Zechariah 11:10

And I took my staff, [even] Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.

And I took {H3947} my staff {H4731}, even Beauty {H5278}, and cut it asunder {H1438}, that I might break {H6565} my covenant {H1285} which I had made {H3772} with all the people {H5971}.

I took my staff No'am and snapped it in two, "in order to break my covenant, which I made with all the peoples."

Next I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations.

And I took my staff Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples.

Commentary

Zechariah 11:10 presents a powerful symbolic action within a prophetic vision concerning God's relationship with His people, Israel. In this dramatic scene, the prophet Zechariah acts out the role of a shepherd, representing God Himself or a divine figure sent by God, who is ultimately rejected by the flock.

Context of Zechariah 11:10

This verse is part of a complex allegorical passage (Zechariah 11:4-17) where the prophet is commanded to shepherd a flock destined for slaughter. He carries two staffs: one called "Beauty" (or "Graciousness" / "Pleasantness") and the other "Bands" (or "Union"). The staff "Beauty" symbolizes God's gracious covenant and favor extended to Israel, promising peace and protection. The act of cutting this staff asunder signifies the breaking of this divine covenant, a consequence of the people's unfaithfulness and their rejection of the true Shepherd. This prophetic drama foreshadows the historical rejection of God's leadership and, ultimately, the rejection of the Messiah by His own people, leading to divine judgment and dispersion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Broken Covenant: The central theme is the breaking of God's covenant with His people. This was not an arbitrary act by God, but a judicial consequence of Israel's persistent rebellion and failure to uphold their end of the covenant relationship. It highlights the seriousness of divine promises and the consequences of disobedience.
  • Divine Judgment: The cutting of the staff symbolizes the withdrawal of God's protective favor and the impending judgment upon the nation. It signifies the end of a period of grace and the beginning of a time of distress and scattering.
  • Rejection of the Shepherd: Though not explicitly stated in this single verse, the broader context of Zechariah 11 clearly points to the people's rejection of the good shepherd (often interpreted as a prefigurement of Jesus Christ). This rejection is the catalyst for the covenant's dissolution, as seen in the subsequent verses leading to the payment of thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12), a prophecy fulfilled in the betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 27:9-10).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "Beauty" in this verse is No'am (נֹגַם). It carries connotations of pleasantness, favor, grace, and delight. When God's staff of No'am is broken, it signifies the cessation of His pleasant and gracious dealings with Israel, marking a shift from favor to judgment. This is a powerful visual metaphor for the end of a covenant relationship marked by peace and prosperity, replaced by discord and distress.

Practical Application

Zechariah 11:10 serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's guidance and grace. For believers today, it underscores the importance of valuing God's covenant relationship and responding to His love and leadership. It highlights that God's patience has limits and that persistent rebellion can lead to the withdrawal of His protective hand, bringing about difficult consequences. While believers are now under the new covenant established through Christ's sacrifice, the principle remains: faithfulness to God's revealed will is paramount for experiencing His continued favor and blessing. This verse also implicitly points to the necessity of discerning and following the true Shepherd, rather than rejecting His voice.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Zechariah 11:7

    And I will feed the flock of slaughter, [even] you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.

  • Psalms 89:39

    Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown [by casting it] to the ground.

  • Jeremiah 31:31

    Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

  • Jeremiah 31:32

    Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

  • Hebrews 8:8

    For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

  • Hebrews 8:13

    In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.

  • Jeremiah 14:21

    Do not abhor [us], for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.
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