Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Original Language Analysis
וְשָׁפַכְתִּי֩
And I will pour
H8210
וְשָׁפַכְתִּי֩
And I will pour
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
1 of 25
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בֵּ֨ית
upon the house
H1004
בֵּ֨ית
upon the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
3 of 25
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְעַ֣ל׀
H5921
וְעַ֣ל׀
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יוֹשֵׁ֣ב
and upon the inhabitants
H3427
יוֹשֵׁ֣ב
and upon the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
6 of 25
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם
of Jerusalem
H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם
of Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
7 of 25
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
ר֤וּחַ
the spirit
H7307
ר֤וּחַ
the spirit
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
8 of 25
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
חֵן֙
of grace
H2580
חֵן֙
of grace
Strong's:
H2580
Word #:
9 of 25
graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)
וְהִבִּ֥יטוּ
and they shall look
H5027
וְהִבִּ֥יטוּ
and they shall look
Strong's:
H5027
Word #:
11 of 25
to scan, i.e., look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care
אֵ֣ת
H853
אֵ֣ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
13 of 25
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
דָּקָ֑רוּ
upon me whom they have pierced
H1856
דָּקָ֑רוּ
upon me whom they have pierced
Strong's:
H1856
Word #:
15 of 25
to stab; by analogy, to starve; figuratively, to revile
כְּמִסְפֵּד֙
for him as one mourneth
H5594
כְּמִסְפֵּד֙
for him as one mourneth
Strong's:
H5594
Word #:
16 of 25
properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as middle easterners do in grief); generally to lament; by implication, to wail
עָלָ֗יו
H5921
עָלָ֗יו
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
17 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כְּמִסְפֵּד֙
for him as one mourneth
H5594
כְּמִסְפֵּד֙
for him as one mourneth
Strong's:
H5594
Word #:
18 of 25
properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as middle easterners do in grief); generally to lament; by implication, to wail
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
19 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַיָּחִ֔יד
for his only
H3173
הַיָּחִ֔יד
for his only
Strong's:
H3173
Word #:
20 of 25
properly, united, i.e., sole; by implication, beloved; also lonely; (feminine) the life (as not to be replaced)
כְּהָמֵ֥ר
for him as one that is in bitterness
H4843
כְּהָמֵ֥ר
for him as one that is in bitterness
Strong's:
H4843
Word #:
21 of 25
to be (causatively, make) bitter (literally or figuratively)
עָלָ֖יו
H5921
עָלָ֖יו
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
22 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כְּהָמֵ֥ר
for him as one that is in bitterness
H4843
כְּהָמֵ֥ר
for him as one that is in bitterness
Strong's:
H4843
Word #:
23 of 25
to be (causatively, make) bitter (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Revelation 1:7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.Ezekiel 39:29Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.Jeremiah 6:26O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.Acts 2:33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.Ephesians 6:18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;Romans 8:15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.Romans 8:26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.Matthew 24:30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.Amos 8:10And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.Hebrews 12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Historical Context
Written circa 520-518 BC, this prophecy looked forward centuries to Christ. John explicitly quotes verse 10 regarding the crucifixion (John 19:37). The mourning anticipates Israel's eventual recognition of their rejected Messiah—both at the cross (some repented) and eschatologically when national Israel turns to Christ (Romans 11:25-27). The first-person divine voice ("me whom they have pierced") mysteriously identifies Yahweh with the pierced Messiah, anticipating Christ's deity.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Yahweh identifying as the pierced one support Christ's deity?
- What does the Spirit's outpouring enabling recognition of Christ teach about conversion?
- How will this prophecy be ultimately fulfilled when Christ returns?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. This is one of the Old Testament's most remarkable Messianic prophecies. "I will pour" (shafakhti) describes abundant outpouring of the Spirit. "Spirit of grace and supplications" (ruach chen ve-tachanun) enables both divine favor and responsive prayer. The shocking phrase "they shall look upon me whom they have pierced" has God Himself pierced—fulfilled in Christ's crucifixion when soldiers pierced His side (John 19:34-37). The mourning is national, profound, comparing to losing an only son or firstborn. Revelation 1:7 applies this to Christ's return when all will see Him whom they pierced.