Zechariah 13:7 kjv
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
Zechariah 13:7 nkjv
"Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion," Says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.
Zechariah 13:7 niv
"Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the LORD Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Zechariah 13:7 esv
"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declares the LORD of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Zechariah 13:7 nlt
"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
the man who is my partner,"
says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.
"Strike down the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn against the lambs.
Zechariah 13 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zechariah 13:7 | "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is my fellow,"... | Direct Fulfillment of Judgment |
| Matthew 26:31 | "Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night..." | Prediction of scattering |
| Mark 14:27 | "And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night..." | Prediction of scattering |
| Luke 22:31 | "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you..." | Forewarning of disciples' fall |
| John 10:11 | “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." | Contrast with good shepherd |
| John 10:14 | “I am the good shepherd. And I know my own and my own know me, | Relationship with the flock |
| John 16:32 | “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own..." | Jesus predicts his followers' scattering |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you..." | Role of shepherds |
| Acts 20:28 | "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit..." | Care for the flock |
| Jeremiah 23:1 | “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!”... | Judgment on unfaithful shepherds |
| Ezekiel 34:2 | “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel..." | Condemnation of false shepherds |
| Ezekiel 34:11 | “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I myself will search for my sheep..." | Lord's active role in shepherding |
| Isaiah 53:7 | "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth..." | Suffering of the servant |
| Psalm 23:1 | “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” | The Lord as ultimate shepherd |
| Psalm 80:1 | "To the choirmaster: according to Lilies of Testimony. A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O..." | Prayer for scattering and restoration |
| Genesis 22:12 | "But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”..." | Testing of Abraham |
| 1 Corinthians 11:23 | "...the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread..." | Betrayal of Jesus |
| 2 Corinthians 5:21 | "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become..." | Christ's substitutionary sacrifice |
| Hebrews 4:15 | "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses..." | Christ's understanding of weakness |
| Revelation 5:12 | "saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power..." | Christ's glorious status |
| Matthew 27:46 | "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?'..." | Jesus' cry on the cross |
| 1 Corinthians 1:30 | "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and..." | Christ as wisdom and righteousness |
Zechariah 13 verses
Zechariah 13 7 Meaning
"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is my fellow," declares the Lord Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones." This verse speaks of a violent judgment that will fall upon the people of Israel, specifically targeting their leaders and shepherds. It foretells the scattering of the flock due to the smiting of the shepherd. The Lord himself directs this judgment, highlighting its divine origin and purpose.
Zechariah 13 7 Context
Zechariah 13:7 is part of a larger prophecy concerning the future cleansing and restoration of Israel. Chapter 13 begins with a prophecy about a fountain opened for sin and impurity, pointing towards a spiritual cleansing. This cleansing is intrinsically linked to a future, intense judgment. The immediate context of verse 7 describes a future tribulation period where God will directly intervene. This intervention involves striking the shepherd, which leads to the scattering of the flock. This prophecy speaks not only to the national crises Israel would face throughout its history but finds its ultimate fulfillment in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, and the subsequent scattering of His disciples. The verse is placed within the eschatological framework of Zechariah's visions, looking towards the Messianic Age.
Zechariah 13 7 Word analysis
"Awake" (Hebrew: ‘ūr, עור): Means to stir up, to arouse, to waken. It signifies an active and deliberate call to action for the sword.
"O sword" (Hebrew: ẖereḇ, חֶרֶב): The sword, symbolizing divine judgment and destructive power. The address "O sword" personifies the instrument of God's wrath.
"against my shepherd" (Hebrew: lĕro‘î, לְרֹעִי): Against my shepherd. The possessive "my" indicates a special relationship, implying God's shepherd, chosen and appointed by Him. This points to a leader of Israel.
"and against the man" (Hebrew: wĕ‘al ’îš , וְעַל־אִישׁ): And against a man. Further specifying the object of judgment.
"who is my fellow" (Hebrew: ‘amîtî, עָמִיתִי): My companion, my neighbor, my associate. This is a profound term indicating a close, intimate, and unique relationship, akin to a peer or comrade. In this context, it implies equality or at least a divinely appointed closeness with God.
"saith the LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: nā’um YHWH ṣĕḇā’ōṯ, נְאֻם־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת): Thus says the Lord of hosts. A formal prophetic declaration emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God, the Commander of heavenly armies.
"Strike the shepherd" (Hebrew: hăḵĕ-rō‘eh, הַכֵּה־רֹעֶה): Strike the shepherd. A direct imperative command for the sword to smite the shepherd. This is a critical moment in the prophecy.
"and the sheep shall be scattered" (Hebrew: wĕnippĕrĕḵĕdû haṣṣōn, וְנָפְצוּ הַצֹּאן): And the sheep will be scattered. The immediate consequence of the shepherd's smiting. The flock loses its leadership and direction.
"and I will turn my hand" (Hebrew: wĕšāḇĕ‘ōtî ’eṯ-yādî, וְשַׁבְתִּי אֶת־יָדִי): And I will turn my hand. A strong idiom for intervention, opposition, or bringing judgment. God Himself will direct His hand against the flock.
"upon the little ones" (Hebrew: ‘al-haṣṣĕ‘îrîm, עַל־הַצְּעִירִים): Upon the young ones, the small ones, the least. Refers to the weaker, less significant members of the flock, implying that even the vulnerable will not be spared from God's subsequent judgment.
Group Analysis: The verse depicts a divine directive for judgment to be executed upon a "shepherd" who is uniquely referred to as God's "fellow." This action will cause the scattering of the sheep, particularly the "little ones." The "fellowship" aspect is crucial, pointing to someone uniquely connected to God. The smiting of the shepherd and subsequent scattering of the sheep directly parallels events in Jesus' life and ministry.
Zechariah 13 7 Bonus section
The term "my fellow" (Hebrew: ‘amîtî) is rarely used in the Old Testament and its application here to the shepherd is unique. This uniqueness suggests the shepherd holds a position of exceptional intimacy and association with God. This further supports the Messianic interpretation, as Jesus' claims and relationship with the Father were singular. The act of God orchestrating the "smitten shepherd" aligns with the theology of atonement found throughout scripture, where a sacrifice is necessary for reconciliation and salvation. The scattering, while a judgment, also prepares the way for a future gathering under a true Shepherd.
Zechariah 13 7 Commentary
Zechariah 13:7 is a pivotal prophecy that speaks profoundly of divine judgment and its intended consequences. The imagery of the sword striking the shepherd and scattering the sheep vividly portrays a moment of leadership crisis and its impact on the community. This verse is often interpreted as a Messianic prophecy. Jesus, identifying himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11), aligns with this imagery. His crucifixion, where the disciples indeed scattered, fulfills this prophecy. The phrase "my fellow" applied to the shepherd carries significant weight, pointing to Christ's divine nature and His intimate relationship with the Father. God’s turning His hand against the "little ones" signifies a severe, but purifying, judgment upon the remnants of the flock who remain scattered, underscoring the thoroughness of God's redemptive and judicial work.