Zechariah 13

Zechariah · Chapter 13

Zechariah 13:6

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.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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
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.If someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your chest?’ he will answer, ‘These are the wounds I received in the house of my friends.’And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds between thine arms? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Zechariah 13:2-6 describes a day when the LORD removes idols and false prophets from the land. A prophet, ashamed of his vision, denies being a prophet and claims to be a farmer. Then someone asks a man about wounds on his hands, and he says he got them in the house of his friends. Zechariah 13:2Zechariah 13:4Zechariah 13:5Zechariah 13:6

Commonly taken out of context

How it’s often usedQuoted on its own, cut off from verses 2-5, as if it plainly and only described the nail wounds in Jesus' hands.

In contextThe verse follows directly on verses 4-5, which speak of a prophet ashamed of his vision who says he is a farmer, and the "him" of verse 6 comes right after that man. The Hebrew word for the wounds' place means "between, among, in the midst of" the hands. Any reading has to account for this setting. Zechariah 13:4Zechariah 13:5Zechariah 13:6Strong's H0996G

SpeakingThe LORD of hosts speaks through the prophet Zechariah. Inside the scene, one person asks a question and the questioned man answers. Zechariah 13:2Zechariah overviewZechariah 13:6

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

Also involvedThe man questioned is called only "him." The nearest person before verse 6 is the prophet of verse 5 who says, "I am no prophet, I am an husbandman." Zechariah 13:4Zechariah 13:5Zechariah 13:6

A man is asked, "What are these wounds in thine hands?" The Hebrew word for where the wounds are means "between, among, in the midst of." He answers that he was wounded in the house of his friends, or lovers. The text does not say who struck him or why. Zechariah 13:6Strong's H0996GStrong's H0157H

The land of Judah and Jerusalem, where the idols and false prophets are cut off. Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:2Zechariah overview

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThe scene is set "in that day," a future time when the LORD cleanses Jerusalem and removes idols and false prophets. Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:2Zechariah 13:4

WrittenTraditional view: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520-518 BC. Scholarly view: chapters 9-14 are undated, and many assign them to a later writer, while others hold Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview

HereVerse 6 stands within verses 2-6, where the LORD promises that lying prophets will be shamed and removed. The verse records a question about wounds and the man's answer. The text does not say whether his answer is true or false. Zechariah 13:2Zechariah 13:3Zechariah 13:4Zechariah 13:5Zechariah 13:6

In the whole of ScriptureChapter 13 opens with a fountain for sin and uncleanness and ends with a refined people who say, "The LORD is my God." Removing lying prophets is part of that cleansing. Zechariah 13:1Zechariah 13:2Zechariah 13:9

For readersGod's cleansing reaches even religious deception. Those who speak "lies in the name of the LORD" will be exposed and ashamed. Zechariah 13:3Zechariah 13:4

Christians read this differently

Many read verse 6 as the exposed false prophet of verses 2-5 explaining his wounds. Others read it as pointing to the Messiah, linking it to the pierced one of 12:10 (quoted in John 19:37), the smitten shepherd of 13:7 (quoted in Matthew 26:31), and Psalm 22:16, "they pierced my hands and my feet." Zechariah 13:5Zechariah 13:6Zechariah 13:7Zechariah overviewPsalms 22:16

  • woundsמַכָּה
    Hebrew · mak.kah · H4347

    The word means a blow, wound, stripe, or beating. It names marks left by being struck, without saying who struck him. Strong's H4347

  • between (in)בַּ֫יִן
    Hebrew · ba.yin · H0996G

    The word means "between," "among," or "in the midst of." Here it describes where the wounds are in relation to the man's hands. Strong's H0996GZechariah 13:6

  • friendsאָהֵב
    Hebrew · a.hav · H0157H

    This is a form of the verb "to love." In this form it can mean "friends" or "lovers," and is also used figuratively of adulterers. Strong's H0157H

Takeaway

This verse stands in a passage about the LORD shaming and removing lying prophets from the land. It belongs to God's promise to cleanse his people from idols and lies, so that they will say, "The LORD is my God." Zechariah 13:2Zechariah 13:4Zechariah 13:5Zechariah 13:6Zechariah 13:9

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 someone will sayוְאָמַ֣רve-'a-MARH0559
to say

אָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

to himאֵלָ֔יו'e-LAVH0413
to(wards)

אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

what?מָ֧הmahH4100
what

מָא (ma) 1) what, whatever 1a) what? 1b) whatever, what, whatsoever 1c) how?, why?, wherefore? (with prefixes)

[are] the woundsהַמַּכּ֛וֹתha-ma-KOTH4347
wound

מַכָּה (mak.kah) 1) blow, wound, slaughter 1a) blow, stripe 1b) beating, scourging 1c) wound 1d) slaughter 1e) defeat, conquest 1f) plague

the theseהָאֵ֖לֶּהha-'E-lehH0428
these

אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)

betweenבֵּ֣יןbeinH0996G
between

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

hands yourיָדֶ֑יךָya-DEI-khaH3027G
hand

יָד (yad) : hand/arm[anatomy] 1) hand 1a) hand (of man) 1b) strength, power (fig.) 1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.) 1d) (various special, technical senses) 1d1) sign, monument 1d2) part, fractional part, share 1d3) time, repetition 1d4) axle-trees, axle 1d5) stays, support (for laver) 1d6) tenons (in tabernacle) 1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure) 1d8) wrists

and he will sayוְאָמַ֕רve-'a-MARH0559
to say

אָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

[those] 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 was woundedהֻכֵּ֖יתִיhu-KEI-tiH5221
to smite

נָכָה (na.khah) 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill 1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten 1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust 1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast) 1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage 1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy 1d) (Hophal) to be smitten 1d1) to receive a blow 1d2) to be wounded 1d3) to be beaten 1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain 1d5) to be attacked and captured 1d6) to be smitten (with disease) …

[the] house ofבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004B
to lodge

בִּית (but) (P'al) to pass the night, lodge Aramaic of ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת ": home" H1004B)

friends myמְאַהֲבָֽי׃ סme-'a-ha-VAIH0157H
to love: lover

אָהֵב (a.hav) : lover 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)

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