Zechariah 11

Zechariah · Chapter 11

Zechariah 11:10

1Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.2Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.3There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.4Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;5Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.6For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.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.8Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.9Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.10And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.11And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.12And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.13And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.14Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.15And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.16For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.17Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
10And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.Next I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations.And I took my staff Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

The LORD tells Zechariah to act as shepherd over a "flock of the slaughter" whose own shepherds have no pity on them. The prophet takes two staffs, Beauty and Bands, but the flock abhors him, so he gives them up. Breaking the staff Beauty is a sign that God is ending the covenant of favor that had protected them. Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:5Zechariah 11:7Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:9Zechariah 11:10

SpeakingThe prophet Zechariah speaks. He acts out the part of the shepherd at the LORD's command. Zechariah overviewZechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:7

ToThe book was given to the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview

Also involvedThe flock is affected, meaning the people whose shepherds had failed them. The covenant is said to be made "with all the people" (Hebrew: "the peoples"). The "poor of the flock" who waited on the shepherd saw it happen and knew it was the LORD's word. Zechariah 11:5Zechariah 11:10Zechariah 11:11Strong's H5971A

The shepherd cuts his staff called Beauty in two. The verse explains the act: it is to break the covenant he had made. It was broken that same day (11:11). Later he breaks the second staff, Bands, to end the brotherhood between Judah and Israel (11:14). Zechariah 11:10Zechariah 11:11Zechariah 11:14

The book was given in Jerusalem, among the people who had returned from exile. It was addressed to Jerusalem and Judah. Zechariah overview

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThe text gives no date for this acted-out sign. It comes after the shepherd cuts off three shepherds and gives up the flock. It comes before he is paid thirty pieces of silver. Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:9Zechariah 11:12

WrittenTraditional view: Zechariah wrote the whole book, and its dated messages fall in 520-518 BC. Scholarly view: chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many scholars assign them to a later writer or writers, while others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview

HereThe broken staff pictures God withdrawing his favor from a flock that had rejected its shepherd. Earlier the LORD had said, "I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land," and that he would deliver them into each other's hands. Zechariah 11:6Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:10

In the whole of ScriptureOther Scripture also speaks of a covenant made void (Psalm 89:39). Israel once pleaded, "break not thy covenant with us" (Jeremiah 14:21). Jeremiah says the fathers broke God's covenant, and he promises a new covenant with Israel and Judah, which Hebrews 8 quotes. Psalms 89:39Jeremiah 14:21Jeremiah 31:31Jeremiah 31:32Hebrews 8:8Hebrews 8:13

For readersRejecting the shepherd God sends has real results, because God's favor is not something to take for granted. Yet the humble who waited on him recognized his hand even in judgment. Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:10Zechariah 11:11

Christians read this differently

No cited Scripture names which covenant is meant or who "the peoples" are. One reading takes "the peoples" as the nations, held back by God from harming his flock until now (compare 11:6). Another takes it as God's covenant of favor with his own people, as the KJV's "all the people" renders it. Zechariah 11:6Zechariah 11:10Strong's H5971AStrong's H1285

  • Beautyנֹ֫עַם
    Hebrew · no.am · H5278

    The word means kindness, pleasantness or favour, and here it is the symbolic name of a staff. Breaking "Favor" pictures the end of God's kindness toward the flock. Strong's H5278Zechariah 11:7

  • covenantבְּרִית
    Hebrew · be.rit · H1285

    The word means covenant, alliance or pledge. It can be an agreement between people or a divine ordinance between God and man. Strong's H1285

  • I had madeכָּרַת
    Hebrew · ka.rat · H3772H

    The verb literally means "to cut," and one of its listed senses is "to cut or make a covenant." So the verse speaks of cutting a staff to undo a covenant that had been "cut." Strong's H3772HStrong's H1438

  • peopleעַם
    Hebrew · am · H5971A

    The Hebrew form here is plural, "the peoples," and the word means nation or people. Strong's H5971A

Takeaway

Zechariah breaks the staff named Favor to show that God was ending his protecting covenant with a flock that rejected its shepherd. Scripture elsewhere shows God's covenant broken by the people's unfaithfulness, and God promising a new covenant. Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:10Jeremiah 31:31Jeremiah 31:32

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.

The world around the text

About 520-518 BC. King of Persia: Darius I (522-486 BC). Where Zechariah prophesied. A small, poor community was rebuilding the temple among the ruins of the city Babylon had burned.

Who ruled
  • King of PersiaDarius I522-486 BC

    Zechariah dates his messages by the years of Darius. Darius confirmed Cyrus's decree and ordered the temple work to go on at royal expense. Zechariah 1:1Zechariah 7:1Ezra 6:1-12Haggai 1:1Behistun Inscription

  • Governor of JudahZerubbabelc. 520 BC

    A descendant of David who led the rebuilding. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it." Zechariah 4:6-10Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:8

  • High priestJoshua the high priestc. 520 BC

    Called Jeshua in Ezra. He stands in Zechariah's vision clothed in filthy garments, which are taken away, and later receives crowns as a sign. Zechariah 3:1-10Zechariah 6:11Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:2

  • Persian governor "on this side the river"Tattenaic. 520 BC

    The governor of the province west of the Euphrates. He asked who had allowed the building, wrote to Darius, and was told to let the work go on. Ezra 5:3-6Ezra 6:6-13

