Zechariah 13:8
Zechariah 13:8 in Multiple Translations
And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it.
And 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.
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith Jehovah, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
And it will come about that in all the land, says the Lord, two parts of it will be cut off and come to an end; but the third will be still living there.
Two thirds of the people of the land will be cut down, only one third will remain, says the Lord.
And in all the land, sayeth the Lord, two partes therein shall be cut off, and die: but the third shall be left therein.
And it hath come to pass, In all the land, an affirmation of Jehovah, Two parts in it are cut off — they expire, And the third is left in it.
It shall happen that in all the land,” says the LORD, “two parts in it will be cut off and die; but the third will be left in it.
And 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.
And there shall be in all the earth, saith the Lord, two parts in it shall be scattered, and shall perish: but the third part shall be left therein.
Yahweh also says, “Two-thirds of the people in Judah will die [DOU]. Only one-third of the people in Judah will remain alive.
Berean Amplified Bible — Zechariah 13:8
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Zechariah 13:8 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Zechariah 13:8
Study Notes — Zechariah 13:8
- Context
- Cross References
- Zechariah 13:8 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Zechariah 13:8
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Zechariah 13:8
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Zechariah 13:8
- Trapp's Commentary on Zechariah 13:8
- Ellicott's Commentary on Zechariah 13:8
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Zechariah 13:8
- Cambridge Bible on Zechariah 13:8
- Barnes' Notes on Zechariah 13:8
- Sermons on Zechariah 13:8
Context — The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered
8And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it.
9This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 5:12 | A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them. |
| 2 | Revelation 16:19 | The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. |
| 3 | Ezekiel 5:2–4 | When the days of the siege have ended, you are to burn up a third of the hair inside the city; you are also to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind. For I will unleash a sword behind them. But you are to take a few strands of hair and secure them in the folds of your garment. Again, take a few of these, throw them into the fire, and burn them. From there a fire will spread to the whole house of Israel. |
| 4 | Malachi 4:1–3 | “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.” “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. Then you will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the LORD of Hosts. |
| 5 | Revelation 8:7–12 | Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass. Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. Then the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter waters. Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well. |
| 6 | Luke 23:28–30 | But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ |
| 7 | Matthew 24:21–22 | For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. |
| 8 | 1 Thessalonians 2:15–16 | who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men, hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them. |
| 9 | Mark 13:20 | If the Lord had not cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has cut them short. |
| 10 | Joel 2:31–32 | The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD. |
Zechariah 13:8 Summary
Zechariah 13:8 is a prophecy about a future time when many people will face judgment and only a small group will be spared. This is not just about physical death, but also about being spiritually refined and purified, like silver and gold (as seen in Malachi 3:3 and 1 Peter 1:7). Just like a refiner purifies precious metals, God will refine His people, making them stronger and more faithful, as described in Jeremiah 30:11 and Romans 8:28. This verse reminds us to trust in God's sovereignty and to seek His presence, even in difficult times, just as we see in Psalm 23:4 and Isaiah 41:10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for two-thirds to be cut off and perish in Zechariah 13:8?
This refers to a future time of judgment and purification, where the majority of the people will not survive, but a remnant will be spared, as seen in Isaiah 6:13 and Ezekiel 5:2-4.
Is this verse talking about a physical or spiritual death?
While it can be interpreted in both ways, the context of Zechariah 13:8-9 suggests a spiritual refining, where the remaining third will be purified like silver and gold, similar to what is described in Malachi 3:3 and 1 Peter 1:7.
Who is the 'land' referring to in this verse?
The 'land' in Zechariah 13:8 is likely referring to the land of Israel, as Zechariah is a prophet to the Israelites, but it can also be applied to the spiritual kingdom of God, where believers are the ones being refined and purified, as seen in Matthew 25:31-46 and Romans 11:25-26.
How does this verse relate to the rest of Scripture?
Zechariah 13:8 is part of a larger narrative of God's plan to refine and redeem His people, as seen in verses like Jeremiah 30:11 and Romans 8:28, where God works all things for the good of those who love Him.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean to be 'cut off' from God's presence, and how can I ensure I am not separated from Him?
- In what ways can I be refined like silver and gold, and what are the benefits of this spiritual purification?
- How can I trust in God's sovereignty, even in times of judgment and hardship, like the scenario described in Zechariah 13:8?
- What does it mean to be part of the 'remnant' that is spared, and what are my responsibilities as a believer in this context?
Gill's Exposition on Zechariah 13:8
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Zechariah 13:8
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Zechariah 13:8
Trapp's Commentary on Zechariah 13:8
Ellicott's Commentary on Zechariah 13:8
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Zechariah 13:8
Cambridge Bible on Zechariah 13:8
Barnes' Notes on Zechariah 13:8
Sermons on Zechariah 13:8
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Great Tribulation by Denis Lyle | Denis Lyle preaches on the Great Tribulation as described in Daniel 12, highlighting the special period of trouble that Israel will face, with a focus on the hope and protection pr |
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The Comforting Hope of 1 Thessalonians 4 by John F. Walvoord | John F. Walvoord delves into the detailed revelation of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4, emphasizing the importance of understanding the sequence of events leading up to Christ's |
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The End of the Prophecy. the Great Tribulation and Israel's Deliverance. the Epilogue by Arno Clemens Gaebelein | Arno Clemens Gaebelein delves into the prophetic truths of Daniel, focusing on the time of trouble and Israel's deliverance during the last 3 1/2 years. He emphasizes the significa |
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If Any Man by J.C. Ryle | The preacher delves into the concept of outbursts of anger, exploring the Greek word 'thumos' which describes a passionate and impulsive anger that rushes along, often leading to s |
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A Cry Against the Wicked Youth of America by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher talks about a man, a Hebrew, who is running through the streets proclaiming that there are only 40 days left before everyone will die because of their |
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Christless Pentecost - Part 2 by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for repentance and holiness in the church. He predicts a revival among young people and the downfall of drug abuse, alcoholism, and |
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A Vision of the Latter-Day Glories by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the unstoppable growth of the church and the gathering of all nations to worship God. He uses the imagery of a dry riverbed gradually fillin |






