Zechariah 13:5 kjv
But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
Zechariah 13:5 nkjv
But he will say, 'I am no prophet, I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.'
Zechariah 13:5 niv
Each will say, 'I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.'
Zechariah 13:5 esv
but he will say, 'I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.'
Zechariah 13:5 nlt
He will say, 'I'm no prophet; I'm a farmer. I began working for a farmer as a boy.'
Zechariah 13 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zechariah 13 | Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I will punish ... | Zechariah 13:1-2 |
| Jeremiah 23 | Thus says the Lord: "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter ... | Jeremiah 23:1 |
| Ezekiel 34 | The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against ... | Ezekiel 34:2-10 |
| Matthew 7 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but ... | Matthew 7:15 |
| Matthew 24 | For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. | Matthew 24:24 |
| Mark 13 | For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. | Mark 13:22 |
| 1 John 4 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see ... | 1 John 4:1 |
| Acts 20 | Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. | Acts 20:28 |
| 2 Peter 2 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. | 2 Peter 2:1 |
| 1 Timothy 4 | Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will desert the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, | 1 Timothy 4:1 |
| Revelation 16 | And the tongues of men were scorched with great heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent or give him glory. Then the sixth angel poured his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. | Revelation 16:8-14 |
| Romans 1 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. | Romans 1:21 |
| Deuteronomy 18 | But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. | Deuteronomy 18:20 |
| Isaiah 8 | And when they say to you, "Inquire of the mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter," should not a people inquire of their God? Should one inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? | Isaiah 8:19 |
| Psalm 23 | The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. | Psalm 23:1 |
| John 10 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. | John 10:11 |
| Acts 7 | "He gave no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him and to his offspring after him, even though he had no child. | Acts 7:5 |
| Hosea 4 | Hear the word of the Lord, you people of Israel, for the Lord has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land. For there is no faithfulness, no steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land. | Hosea 4:1 |
| Micah 3 | And I said, "Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice? | Micah 3:1 |
Zechariah 13 verses
Zechariah 13 5 Meaning
This verse describes a false prophet who will claim to be a shepherd. Their deception involves misleading the people, causing them to stray from God's true path and the teaching of the law.
Zechariah 13 5 Context
Zechariah chapter 13 prophesies about a time of cleansing and restoration for Israel. It begins with a promise of a fountain opened for sin and impurity. Then, it describes the purging of idolatry and false prophecy from the land. Verse 5 specifically addresses a particular type of false prophet who will appear during this transitional period, posing as a true spiritual leader. This prophetic vision speaks to ongoing spiritual battles against deception and the importance of discerning true prophets and teachings in the community of faith.
Zechariah 13 5 Word Analysis
- And: Connects this verse to the preceding prophecy about the purging of false prophets.
- it: Refers back to the preceding statement or the nation/people being addressed.
- shall: Indicates a future certainty or prophetic declaration.
- he: The false prophet, an individual acting as a deceiver.
- say: A declaration or claim made by the false prophet.
- I: The personal pronoun of the false prophet, asserting his own authority or identity.
- am: Indicates existence and self-declaration.
- not: Negation of being a prophet.
- a: Indication of singular or general non-prophetic status.
- prophet: One who speaks for God or claims divine inspiration.
- neither: Also a form of negation, emphasizing the absence of true prophetic identity.
- I: Again, the self-identification of the false prophet.
- am: Statement of existence.
- an: Indication of singular or general non-prophetic status.
- husband: Typically refers to the head of a household or, in a broader sense, one who cultivates or possesses. In this context, it likely signifies a role of stewardship or provision.
- of: Shows possession or relation.
- the: Specifies the particular possession or domain.
- earth: Refers to the land or a dominion, perhaps in a pastoral sense.
- for: Indicates the reason or purpose.
- I: The false prophet again.
- was: Past tense, referring to a previous state.
- bought: Purchased or acquired.
- with: Indicates the means or method of purchase.
- money: A term related to monetary value or a price paid.
Words-group analysis:
- "I am not a prophet": A direct denial of his true calling and an assertion of his un-prophetic nature.
- "neither am I an husband of the earth": This phrase, using the imagery of husbandry, suggests a false shepherd or caregiver who does not cultivate or tend to the spiritual land or people in truth, or has not been "purchased" into such a role by God. The idea of being "bought" by money implies a mercenary motive, serving for personal gain rather than divine commission.
Zechariah 13 5 Bonus Section
The imagery of being "bought with money" can be seen as a stark contrast to the redemption offered by Christ. The true "shepherd" (Jesus) lays down his life for the sheep, not seeking personal financial gain but the salvation of the flock. False shepherds, by contrast, are bought by earthly riches and prioritize worldly wealth and power. This verse underscores the importance of examining the source and motivation behind spiritual claims. Is it divine commission or worldly ambition? The Old Testament prophets faced similar challenges with false prophets who were often motivated by kingly favor or popular acclaim.
Zechariah 13 5 Commentary
This verse vividly describes the self-serving nature of a false prophet. He disavows any true prophetic calling or responsibility, yet positions himself as someone with a vested interest ("husband of the earth"). The crucial point is that he "was bought with money." This signifies a mercenary, worldly motivation rather than a divine one. Such individuals are driven by personal gain and power, seeking to manipulate people for their own ends. They claim spiritual authority but lack divine authentication. Jesus warned against such wolves in sheep's clothing in the New Testament. True prophets are called and sent by God, not hired by worldly means for selfish purposes.