Zechariah 13 9

Zechariah 13:9 kjv

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Zechariah 13:9 nkjv

I will bring the one?third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.' "

Zechariah 13:9 niv

This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'?"

Zechariah 13:9 esv

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'"

Zechariah 13:9 nlt

I will bring that group through the fire
and make them pure.
I will refine them like silver
and purify them like gold.
They will call on my name,
and I will answer them.
I will say, 'These are my people,'
and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'"

Zechariah 13 verses

Zechariah 13 9 Meaning

Zechariah 13:9 prophesies a divine process of purification and restoration for a remnant of God's people following severe judgment. The verse depicts God as a refiner, putting "a third part" through intense trials, metaphorically described as fire, to remove impurities. The ultimate goal is not destruction but spiritual cleansing, leading to a renewed covenant relationship where both God and His people reaffirm their reciprocal commitment: He declares them "My people," and they acknowledge Him as "My God." This purification empowers them to truly call upon Him, and He, in turn, promises to hear and respond.

Zechariah 13 9 Context

Zechariah 13 is a pivotal chapter bridging the prophecies of the suffering Messiah in chapter 12 (mourning for "Him whom they have pierced") and the final victorious battle and Messianic reign in chapter 14. Chapter 13 focuses on purification and judgment, specifically dealing with the removal of idolatry and false prophecy (Zech 13:1-6). It then details the "striking of the shepherd" and the scattering of the sheep (Zech 13:7), which the New Testament attributes to Jesus' crucifixion. This immediate backdrop for verse 9 means that the severe judgment and sifting (two-thirds perishing) described in Zech 13:8 precedes the purification of the "third part" who survive. The verse, therefore, describes the outcome for a divinely preserved remnant who endure this great tribulation, leading to a transformed covenant relationship. Historically, for Zechariah's original post-exilic audience, it offered hope that after the previous judgments (like the Babylonian exile) and the ongoing challenges of rebuilding, God would establish a pure people dedicated to Him.

Zechariah 13 9 Word analysis

• "And I will bring the third part":

  • "And I will bring": This verb indicates divine sovereign action. God is the initiator and executor of this process, not human effort.
  • "the third part" (שְׁלִשִׁית - shĕlishith): This denotes a numerical remnant, indicating a severe sifting and loss (two-thirds perish in the preceding verse, Zech 13:8). It highlights God's justice in judgment but also His mercy in preserving a faithful remnant, an important theme in prophetic literature.

• "through the fire":

  • "through the fire" (בָּאֵשׁ - ba'esh): "Fire" is a powerful biblical metaphor. Here, it signifies intense suffering, testing, and ultimately, purification. It implies an arduous, painful process, but one designed not to destroy the righteous but to cleanse them of dross and sin.

• "and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried":

  • "and will refine" (צָרַף - tsāraph): To melt, fuse, purify metal. It speaks of the removal of impurities and the separation of precious material from dross. The goal is to enhance purity and value.
  • "as silver is refined": A direct comparison to a meticulous metallurgical process where silver is heated to extreme temperatures to separate precious metal from base impurities.
  • "and will try" (בָּחַן - bāchan): To examine, test, prove, or scrutinize. It suggests a thorough evaluation of quality, often in terms of authenticity and resilience.
  • "as gold is tried": Similarly, comparing the process to the testing of gold, which endures fire without being consumed, proving its inherent value and purity. This imagery emphasizes the severe but purposeful nature of God's purification, aiming to bring forth a genuine and durable faith.

• "they shall call on my name":

  • This phrase indicates a posture of dependence, worship, and heartfelt appeal to God. It signifies a genuine spiritual transformation where the purified remnant recognizes God alone as their deliverer and guide. This is a result of the refining process, not merely a prior condition.

• "and I will hear them":

  • This is God's direct and personal assurance. It signifies answered prayer and divine attentiveness, demonstrating the restoration of the intimate covenant relationship. The purification has removed barriers to communion.

• "I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God":

  • This is the reciprocal declaration of the renewed covenant.
  • "It is my people" (עַמִּי - ‘ammi): God's declaration signifies His reclaiming and affirming ownership, affection, and commitment to them as His chosen people, an echo of the ancient covenant promise (e.g., Exod 6:7).
  • "the LORD is my God" (אֱלֹהָי - ’ĕlohāy): The people's reciprocal response. It declares their personal allegiance, faith, and exclusive worship of YHWH as their one true God. This two-part declaration encapsulates the essence of the covenant: God's sovereign choice and the people's faithful submission, establishing an unbreakable bond.

Zechariah 13 9 Bonus section

The suffering and purification described in Zechariah 13, though immediately applied to Israel, bear significant Christological implications. The "striking of the shepherd" in Zech 13:7 (referenced in Matt 26:31 and Mark 14:27 as fulfilled in Christ's crucifixion) indicates that the trials leading to this purification are inextricably linked to the work of the Messiah. The ultimate purification from sin, enabling God's people to call upon Him and enjoy a restored covenant, is made possible through the sacrifice of the Good Shepherd. Thus, the fire of testing serves to prepare a people for this redemptive work and to appreciate its full weight.

Zechariah 13 9 Commentary

Zechariah 13:9 provides a powerful glimpse into God's sovereign hand in refining His chosen people. Far from arbitrary judgment, the "fire" and the "refining" process described here are deliberate, redemptive tools. God is depicted not as a distant judge, but as a skilled metalsmith, precisely controlling the heat and pressure of trials to purify. The aim is a remnant whose faith is proven genuine, stripped of all spiritual dross – idolatry, false prophecy, and superficial adherence. The outcome is a profound transformation, culminating in the restoration of a vibrant covenant relationship. No longer a people who merely profess faith, they "call on [His] name" with sincerity, and God responds directly, affirming their identity as "My people" while they, in turn, passionately declare Him "My God." This renewed reciprocal commitment underscores a relationship marked by intimacy, trust, and wholehearted devotion, emerging from the crucible of suffering.