New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Zechariah 13
1
"At that time a fountain will be opened for the benefit of David's family line. It will also bless the others who live in Jerusalem. It will wash away their sins. It will make them pure and clean.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 6:11
Ezekiel 36:25
1 John 5:6
Psalm 51:7
Jeremiah 17:13
1 Peter 1:19
References Jerusalem
Zechariah 12:3
Sin
Psalm 51:2
John 1:29
1 John 1:7
2
"On that day I will remove the names of other gods from the land. They will not even be remembered anymore," announces the Lord who rules over all. "I will drive the evil prophets out of the land. I will get rid of the spirit that put lies in their mouths.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hosea 2:17
Exodus 23:13
Ezekiel 36:25
Isaiah 2:20
Isaiah 2:18
Psalm 16:4
Prophecy
Revelation 19:20
References Lord
Ezekiel 30:13
Jeremiah 29:23
Spirit
1 Kings 22:22
3
Some people might still prophesy. But their own fathers and mothers will speak to them. They will tell them, 'You must die. You have told lies in the Lord's name.' When they prophesy, their own parents will stab them.
Reference
4
"At that time every prophet will be ashamed of his vision. He will no longer pretend to be a true prophet. He will not put on clothes that are made out of hair in order to trick people.
Reference
5
In fact, he will say, 'I'm not really a prophet. I'm a farmer. I've farmed the land since I was young.'
Reference
Prophecy
Amos 7:14
6
Suppose someone asks him, 'What are those wounds on your body?' Then he will answer, 'I was given these wounds at the house of my friends.'
7
"My sword, wake up! Attack my shepherd! Attack the man who is close to me," announces the Lord who rules over all. "Strike the shepherd down. Then the sheep will be scattered. And I will turn my hand against their little ones.
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 14:27
Matthew 26:31
Isaiah 40:11
Mark 14:50
John 16:32
Ezekiel 37:24
Zechariah 11:7
Micah 5:2
References Lord
Revelation 1:8
Word
Jeremiah 47:6
8
Here is what will happen in the whole land," announces the Lord. "Two-thirds of the people will be struck down and die. But one-third will be left.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 5:12
Revelation 16:19
Isaiah 6:13
Daniel 9:27
Isaiah 66:24
Matthew 22:7
References Lord
Mark 13:20
Jeremiah 30:11
Malachi 3:5
9
I will put that third in the fire. I will make them as pure as silver. I will test them like gold. They will call out to me. And I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people.' And they will say, 'The Lord is our God.' "
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 50:15
Isaiah 48:10
Psalm 91:15
1 Peter 4:12
Isaiah 43:2
References God
Revelation 21:7
Jeremiah 30:22
Zechariah 10:6
References Lord
Acts 2:21
James 1:12
Summary of Zechariah 13
Zechariah 13 continues the restoration promised in the previous chapter by describing a fountain of cleansing opened for God's people, symbolizing the removal of sin and impurity after their repentance and recognition of the one they had pierced.
The chapter then shows that spiritual cleansing will affect the entire community because idolatry, false prophecy, and deceptive religious practices will be removed from the land, ensuring that restored worship is no longer mixed with false claims about God or corrupt spiritual leadership.
False prophets will become ashamed of their former identity and will no longer claim prophetic authority, while even their families will reject deliberate false prophecy, demonstrating how completely the restored community will turn away from religious deception.
The chapter then introduces the difficult image of the shepherd being struck and the sheep being scattered, followed by a period in which most of the people perish while a smaller remnant survives.
Although this judgment is severe, its purpose is ultimately purification rather than destruction, because the surviving people are compared with silver and gold being refined through fire until their impurities are removed.
The final result is a restored relationship between God and His people, in which the purified remnant calls upon God, God answers them, and they acknowledge Him as their God.
The central message is that Zechariah 13 describes God's complete cleansing of His people from sin, idolatry, and false religious leadership, followed by a severe but purposeful period of testing through which a surviving remnant is purified and brought into a genuine relationship with God.
The chapter therefore presents restoration as a process that includes both cleansing and refining, showing that God's goal is not merely to rescue His people from external danger but to remove the corruption within them so that the surviving community can truly belong to Him and confidently call upon Him as their God.
The chapter then shows that spiritual cleansing will affect the entire community because idolatry, false prophecy, and deceptive religious practices will be removed from the land, ensuring that restored worship is no longer mixed with false claims about God or corrupt spiritual leadership.
False prophets will become ashamed of their former identity and will no longer claim prophetic authority, while even their families will reject deliberate false prophecy, demonstrating how completely the restored community will turn away from religious deception.
The chapter then introduces the difficult image of the shepherd being struck and the sheep being scattered, followed by a period in which most of the people perish while a smaller remnant survives.
Although this judgment is severe, its purpose is ultimately purification rather than destruction, because the surviving people are compared with silver and gold being refined through fire until their impurities are removed.
The final result is a restored relationship between God and His people, in which the purified remnant calls upon God, God answers them, and they acknowledge Him as their God.
The central message is that Zechariah 13 describes God's complete cleansing of His people from sin, idolatry, and false religious leadership, followed by a severe but purposeful period of testing through which a surviving remnant is purified and brought into a genuine relationship with God.
The chapter therefore presents restoration as a process that includes both cleansing and refining, showing that God's goal is not merely to rescue His people from external danger but to remove the corruption within them so that the surviving community can truly belong to Him and confidently call upon Him as their God.