The Struck Shepherd and the Purified Remnant
Zechariah 13:7-9
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Zec.13.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עורי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- על: PREP
- רעי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- גבר: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- עמיתי: NOUN,m,sg,poss1s
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הך: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הרעה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ותפוצין: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- הצאן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והשבתי: VERB,hiphil,perf,1,com,sg
- ידי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- על: PREP
- הצערים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Matt.26:31 (quotation): Jesus explicitly quotes Zech 13:7 (“I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered”) as a prophecy about the disciples’ future scattering.
- Mark.14:27 (quotation): Mark records Jesus’ direct citation of Zech 13:7 to predict that the disciples will be scattered when the shepherd is struck.
- Matt.26:56 (structural): After Jesus’ arrest the evangelist reports that “all the disciples left him and fled,” narratively fulfilling the prediction that the sheep would be scattered.
- Luke.22:31-34 (thematic): Jesus warns Simon Peter that Satan has asked to sift him and predicts Peter’s denial (and later restoration), thematically related to the failing/ scattering of the flock when the shepherd is attacked.
- Isa.53:6 (thematic): “We all, like sheep, have gone astray” — uses sheep-shepherd imagery to describe exile and scattering, thematically resonant with Zech 13:7’s shepherd/ sheep motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is my companion, declares the LORD of hosts; strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
- Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my companion, declares the LORD of hosts; strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Zec.13.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- פי: NOUN,m,sg,construct
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- יכרתו: VERB,niphal,imf,3,m,pl
- יגועו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- והשלשית: ADJ,ord,sg,f,def
- יותר: ADV
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Zechariah 13:9 (structural): Immediate continuation of 13:8; describes the fate of the surviving third—purification by fire and being called God's people—showing the same judgment/purging motif.
- Ezekiel 5:2, 12 (verbal): Ezekiel likewise divides the population into parts (thirds) to depict judgment—one third dies, one third is scattered, one third is refined—paralleling Zech.13:8's numeric division and purgative imagery.
- Isaiah 6:13 (thematic): Isaiah uses a fractional remnant (a tenth) surviving after judgment; both passages employ numeric imagery to express severe judgment that leaves a purified remnant.
- Isaiah 10:22 (thematic): Speaks of a remnant that returns despite widespread devastation—echoes Zech.13:8’s idea that a surviving remnant remains after divine judgment.
- Malachi 3:2-3 (thematic): Portrays the Lord as a refiner’s fire/purifier who cleanses the people; connects with the purgation implied by Zech.13:8 (and continued in 13:9) where judgment results in purification of the remnant.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it shall be in all the land, declares the LORD: two parts in it shall be cut off and perish, and the third shall be left in it.
- And it shall be in all the land, declares the LORD: two parts in it shall be cut off and perish, and the third shall be left in it.
Zec.13.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והבאתי: VERB,hif,perf,1,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- השלשית: ADJ,f,sg,def
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וצרפתים: VERB,piel,impf,1,_,sg
- כצרף: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הכסף: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ובחנתים: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- כבחן: PREP+VERB,piel,ptc,_,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הזהב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- יקרא: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,sg
- בשמי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,poss1s
- ואני: PRON,1,sg
- אענה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- אמרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,com,sg
- עמי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1s
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- יאמר: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
Parallels
- Malachi 3:3 (verbal): Uses the image of God as a refiner/purifier who refines silver and purges (cf. 'I will bring the third part through the fire; I will refine them').
- Psalm 66:10 (verbal): Speaks of God testing and trying his people 'as silver is tried,' close verbal imagery to Zechariah's refining language.
- Isaiah 48:10 (verbal): God declares he has refined and tested Israel in the furnace of affliction—parallel language of refining/trying by fire.
- Joel 2:32 (thematic): Promises that 'everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved'—parallels Zech.'s 'they shall call on my name, and I will answer them.'
- 1 Peter 1:7 (thematic): New Testament application of refining imagery: faith is tested by fire and found to result in praise and glory—echoes Zechariah's trial-by-fire refining of the faithful.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I will bring the third through the fire, and refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested; he will call upon my name, and I will answer him. I will say, 'He is my people,' and he will say, 'The LORD is my God.'
- And I will bring the third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. He shall call on my name, and I will answer him; I will say, 'He is my people,' and he shall say, 'The LORD is my God.'
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd and against the man who is my associate, declares the LORD of hosts; strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones. And it shall be in all the land, declares the LORD: two-thirds in it shall be cut off and perish, and the third shall be left in it. And I will bring the third through the fire and refine him as one refines silver, and test him as one tests gold. He shall call on my name, and I will answer him; I will say, 'He is my people,' and he shall say, 'The LORD is my God.'