Zechariah 13 8

Zechariah 13:8 kjv

And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

Zechariah 13:8 nkjv

And it shall come to pass in all the land," Says the LORD, "That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one?third shall be left in it:

Zechariah 13:8 niv

In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.

Zechariah 13:8 esv

In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.

Zechariah 13:8 nlt

Two-thirds of the people in the land
will be cut off and die," says the LORD.
"But one-third will be left in the land.

Zechariah 13 verses

Zechariah 13 8 Meaning

Zechariah 13:8 prophesies a severe and sweeping judgment upon a land, declaring that a significant majority, two-thirds of its inhabitants, will face destruction and perish. This divine decree from the LORD highlights a profound act of purification. Despite the widespread judgment, the verse assures the preservation of a minority, "the third part," indicating God's selective action and His unwavering purpose to save a faithful remnant. This prophecy signals a period of intense tribulation, yet it firmly establishes the promise of an enduring segment that will survive God's refining work.

Zechariah 13 8 Context

Zechariah's prophecy emerges from the post-exilic period, as the Jewish people returned from Babylon and began rebuilding the Temple and Jerusalem. His messages intertwine immediate restoration with glorious eschatological visions, looking forward to the Messiah and a renewed covenant relationship. Chapter 13 shifts abruptly from earlier chapters focused on divine leadership and temple completion to themes of purification and judgment.

Immediately preceding Zechariah 13:8, the chapter deals with the cleansing of the land from idolatry and false prophecy (Zech 13:1-6). Zechariah 13:7 introduces the "striking of the Shepherd," a pivotal messianic prophecy that Jesus Himself applied to His suffering and the scattering of His disciples. This sets a tone of immense suffering and dislocation, leading directly into the quantitative judgment described in verse 8. The severe judgment is presented as part of God's sovereign process of spiritual purification, where the removal of the wicked enables the remnant to be refined and faithfully restored, eventually leading to a complete and personal covenant relationship as depicted in Zech 13:9.

Zechariah 13 8 Word analysis

• And it shall come to pass (`vəhāyāh`): This is a common prophetic formula in Hebrew, signifying a certain future event that will inevitably occur according to God's decree. It underscores the certainty and divine origin of the pronouncement.
• in all the land (`bəḵol-hā’āreṣ`): The Hebrew `hā’āreṣ` typically refers to the land of Israel. While in broader prophetic contexts it can mean "the earth," here, especially given the preceding context of purification from false prophecy within Israel, it most likely designates the covenant land and its people, emphasizing the national scope of the judgment.
• declares the LORD (`nə’um-YHWH`): This phrase acts as a stamp of divine authority, indicating that the preceding and following statements are a direct utterance from Yahweh. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and the immutable nature of the prophecy, rendering it God's sovereign and authoritative word, not a human speculation.
• two parts therein (`šənaim bāh`): The Hebrew `šənaim` means "two." In the context of "the third part" immediately following, it implicitly refers to two-thirds. This numerical proportion denotes a large, overwhelming majority of the inhabitants within the designated "land" who will face the divine judgment.
• shall be cut off (`yikkārfṭu`): From the root `kārat`, this word means to cut, prune, or cut off. It implies violent removal, extermination, or destruction. While sometimes used in the context of "cutting a covenant," here, paired with "die," it unmistakably refers to a forceful and permanent separation, an act of divine eradication.
• and die (`yāmūtū`): This refers to physical death and utter cessation. Coupled with "cut off," it leaves no ambiguity about the fate of the majority, signifying a literal and conclusive end to their lives and their presence in the land, a severe consequence of judgment.
• but the third part (`vəhaššəlîšît`): Refers to the remaining minority, one-third of the population. This "third part" stands in stark contrast to the preceding two-thirds, marking them as the preserved, the elect, and the recipients of God's saving grace.
• shall be left therein (`yivvāṯer bāh`): From the root `yātar`, meaning to remain, survive, or be left over. This signifies the preservation and survival of the remnant despite the widespread destruction. It highlights God's purposeful act of sparing a portion for His redemptive plan.

Words-group analysis:

• "in all the land... two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third part shall be left therein.": This specific proportional judgment structure, where two-thirds perish and one-third remains, underscores a severe and discriminating divine judgment. It demonstrates God's sovereign right to determine who endures and who perishes, meticulously separating the unfaithful from the faithful. The judgment, while widespread, is not absolute; a chosen remnant always remains for God's ultimate purpose of salvation and restoration.

Zechariah 13 8 Bonus section

This prophecy holds particular significance as it is situated directly after the famous messianic passage of striking the shepherd in Zechariah 13:7. The immediate follow-up in verse 8, detailing a devastating judgment and a remnant, can be seen as the consequences of that very act—the Messiah's suffering leading to a spiritual separation within His people. Many biblical scholars and traditions interpret this widespread destruction as relating to historical periods of intense suffering for the Jewish people, such as the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, or the various periods of persecution and exile. The faithful minority who survive represent not merely physical preservation but spiritual salvation and a continued lineage for God's redemptive plan. The language and numbers (two-thirds/one-third) are not arbitrary but symbolize the thoroughness and divine wisdom in distinguishing the unrighteous from those destined for ultimate purification and blessing, even through tribulation.

Zechariah 13 8 Commentary

Zechariah 13:8 delivers a powerful and somber prophecy of divine judgment upon the land, identifying a precise and severe numerical division: two-thirds of the inhabitants are destined for destruction, while one-third will be preserved. This declaration from the LORD emphasizes the absolute authority and certainty of the judgment. The imagery of being "cut off and die" points to a comprehensive and violent eradication of a vast majority, often interpreted as referring to the unfaithful within Israel or broadly to those who reject God's ways. Yet, the existence of "the third part" who "shall be left" is a beacon of God's preserving grace amidst His righteous wrath. This remnant signifies God's unwavering covenant faithfulness, His intention to purify rather than utterly annihilate. This purifying judgment paves the way for a deeper, more intimate relationship with the survivors, as detailed in the following verse. This proportion of judgment echoes themes found in other prophets, like Ezekiel's prophecies against Jerusalem, indicating a pattern of severe but selective divine sifting designed to refine His people for future glory.