Zechariah 13:8
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֤ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֤ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְכָל
H3605
בְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 13
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָאָ֙רֶץ֙
And it shall come to pass that in all the land
H776
הָאָ֙רֶץ֙
And it shall come to pass that in all the land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
3 of 13
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 13
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
פִּֽי
parts
H6310
פִּֽי
parts
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
6 of 13
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
יִכָּרְת֖וּ
therein shall be cut off
H3772
יִכָּרְת֖וּ
therein shall be cut off
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
9 of 13
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁ֖ית
but the third
H7992
וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁ֖ית
but the third
Strong's:
H7992
Word #:
11 of 13
third; feminine a third (part); by extension, a third (day, year or time); specifically, a third-story cell)
Cross References
Ezekiel 5:12A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.Revelation 16:19And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.Isaiah 6:13But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.Mark 13:20And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.Daniel 9:27And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.Isaiah 66:24And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.Jeremiah 30:11For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.Matthew 22:7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.Malachi 3:5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
Historical Context
Historically, Israel endured massive casualties during Roman sieges (AD 66-70, 132-135), medieval persecutions, and Holocaust (1933-1945). Yet Jews survived, regathering in modern Israel (1948). This verse prophetically describes final tribulation sufferings before Messiah's kingdom, when yet another two-thirds will perish before Christ returns to deliver the remnant.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding God's discipline as purposeful (preserving a remnant) rather than arbitrary change your view of suffering?
- What does 'remnant theology' teach about God's faithfulness even through catastrophic judgment?
- How should awareness of future tribulation affect current evangelistic urgency toward Jewish people?
Analysis & Commentary
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die (וְהָיָה בְכָל־הָאָרֶץ נְאֻם־יְהוָה פִּי־שְׁנַיִם בָּהּ יִכָּרְתוּ יִגְוָעוּ)—sobering prophecy: two-thirds of the population will karat (be cut off) and gava (die/perish). This describes apocalyptic tribulation, likely the 'time of Jacob's trouble' (Jeremiah 30:7) or 'great tribulation' (Matthew 24:21) before Messiah's second coming. But the third shall be left therein—one-third survive as preserved remnant.
This three-way division recalls Ezekiel 5:2-4 where judgment on Jerusalem involved thirds: burned, struck with sword, scattered (with a small remnant preserved). Zechariah's prophecy is eschatological: during final conflicts surrounding Israel, massive casualties occur, but God preserves a remnant for salvation. This isn't arbitrary destruction but covenant discipline purifying Israel for restoration. The remnant theology pervades Scripture—God always preserves a faithful core through judgment (Romans 11:5: "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace").