Zechariah 13:7 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God calls a sword against His own shepherd, the one near to Him; when the shepherd is struck the flock scatters, yet God turns His hand toward the little ones.
What Does Zechariah 13:7 Mean?
The LORD of hosts summons a sword against a figure He calls "my shepherd" and "the man that is my fellow," one standing in nearest closeness to God Himself. The shepherd is struck, and the sheep scatter in the blow. Yet the verse does not end in abandonment: God turns His hand upon the little ones, the small and weak, in care rather than in wrath.
Jesus took these words on the night He was betrayed, telling His disciples they would be scattered when the Shepherd was smitten. The wonder is that the striking is according to God's own purpose, a sacrifice rather than a defeat. The Shepherd falls so the flock might finally be gathered, and the smallest are not forgotten but kept. Here the cross is foreseen, and beyond it the regathering of all who are His.
Zechariah 13:7 in the Original Language
amiti (עֲמִיתִי), 'my fellow' -- one joined as a near companion or equal, marking the shepherd's startling closeness to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 13:7
What does Zechariah 13:7 mean?
God calls a sword against His own shepherd, the one near to Him; when the shepherd is struck the flock scatters, yet God turns His hand toward the little ones.