Zechariah 13:1–9 (August 20, 2025)

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13:1 “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

Idolatry Cut Off

2 “And on that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. 3 And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the Lord.’ And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies.

4 “On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive, 5 but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’[a] 6 And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’[b] he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

The Shepherd Struck

7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,

against the man who stands next to me,”

declares the Lord of hosts.

“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;

I will turn my hand against the little ones.

8 In the whole land, declares the Lord,

two thirds shall be cut off and perish,

and one third shall be left alive.

9 And I will put this third into the fire,

and refine them as one refines silver,

and test them as gold is tested.

They will call upon my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘They are my people’;

and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

Footnotes

Zechariah 13:5 Or for the land has been my possession since my youth

Zechariah 13:6 Or on your chest; Hebrew wounds between your hands

Summary

Zechariah 13:1–9 continues the vision of God’s saving work from chapter 12. After the Spirit of grace and supplication is poured out (12:10), God opens a fountain to cleanse His people from sin and impurity (13:1). This cleansing is not partial but complete, transforming Jerusalem into a holy city.

The LORD promises to remove idols, false prophets, and the unclean spirit from the land (vv. 2–6). No longer will the people tolerate lies or deceptive visions. Even false prophets themselves will be ashamed of their deception.

Finally, the chapter closes with a refining judgment. God declares that two-thirds of the people will be cut off, but one-third will be preserved and purified through fire. This remnant will be tested and refined until they can truly say, “The LORD is my God,” and God will say, “They are my people” (vv. 8–9).

Thus, Jerusalem will be cleansed (holy), truthful (free from deception), and consecrated (a purified people belonging to God).

Who is God?

God is the One who provides the cleansing fountain:

“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness” (v. 1).

He is also the God who removes evil from His people’s midst. False worship, false prophecy, and unclean spirits cannot remain in His holy presence (vv. 2–6).

Finally, He is the refiner of His covenant people. Through fire He purifies, not to destroy, but to make His people truly His own:

“They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God’” (v. 9).

What is Our Guilt?

Our guilt is that we are unclean and unable to cleanse ourselves. Sin and impurity stain us deeply, and no human effort can open the fountain that washes them away.

We also tolerate lies. Like Israel, we allow false voices. Whether of false religion, worldly philosophies, or self-deception, we allow them to shape our hearts more than God’s Word. We too often prefer comforting lies to the hard truth.

And we resist God. When God allows trials to purify us, we complain, despair, or even turn back, instead of trusting His loving purpose to refine us as gold.

How Does Grace Shine?

Grace shines in the fountain of cleansing that God Himself provides. This is fulfilled at the cross of Jesus Christ, where His blood cleanses us from all sin. And, Grace shines in the removal of idols and falsehood. In Christ, the Spirit of truth abides in us, enabling us to discern lies and live in sincerity. Lastly, the Grace of God shines in renewal and refreshing. Trials and tribulations do not mean that God has abandoned us, but rather His loving work to purify us. The remnant He refines is the people He calls His own.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We praise You for the fountain You have opened in Christ, cleansing us from all our sin and impurity. Forgive us for tolerating idols and listening to lies instead of Your truth. Forgive us for resisting Your refining work in our lives.

Thank You that by the blood of Jesus, we are washed, renewed, and made holy. Thank You that in Your love You remove what is false and purify what is true.

Refine us until we are wholly Yours. Teach us to say with joy, “The LORD is my God,” and may You delight to say of us, “They are my people.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.