King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
In time, throughout that land," says ADONAI, "two-thirds of those in it will be destroyed - they will die, but one-third will remain.
Berean Standard Bible:
And in all the land,declares the LORD,two-thirds will be cut off and perish,but a third will be left in it.
American Standard Version:
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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land{H776}, saith{H5002} the LORD{H3068}, two{H8147} parts{H6310} therein shall be cut off{H3772} and die{H1478}; but the third{H7992} shall be left{H3498} therein.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezekiel 5:12
- A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.
Revelation 16:19
- And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Ezekiel 5:2
- Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, [and] smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
Ezekiel 5:4
- Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; [for] thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
Malachi 4:1
- ¶ For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Malachi 4:3
- And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts.
Revelation 8:7
- ¶ The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
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Commentary for Zechariah 13:8
Zechariah 13:8 is a part of the prophetic book of Zechariah, which is located in the latter section of the Old Testament. This book contains the prophecies of Zechariah, who was a prophet during the post-exilic period, specifically around the time of the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. The verses surrounding Zechariah 13:8 speak of a future time of trial and purification for Israel, often associated with eschatological or end-times themes.
In the specific context of verse 13:8, the theme is one of divine judgment and mercy. The verse speaks metaphorically about a future calamity that will strike the land, resulting in the death of two-thirds of the population. The phrase "two parts therein shall be cut off and die" suggests a severe reduction, possibly through war, disease, or divine intervention. However, the verse also offers hope, as it states that one-third will survive: "but the third shall be left therein." This remnant theme is common in biblical prophecy, indicating that despite judgment, God will preserve a faithful remnant.
This remnant is not only spared but is also implied to be refined and restored. The preservation of one-third can be seen as an act of grace and a promise of future restoration and blessing. In the broader historical context, the people of Judah, having returned from exile, were facing hardships and struggling to reestablish their nation. Zechariah's prophecy would have offered both a sobering warning of further trials to come and the assurance that God would ultimately protect and prosper a faithful remnant of His people.
The verse reflects the cyclical pattern of judgment and salvation found throughout the Bible, emphasizing God's sovereignty over history and His ultimate purpose to bring about redemption and renewal. It also prefigures the New Testament themes of refinement through suffering and the importance of faithfulness in the face of adversity.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H5002
There are 358 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְאֻם
Transliteration: nᵉʼum
Pronunciation: neh-oom'
Description: from נָאַם; an oracle; (hath) said, saith. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H8147
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
Transliteration: shᵉnayim
Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. - Strong's Number: H6310
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּה
Transliteration: peh
Pronunciation: peh
Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. - Strong's Number: H3772
There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּרַת
Transliteration: kârath
Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
Description: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want. - Strong's Number: H1478
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּוַע
Transliteration: gâvaʻ
Pronunciation: gaw-vah'
Description: a primitive root; to breathe out, i.e. (by implication) expire; die, be dead, give up the ghost, perish. - Strong's Number: H7992
There are 94 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁלִישִׁי
Transliteration: shᵉlîyshîy
Pronunciation: shel-ee-shee'
Description: ordinal from שָׁלוֹשׁ; third; feminine athird (part); by extension, a third (day, year or time); specifically, a third-story cell); third (part, rank, time), three (years old). - Strong's Number: H3498
There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָתַר
Transliteration: yâthar
Pronunciation: yaw-thar'
Description: a primitive root; to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively, to leave, cause to abound, preserve; excel, leave (a remnant), left behind, too much, make plenteous, preserve, (be, let) remain(-der, -ing, -nant), reserve, residue, rest.