase, used repeatedly in Zechariah, points to a definitive eschatological period, likely connected to the coming Messianic age and the establishment of God's kingdom. Chapter 13 immediately follows the promise of a "fountain opened for sin and uncleanness" (Zech 13:1), suggesting that the removal of idols and false prophets is a direct consequence or concurrent aspect of this divine cleansing. Zechariah's prophecies generally encouraged the post-exilic community in Judah to rebuild the Temple and re-establish their covenant relationship with God. Their ancestors had suffered exile partly due to rampant idolatry and disregard for true prophecy, so the promise of total eradication of these evils addresses deeply rooted historical failures and provides hope for a pure future. The verses emphasize a divine, not merely human, intervention to achieve this radical spiritual cleansing.

Zechariah 13 2 Word analysis

• And it shall come to pass: Marks a prophetic utterance about a future event.
• in that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, bayom hahu): A crucial eschatological phrase in Zechariah and other prophets, signifying a specific future period of divine intervention, often associated with the Messiah's coming or the establishment of God's reign.
• saith the Lord of hosts (נְאֻם יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, ne'um Yahweh Tseva'ot): Emphasizes the absolute authority, power, and certainty of this divine declaration. "Lord of hosts" denotes God's sovereignty over all creation, including heavenly armies.
• that I will cut off (וְהִכְרַתִּי, v'hikh'ratti): From the root כָּרַת (karat), meaning "to cut, to sever, to destroy, to utterly remove." This implies a decisive, radical, and complete eradication, not just suppression. It signifies termination.
• the names of the idols (אֶת שְׁמוֹת הָעֲצַבִּים, et shemot ha'atsabim):
  • names: Not merely the physical objects, but their reputation, memory, and any associated honor or identity. To cut off the "names" means to destroy their very significance and recognition.
  • idols (ha'atsabim): Refers to graven images or deities crafted by human hands. The word can carry connotations of "painful effort" or "sorrow," highlighting their futility and the grief they bring.
• out of the land (מִן הָאָרֶץ, min ha'aretz): Specifies the geographical and cultural domain where this purification will occur, encompassing the territory of God's people.
• and they shall no more be remembered (וְלֹא יִזָּכְרוּ עוֹד, v'lo yizak'ru od): This powerful phrase denotes total oblivion, ensuring that idols will never again hold a place in the consciousness, worship, or reverence of the people. It signifies a complete spiritual break from past idolatry.
• and also I will cause the prophets (וְגַם אֶת הַנְּבִיאִים, v'gam et hannevi'im): Here, "prophets" refers specifically to false prophets, those who spoke by a spirit other than Yahweh or corrupted His message, leading the people astray.
• and the unclean spirit (וְאֶת רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה, v'et ruach hatuma'ah):
  • unclean spirit (ruach hatuma'ah): Directly translates to a defiling or impure spirit. In biblical usage, this term often signifies demonic influence or spirits that oppose God and lead to spiritual defilement, often associated with false prophecy and pagan practices. This is the source or empowerment for false prophecy.
• to depart out of the land (מִן הָאָרֶץ אָעֲבִיר, min ha'aretz a'avir): Similar to the removal of idols, this signifies the definitive expulsion and banishment of both the human agents of deception (false prophets) and their supernatural source (unclean spirits) from the holy land.

• "I will cut off the names of the idols... and they shall no more be remembered": This phrase group emphasizes a complete and utter abolition of idolatry – not just removing physical idols, but erasing their very memory and significance from collective consciousness, ensuring they hold no sway or reverence in the purified society. It signifies a radical internal cleansing.
• "I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart out of the land": This phrase group shows God's commitment to remove both the human agents of spiritual deception (false prophets) and their underlying, malevolent spiritual power (unclean spirits). This highlights that false prophecy is not just a human error but often stems from dark, defiling spiritual influence.

Zechariah 13 2 Bonus section

This prophecy can be understood through two lenses that intersect in Christian theology:

1. Initial Fulfillment (Post-Exilic & Early Judaism): While a radical end to all false prophecy didn't occur immediately post-exile, there was a shift in Jewish identity where overt idolatry largely ceased to be a national problem after the return from Babylon. Rabbinic tradition itself became cautious about prophetic claims, signifying a collective turning away from known false prophets, possibly influenced by prophecies like Zechariah's.
2. Ultimate Fulfillment (Messianic Era & New Covenant): The full, definitive eradication points to a future age, ultimately inaugurated by Jesus Christ and His ongoing work. Jesus directly confronted and cast out unclean spirits (Mark 1:27, 3:11), demonstrating His authority over the very forces mentioned here. The spread of the gospel is slowly, yet assuredly, cutting off the "names of idols" globally, replacing them with the knowledge of the one true God. In the New Covenant, believers are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, making them discerning of true and false prophecy (1 John 4:1-6). The complete and final banishment of all spiritual darkness, including false prophets and unclean spirits, is an eschatological hope connected to Christ's return and the consummation of His kingdom (Rev 20:1-3, 10). The internal cleansing promised is profoundly linked to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, enabling a true worship free from past defilement.

Zechariah 13 2 Commentary

Zechariah 13:2 presents a profound divine promise for comprehensive spiritual cleansing. This verse directly addresses two persistent issues that plagued Israel throughout its history: idolatry and false prophecy. God vows, with absolute authority as the "Lord of hosts," that in "that day" – an eschatological time – He will not merely suppress but utterly annihilate these evils. The language "cut off the names of the idols" is significant; it signifies a removal so complete that even the memory, honor, and influence of false gods will vanish from the land. This radical measure goes beyond physical demolition; it aims at a total reorientation of the heart and mind, preventing any future lapse into their worship.

Coupled with this, God pledges to remove both the false prophets, who distort truth and lead people astray, and "the unclean spirit" that empowers them. This explicitly links false prophecy not just to human deceit but to a malevolent, defiling spiritual force. God's action here is therefore a dual one: addressing the visible manifestations (idols and false prophets) and striking at the spiritual root cause (the unclean spirit). This complete eradication is a necessary prelude for genuine worship and the unhindered flow of God's truth, creating a pure environment where the relationship with Him can be fully restored, echoing the cleansing fountain promised in the preceding verse. It's a vision of ultimate spiritual health for the nation under God's sovereign rule.