Zechariah 13
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourced"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness," and the LORD will cut off the names of the idols and cause false prophets to pass from the land. The LORD says, "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd," and "smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." Two parts in the land will be cut off, and the third part will be refined "as silver is refined," and will call on his name. Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:2Zechariah 13:4Zechariah 13:7Zechariah 13:8Zechariah 13:9
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
The LORD speaks of the house of David, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, false prophets and their parents, and "my shepherd... the man that is my fellow." Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:3Zechariah 13:7
Where
Jerusalem and "all the land." Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:8Jerusalem
When
"In that day," with no date given. Chapters 9-14 carry no dates. Traditionally written by Zechariah; many scholars assign these chapters to a later writer or writers. Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:4Zechariah overview
How it fits
Chapter 12 ended with Jerusalem mourning; here a fountain is opened for their sin. Chapter 14 tells of "the day of the LORD," when the nations gather against Jerusalem and the LORD fights for it. Zechariah 12:11Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:3
Key verses
- Verse 1
"A fountain opened... for sin and for uncleanness." Psalm 51:2 prays, "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." Zechariah 13:1Psalms 51:2
- Verse 7
"Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27 record Jesus quoting it the night his disciples were offended: "it is written, I will smite the shepherd." Zechariah 13:7Matthew 26:31Mark 14:27
- Verse 9
"I will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them." Zechariah 13:9
Takeaway
God provides cleansing for sin and refines his people through trial, so that they call on him and he answers, "It is my people." Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:9
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-29.
A fountain for sin; false prophets ashamed
1In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 2And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. 3And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. 4And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: 5But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. 6And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
Smite the shepherd
7Awake, 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. 8And 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. 9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.