Zechariah 10:2
For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֧י
H3588
כִּ֧י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הַתְּרָפִ֣ים
For the idols
H8655
הַתְּרָפִ֣ים
For the idols
Strong's:
H8655
Word #:
2 of 21
teraphim (singular or plural) a family idol
יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ
and have told
H1696
יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ
and have told
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
3 of 21
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אָ֗וֶן
vanity
H205
אָ֗וֶן
vanity
Strong's:
H205
Word #:
4 of 21
strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
וְהַקּֽוֹסְמִים֙
and the diviners
H7080
וְהַקּֽוֹסְמִים֙
and the diviners
Strong's:
H7080
Word #:
5 of 21
properly, to distribute, i.e., determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine
חָ֣זוּ
have seen
H2372
חָ֣זוּ
have seen
Strong's:
H2372
Word #:
6 of 21
to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have a vision of
הַשָּׁ֣וא
false
H7723
הַשָּׁ֣וא
false
Strong's:
H7723
Word #:
9 of 21
evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, object
יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ
and have told
H1696
יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ
and have told
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
10 of 21
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
הֶ֖בֶל
in vain
H1892
הֶ֖בֶל
in vain
Strong's:
H1892
Word #:
11 of 21
emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb
יְנַֽחֵמ֑וּן
they comfort
H5162
יְנַֽחֵמ֑וּן
they comfort
Strong's:
H5162
Word #:
12 of 21
properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
13 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כֵּן֙
H3651
כֵּן֙
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
14 of 21
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
נָסְע֣וּ
therefore they went
H5265
נָסְע֣וּ
therefore they went
Strong's:
H5265
Word #:
15 of 21
properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey
צֹ֔אן
their way as a flock
H6629
צֹ֔אן
their way as a flock
Strong's:
H6629
Word #:
17 of 21
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
יַעֲנ֖וּ
they were troubled
H6031
יַעֲנ֖וּ
they were troubled
Strong's:
H6031
Word #:
18 of 21
to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)
Cross References
Matthew 9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.Jeremiah 27:9Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:Genesis 31:19And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.Ezekiel 34:5And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.Habakkuk 2:18What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?Hosea 3:4For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:Ezekiel 34:8As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
Historical Context
Despite Josiah's reforms (621 BC) removing idols, popular syncretism persisted. Even post-exilic Jews were tempted to hedge bets with pagan practices. Zechariah warns that spiritual confusion and exile result from following false gods and their lying prophets rather than Yahweh's true word.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern 'idols' speak vanity—things you consult for guidance that compete with God's Word?
- How can you discern between false comfort ('comfort in vain') and true biblical encouragement?
- In what ways does following false teaching leave people 'as a flock without a shepherd' even today?
Analysis & Commentary
For the idols have spoken vanity (כִּי הַתְּרָפִים דִּבְּרוּ־אָוֶן)—teraphim were household gods/idols used for divination (Genesis 31:19, Ezekiel 21:21). Aven means emptiness, worthlessness, deception. And the diviners have seen a lie (וְהַקֹּסְמִים חָזוּ שָׁקֶר)—kosem (diviner/soothsayer) was forbidden in Israel (Deuteronomy 18:10-12), yet persistently practiced. Their visions are sheker (falsehood), contrasted with true prophetic revelation.
And have told false dreams; they comfort in vain—threefold repetition (vanity, lie, false) hammers home idolatry's impotence. Therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd (עַל־כֵּן נָסְעוּ כְּמוֹ־צֹאן יֵעָנוּ כִּי־אֵין רֹעֶה)—Israel's exile resulted from following false spiritual guides. Jesus applies this shepherd imagery to Himself: "sheep not having a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36, Mark 6:34). Only Yahweh's true revelation brings genuine guidance.