What does Zechariah 11:12 mean?
"And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver." - Zechariah 11:12
The verse Zechariah 11:12 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads: "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver." This verse comes from the book of Zechariah in the Old Testament and is a prophetic passage with deep significance in biblical context.
In order to understand the meaning of this verse, it is important to understand the historical, cultural, and biblical context in which it was written. The prophet Zechariah lived in a tumultuous time in Jewish history, when the Jewish people had recently returned from exile in Babylon and were in the process of rebuilding and restoring their nation. The book of Zechariah contains a series of prophecies and visions that address the future of the Jewish people and the coming of the Messiah.
In this particular verse, Zechariah is speaking as a shepherd, using symbolic language to convey a message to the people of Israel. The "thirty pieces of silver" mentioned in the verse have significant symbolic meaning in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the price for a slave who was accidentally killed was also thirty pieces of silver (Exodus 21:32). This amount was also the price paid to Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus (Matthew 26:15).
The act of being paid thirty pieces of silver is a symbol of betrayal and injustice. In the context of Zechariah's prophecy, this verse is a foreshadowing of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas for thirty pieces of silver. It serves as a warning to the people of Israel of the consequences of turning away from God and betraying the Messiah.
Furthermore, the symbolism of the price of thirty pieces of silver has been seen as a fulfillment of prophecy in the New Testament. In Matthew 27:9-10, it is written, "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me." This passage refers to the fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 11:12, highlighting the significance of the price of betrayal in the context of Jesus' crucifixion.
Additionally, the verse speaks to the theme of the shepherd and the flock, which is a recurring motif in the Bible. Throughout the Bible, God is often depicted as a shepherd who cares for his people, guiding and protecting them. In this verse, Zechariah portrays himself as the shepherd asking for his rightful pay, drawing parallels to Jesus as the Good Shepherd who was betrayed and undervalued by those he came to save.
Overall, the verse Zechariah 11:12 carries deep symbolic and prophetic significance in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. It serves as a warning of betrayal and injustice, while also symbolizing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus as the Messiah. Through its rich symbolism and historical context, this verse offers a powerful message about the consequences of turning away from God and the redemptive power of the Messiah's sacrifice.
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Zechariah 11:12 - "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver."
"And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver." - Zechariah 11:12
Zechariah 12:11 - "In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon."
Luke 1:11-12
Luke 1:11-12
"In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon." - Zechariah 12:11
Nehemiah 11:12 - "And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah,"
Nehemiah 12:16 - "Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;"
Zechariah 11:11 - "And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD."
Zechariah 12:14 - "All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart."
Zechariah 11:4 - "Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;"
Ezra 8:11 - "And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males."
"Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;" - Nehemiah 12:16
Nehemiah 12:41 - "And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;"
Zechariah 7:11 - "But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear."
Zechariah 11:1 - "Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars."
Zechariah 12:12 - "And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;"
Zechariah 8:11 - "But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts."
Zechariah 11:15 - "¶ And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd."
Zechariah 12:13 - "The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;"
Zechariah 14:11 - "And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited."
Zechariah 11:3 - "¶ There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled."
Zechariah 10:12 - "And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD."
Zechariah 12:9 - "¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem."
Zechariah 2:12 - "And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again."
1 Chronicles 26:11 - "Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen."
Zechariah 12:5 - "And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God."
Zechariah 6:11 - "Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;"
"And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD." - Zechariah 11:11
John 1:1-2