Zechariah 13:7

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

חֶ֗רֶב O sword H2719
חֶ֗רֶב O sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 1 of 19
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
עוּרִ֤י Awake H5782
עוּרִ֤י Awake
Strong's: H5782
Word #: 2 of 19
to wake (literally or figuratively)
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 3 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָֽרֹעֶה֙ against my shepherd H7462
הָֽרֹעֶה֙ against my shepherd
Strong's: H7462
Word #: 4 of 19
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
וְעַל H5921
וְעַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 5 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
גֶּ֣בֶר and against the man H1397
גֶּ֣בֶר and against the man
Strong's: H1397
Word #: 6 of 19
properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply
עֲמִיתִ֔י that is my fellow H5997
עֲמִיתִ֔י that is my fellow
Strong's: H5997
Word #: 7 of 19
companionship; hence (concretely) a comrade or kindred man
נְאֻ֖ם saith H5002
נְאֻ֖ם saith
Strong's: H5002
Word #: 8 of 19
an oracle
יְהוָ֣ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֣ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 9 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֑וֹת of hosts H6635
צְבָא֑וֹת of hosts
Strong's: H6635
Word #: 10 of 19
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
הַ֤ךְ smite H5221
הַ֤ךְ smite
Strong's: H5221
Word #: 11 of 19
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 12 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָֽרֹעֶה֙ against my shepherd H7462
הָֽרֹעֶה֙ against my shepherd
Strong's: H7462
Word #: 13 of 19
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
וּתְפוּצֶ֣יןָ shall be scattered H6327
וּתְפוּצֶ֣יןָ shall be scattered
Strong's: H6327
Word #: 14 of 19
to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)
הַצֹּ֔אן and the sheep H6629
הַצֹּ֔אן and the sheep
Strong's: H6629
Word #: 15 of 19
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֥י and I will turn H7725
וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֥י and I will turn
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 16 of 19
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
יָדִ֖י mine hand H3027
יָדִ֖י mine hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 17 of 19
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 18 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַצֹּעֲרִֽים׃ upon the little ones H6819
הַצֹּעֲרִֽים׃ upon the little ones
Strong's: H6819
Word #: 19 of 19
to be small, i.e., (figuratively) ignoble

Cross References

Mark 14:27And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.Matthew 26:31Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.Isaiah 40:11He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.Mark 14:50And they all forsook him, and fled.John 16:32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.Ezekiel 37:24And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.Zechariah 11:7And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.Micah 5:2But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.Revelation 1:8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.Jeremiah 47:6O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.

Analysis & Commentary

Prophecy of shepherd struck, sheep scattered: '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.' Jesus quotes this predicting His crucifixion and disciples' desertion (Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:27): 'I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.' The Hebrew 'ish amiti' (man who is My equal/companion) is remarkable—God calls the shepherd 'My equal,' indicating deity. Only Christ qualifies: fully God ('My equal') and fully human ('the man'). God commands the sword against His own shepherd—the Father striking the Son in our place (Isaiah 53:4, 10). The scattering occurred (Mark 14:50), but God's hand turned graciously to 'the little ones' (restoration, John 21).

Historical Context

Context includes judgment on false shepherds (11:15-17) and purifying remnant (13:8-9). But 13:7 speaks of the true Shepherd struck by divine judgment. Jesus's application (Matthew 26:31) confirms this is Messianic prophecy. On the cross, God's wrath against sin fell on Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13). The disciples' scattering fulfilled the prophecy literally, but restoration followed resurrection (John 20-21, Acts 1-2). The 'little ones' may refer to disciples or remnant of believers preserved through tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22, Revelation 12:13-17). This prophecy demonstrates the cross wasn't accidental but divinely ordained: God Himself commanded the sword against His co-equal Son to accomplish redemption.

Questions for Reflection