What was happening, 539 BC to 332 BC
  1. 539 BC
    WarBabylon falls to Cyrus

    Cyrus king of Persia took Babylon, ending the empire that had destroyed Jerusalem. Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Cyrus Cylinder

  2. 538 BC
    God's peopleThe first return

    Cyrus let the exiles go home to build the LORD's house. About fifty thousand returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Ezra 1:1-4Ezra 2:1-2Ezra 2:64-65

  3. c. 536 BC
    God's peopleThe foundation is laid, then the work stops

    The returned exiles laid the temple's foundation with shouting and weeping. Opposition from their neighbors stopped the work until the second year of Darius. Ezra 3:10-13Ezra 4:4-5Ezra 4:24

  4. 525 BC
    WarPersia conquers Egypt

    Cyrus's son Cambyses invaded and took Egypt, bringing the whole region from the Nile to the Indus under one king. Herodotus, Histories 3.1-16

  5. 522-521 BC
    WarDarius crushes the revolts

    When Darius took the throne, provinces across the empire rebelled, Babylon twice. By 520 he had put them all down. Compare the riders' report in Zechariah's first vision: "all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." Behistun InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 3.150-159Zechariah 1:11

  6. 520 BC
    God's peopleHaggai and Zechariah stir the people to build

    In Darius's second year the two prophets urged the people to take up the temple work again, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua began to build. Ezra 5:1-2Haggai 1:1-15Zechariah 1:1

  7. c. 520-519 BC
    RulersDarius confirms Cyrus's decree

    Tattenai questioned the building. A search found Cyrus's decree at Achmetha, and Darius ordered the work to continue and be paid for from royal taxes. Ezra 5:3-6:12

  8. 515 BC
    BuildingThe second temple is finished

    The temple was finished on the third day of Adar in Darius's sixth year and dedicated with joy. Ezra 6:14-18Zechariah 4:9

  9. 490-479 BC
    WarPersia's wars with Greece

    Persia invaded Greece twice and was turned back at Marathon (490), Salamis (480) and Plataea (479). Greece, which Zechariah names in 9:13, was becoming Persia's great rival. Herodotus, Histories 6.102-117Herodotus, Histories 8.40-96Herodotus, Histories 9.1-89Zechariah 9:13

  10. 445 BC
    BuildingNehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem's walls

    Under the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah came from Shushan and rebuilt the walls in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 6:15

  11. 332 BC
    WarAlexander takes Tyre and Gaza

    Alexander the Great besieged island Tyre for seven months and then Gaza for two, on his way to Egypt. Zechariah 9 speaks of Tyre's "strong hold" and of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron and Ashdod. Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 2.15-27Zechariah 9:3-7

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records (the Behistun Inscription, the Cyrus Cylinder, the Babylonian Chronicles) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and I tookוָאֶקַּ֤חva-'e-KACHH3947G
to take: take

לָקַח (la.qach) : take 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed …

staff myמַקְלִי֙mak-LIH4731
rod

מַקֵּל (maq.qel) 1) rod, staff 1a) rod, stick 1b) staff (in travel) 1c) wand (of diviner)

Favorנֹ֔עַםNO-'amH5278
pleasantness

נֹ֫עַם (no.am) 1) kindness, pleasantness, delightfulness, beauty, favour 1a) delightfulness 1b) symbolic name of one of two staves 1c) pleasantness

and I cut upוָאֶגְדַּ֖עva-'eg-DA'H1438
to cut down/off

גָּדַע (ga.da) 1) to cut, hew, chop, cut down, hew down, hew off, cut off, cut in two, shave off 1a) (Qal) to hew, chop in two 1b) (Niphal) to be chopped off, be hewn off 1c) (Piel) to cut off or down in two, hew off or down in two 1d) (Pual) to chop down, hew down

to breakלְהָפֵיר֙le-ha-FEIRH6565A
to break

פּוּר (pur) (Hiphil) to break, crush Another spelling of pa.rar (פָּרַר "to break" H6565A)

covenant myבְּרִיתִ֔יbe-ri-TIH1285
covenant

בְּרִית (be.rit) 1) covenant, alliance, pledge 1a) between men 1a1) treaty, alliance, league (man to man) 1a2) constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects) 1a3) agreement, pledge (man to man) 1a4) alliance (of friendship) 1a5) alliance (of marriage) 1b) between God and man 1b1) alliance (of friendship) 1b2) covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges) 2) (phrases) 2a) covenant making 2b) covenant keeping 2c) covenant violation

whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a-SHERH0834A
which

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when

I had madeכָּרַ֖תִּיka-RA-tiH3772H
to cut: cut

כָּרַת (ka.rat) : cut/fell 1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cut off 1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead 1a2) to cut down 1a3) to hew 1a4) to cut or make a covenant 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cut off 1b2) to be cut down 1b3) to be chewed 1b4) to be cut off, fail 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be cut off 1c2) to be cut down 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cut off 1d2) to cut off, destroy 1d3) to cut down, destroy 1d4) to take away 1d5) to permit to perish 1e) (Hophal) cut off

withאֶת־'et-H0854
with

אֵת (et) 1) with, near, together with 1a) with, together with 1b) with (of relationship) 1c) near (of place) 1d) with (poss.) 1e) from...with, from (with other prep)

allכָּל־kol-H3605
all

כֹּל (kol) 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

the peoplesהָעַמִּֽים׃ha-'a-MIMH5971A
people

עַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.