Zechariah 11

Zechariah · Chapter 11

Zechariah 11:14

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
14Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.Then I cut in two my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

The prophet acts out a sign as a shepherd of a doomed flock. After the people value him at only thirty pieces of silver, he breaks his second staff, called Bands, to show that the bond of brotherhood between Judah and Israel is ended. Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:7Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:13Zechariah 11:14

SpeakingThe prophet speaks in the first person, acting as the shepherd the LORD told to feed the flock. Traditional: this prophet is Zechariah, who wrote the whole book. Scholarly: many scholars assign the undated chapters 9-14 to a later writer or writers, while others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah 11:4Zechariah 11:7Zechariah overview

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

Also involvedJudah and Israel, the two parts of God's people, whose brotherly bond is broken after the shepherd is valued at thirty pieces of silver (11:12-13). Zechariah 11:14Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:13

The prophet had two staffs, Beauty and Bands, and with them he fed the flock. He broke Beauty to break the covenant with all the people. Now, after being paid off with thirty pieces of silver, he breaks Bands to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. The text does not name a specific historical event that this sign points to. Zechariah 11:7Zechariah 11:10Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:13Zechariah 11:14

The book was written in Jerusalem among the returned exiles. In the sign, the silver is thrown to the potter in the house of the LORD, just before the second staff is broken. Zechariah overviewZechariah 11:13

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThis sign comes in the undated first burden of the book (chapters 9-11). The text gives no date for it. Zechariah overview

WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book; his dated messages run from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah, but many assign the undated chapters 9-14 to a later writer or writers. Zechariah overview

HereThe breaking is a sign of judgment. The flock despised its shepherd, and the LORD said he would no longer pity the people. They would turn on one another instead of standing together as brothers. Zechariah 11:6Zechariah 11:8Zechariah 11:9Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:13

In the whole of ScriptureIsaiah also warns of God's people turning against each other: "Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah" (Isaiah 9:21). Yet Isaiah 11:13 promises a day when "Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim." Zechariah's book also looks ahead to Zion's king and the LORD reigning over all the earth. Isaiah 9:21Isaiah 11:13Zechariah overview

For readersWhen God's shepherd is rejected, the unity of his people falls apart as well. James warns that "where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work" (James 3:16). Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:14James 3:16James 3:14

  • Bandsחֹבְלִים
    Hebrew · chov.lim · H2256C

    The lexicon glosses the staff's name as "union." So breaking the staff named Union pictures exactly what the verse says: the union of Judah and Israel is broken. Strong's H2256CZechariah 11:14

  • brotherhoodאַחֲוָה
    Hebrew · a.cha.vah · H0264

    The word means "fraternity, brotherhood." It treats Judah and Israel as brothers. The lexicon entries name Judah as a son of Israel (Jacob). Strong's H0264Strong's H3063GStrong's H3478

  • cut asunderגָּדַע
    Hebrew · ga.da · H1438

    The word means to hew or chop in two. The first staff is also cut asunder in verse 10, so the two breakings stand side by side: first the covenant is broken, then the brotherhood. Strong's H1438Zechariah 11:10Zechariah 11:14

Takeaway

Zechariah 11:14 is a sign of judgment, not a general saying about division. Because the people despised their shepherd, the bond that held Judah and Israel together was broken. Other Scripture shows the same pattern of people turning on each other, and it also holds out God's promise of a future reunion. Zechariah 11:12Zechariah 11:14Isaiah 9:21Isaiah 11:13

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 cut upוָֽאֶגְדַּע֙va-'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

staff myמַקְלִ֣יmak-LIH4731
rod

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

the secondהַשֵּׁנִ֔יha-she-NIH8145
second

שֵׁנִי (she.ni) 1) second 1a) second (the ordinal number) 1b) again (a second time) 1c) another, other (something as distinct from something else)

the Unionהַחֹֽבְלִ֑יםha-choe-LIMH2256C
union

חֹבְלִים (chov.lim) union

to breakלְהָפֵר֙le-ha-FERH6565A
to break

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

the brotherhoodהָֽאַחֲוָ֔הha-'a-cha-VAHH0264
brotherhood

אַחֲוָה (a.cha.vah) fraternity, brotherhood

betweenבֵּ֥יןbeinH0996G
between

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) : between between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye-hu-DAHH3063G
Judah

יְהוּד (ye.hud) A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35; son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812); brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); married to Bath-shua (H1323I) and Tamar (H8559); father of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209), Shelah (H7956), Perez (H6557) and Zerah (H2226I) Aramaic of ye.hu.dah (יְהוּדָה "Judah" H3063) Judah-the territory of the tribe of Judah

and betweenוּבֵ֥יןu-VEINH0996G
between

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) : between between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סYIS-ra-'ELH3478
Jacob

יַעֲקֹב (ya.a.qov) A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" …

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