Zechariah 13:4
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | And 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: | And on that day every prophet who prophesies will be ashamed of his vision, and he will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive. | And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he prophesieth; neither shall they wear a hairy mantle to deceive: |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedIn the day when the LORD cleanses Jerusalem, he will remove idols, false prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. Lying prophets will then be ashamed of their visions. They will stop wearing the hairy prophet's cloak they used to fool people. Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:2Zechariah 13:3Zechariah 13:4Strong's H0155Strong's H8181
SpeakingThe LORD of hosts, speaking through the prophet Zechariah. Zechariah 13:2Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview
Also involvedProphets who speak lies in the name of the LORD. The chapter links them with idols and the unclean spirit. Zechariah 13:2Zechariah 13:3
False prophets will feel shame over their visions. They will give up the rough, hairy cloak worn to deceive. Instead each will deny being a prophet and claim to be a farmer. Zechariah 13:4Zechariah 13:5Strong's H0155Strong's H8181Strong's H3584
The land of Judah, with Jerusalem at its center, where the LORD says he will clear out idols and false prophets. Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:2Zechariah overview
The events"In that day": the coming day when a fountain is opened in Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness. The text gives no calendar date. Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:4Strong's H3117G
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, but many assign the undated chapters 9-14, including this verse, to a later writer or writers. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse shows how complete the cleansing will be. False prophecy will become so shameful that those who practiced it hide their role and drop its costume. Zechariah 13:2Zechariah 13:4Zechariah 13:5
In the whole of ScriptureThis belongs to the book's second burden about Jerusalem's cleansing and the day of the LORD. This chapter ends with a refined people who say, "The LORD is my God." Micah also foretold that seers would be ashamed, because there would be no answer of God. Zechariah overviewZechariah 13:9Micah 3:6Micah 3:7
For readersOutward marks tied to prophets could be copied; John wore camel's hair, and Elijah was known as a hairy man. These prophets wore such a garment to deceive. The chapter condemns them because they spoke lies in the name of the LORD. Matthew 3:4Mark 1:62 Kings 1:8Zechariah 13:3Zechariah 13:4
- rough garment (cloak)אַדֶּ֫רֶת
The word means a mantle or cloak and can name a prophet's garment. Here it is joined with "hair," a cloak of hair, like the camel's hair John the Baptist wore. Strong's H0155Strong's H8181Matthew 3:4Mark 1:6
- to deceiveכָּחַשׁ
The word means to deceive, lie, or deal falsely. It shows the cloak was a disguise meant to make a liar look like a real prophet. Strong's H3584Zechariah 13:3Zechariah 13:4
- be ashamedבּוֹשׁ
The word means to feel shame or be disconcerted. Micah uses the same idea for seers who are ashamed when there is no answer of God. Strong's H0954Micah 3:7
- visionחִזָּיוֹן
The word means a vision or oracle. Here it means the visions these prophets claimed, which the chapter calls lies spoken in the LORD's name. Strong's H2384Zechariah 13:3
Takeaway
When God cleanses his people, lying prophecy loses its cover. Those who wore a prophet's garment to deceive will be ashamed and deny the role. What condemns them is their lies in the LORD's name. Zechariah 13:2Zechariah 13:3Zechariah 13:4Zechariah 13:5Micah 3:7
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
- 539 BCWarBabylon 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
- 538 BCGod'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
- c. 536 BCGod'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
- 525 BCWarPersia 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
- 522-521 BCWarDarius 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
- 520 BCGod'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
- c. 520-519 BCRulersDarius 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
- 515 BCBuildingThe 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
- 490-479 BCWarPersia'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
- 445 BCBuildingNehemiah 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
- 332 BCWarAlexander 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
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and it will be | וְהָיָ֣ה׀ | ve-ha-YAH | H1961 | to beהָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) … |
| on the day | בַּיּ֣וֹם | bai-YOM | H3117G | dayיוֹם (yom) : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow |
| the that | הַה֗וּא | ha-HU' | H1931 | he/she/itהוּא (hu) pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article) |
| they will be ashamed | יֵבֹ֧שׁוּ | ye-VO-shu | H0954 | be ashamedבּוֹשׁ (bush) 1) to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to feel shame 1a2) to be ashamed, disconcerted, disappointed (by reason of) 1b) (Piel) to delay (in shame) 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to put to shame 1c2) to act shamefully 1c3) to be ashamed 1d) (Hithpolel) to be ashamed before one another |
| the prophets | הַנְּבִיאִ֛ים | ha-ne-vi-'IM | H5030 | prophetנְבִיא (ne.vi) prophet Aramaic of na.vi (נָבִיא "prophet" H5030) |
| each one | אִ֥ישׁ | 'ish | H0376I | manאִישׁ (ish) : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective) |
| from vision his | מֵחֶזְיֹנ֖וֹ | me-chez-yo-NO | H2384 | visionחִזָּיוֹן (chiz.za.von) 1) vision 1a) vision (in the ecstatic state) 1a1) valley of vision (perhaps fig. of Jerusalem or Hinnom) 1b) vision (in the night) 1c) vision, oracle, prophecy (in divine communication) |
| when prophecies he | בְּהִנָּֽבְאֹת֑וֹ | be-hi-na-ve-'o-TO | H5012 | to prophesyנָבָא (na.va) 1) to prophesy 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to prophesy 1a1a) under influence of divine spirit 1a1b) of false prophets 1b)(Hithpael) 1b1) to prophesy 1b1a) under influence of divine spirit 1b1b) of false prophets Aramaic equivalent: ne.va (נבא "to prophesy" H5013) |
| and not | וְלֹ֧א | ve-LO' | H3808 | notלֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809) |
| they will wear | יִלְבְּשׁ֛וּ | yil-be-SHU | H3847 | to clotheלָבֵשׁ (la.vash) 1) to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to put on clothes, be clothed, wear 1a2) to put on, be clothed with (fig.) 1b) (Pual) to be fully clothed 1c) (Hiphil) to clothe, array with, dress Aramaic equivalent: le.vash (לְבֵשׁ "to clothe" H3848) |
| a cloak of | אַדֶּ֥רֶת | 'a-DE-ret | H0155 | clothingאַדֶּ֫רֶת (ad.de.ret) 1) glory, cloak 1a) glory, splendour, magnificence (of a vine, shepherds) 1b) mantle, cloak made of fur or fine material 1b1) prophet's garment |
| hair | שֵׂעָ֖ר | se-'AR | H8181 | hairשְׂעַר (se.ar) hair (of head) Aramaic of se.ar (שֵׂעָר "hair" H8181) |
| so as | לְמַ֥עַן | le-MA-'an | H4616 | becauseמַ֫עַן (ma.an) 1) purpose, intent prep 1a) for the sake of 1b) in view of, on account of 1c) for the purpose of, to the intent that, in order to conj 1d) to the end that |
| to deceive | כַּחֵֽשׁ׃ | ka-CHESH | H3584 | to deceiveכָּחַשׁ (ka.chash) 1) to deceive, lie, fail, grow lean, be disappointing, be untrue, be insufficient, be found liars, belie, deny, dissemble, deal falsely 1a) (Qal) to become lean 1b) (Niphal) to cringe, feign obedience 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to deceive, deny falsely 1c2) to act deceptively 1c3) to cringe 1c4) to disappoint, fail 1d) (Hithpael) to cringe, feign obedience |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.