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 {H559} unto them, If ye think {H5869} good {H2896}, give {H3051} me my price {H7939}; and if not, forbear {H2308}. So they weighed {H8254} for my price {H7939} thirty {H7970} pieces of silver {H3701}.

I said to them, "If it seems good to you, give me my wages; if not, don't." So they weighed out my wages, thirty silver [shekels, that is, twelve ounces].

Then I told them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver.

And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver.

Context

Zechariah 11 is a highly symbolic and prophetic chapter within the book of Zechariah, which primarily focuses on Jerusalem's future, the coming Messiah, and the restoration of Israel. In this passage, the prophet Zechariah acts as a shepherd of a "flock doomed to slaughter," representing the people of Israel under corrupt leadership. He carries two staffs: "Beauty" (or Favor), symbolizing God's covenant and gracious dealings with His people, and "Bands" (or Union), representing the unity among the tribes. The breaking of these staffs (in verses 10 and 14) signifies God's withdrawal of favor and the breaking of unity among His people, leading to their scattering and judgment. Verse 12 describes the shepherd's dismissal and his demand for wages, setting the stage for one of the most poignant Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament.

Key Themes

  • Divine Valuation vs. Human Contempt: The core message of Zechariah 11:12 is the contemptible value placed on God's shepherd. The demand for "my price" and the subsequent payment of "thirty pieces of silver" highlight how little the people valued God's faithful guidance and protection through their shepherd. This low valuation underscores their rejection of divine leadership.
  • Prophetic Foreshadowing of Christ's Betrayal: This verse is a direct and remarkable prophecy of the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. The specific amount, "thirty pieces of silver," is not arbitrary; it was the legal price for a slave gored by an ox (Exodus 21:32). This signifies that the true Shepherd, the Messiah, would be valued as little as a mere slave by those who should have recognized and welcomed Him.
  • Rejection of the True Shepherd: The passage powerfully illustrates Israel's historical pattern of rejecting God's appointed leaders and, ultimately, God Himself. Just as the symbolic shepherd was undervalued and dismissed, so too would the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) be despised and rejected by His own people (Isaiah 53:3).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "thirty pieces of silver" (Hebrew: sheloshim kesef) is a precise detail that serves as a powerful symbol. As mentioned, it was the standard compensation for a slave accidentally killed. By offering this meager sum, the people expressed their utter disdain and contempt for the shepherd's service, effectively valuing him as a piece of property rather than a divine messenger or leader. This numerical specificity makes the prophecy's fulfillment in the New Testament even more striking.

Practical Application

Zechariah 11:12 serves as a profound reminder of God's sovereignty and the precision of His prophetic word. The exact fulfillment of this prophecy in the life of Jesus Christ (as recorded in Matthew 27:3-10) strengthens our faith in the reliability of Scripture and God's overarching plan for salvation. For believers today, this verse challenges us to consider how we "value" Christ. Do we receive Him as our true Shepherd, or do we, through our actions and priorities, diminish His worth in our lives? It calls us to appreciate the immeasurable price paid for our redemption, far beyond any silver, by the sacrifice of the Son of God.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 26:15

    And said [unto them], What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

  • Exodus 21:32

    If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

  • Mark 14:10

    And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

  • Mark 14:11

    And when they heard [it], they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

  • Luke 22:3

    Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

  • Luke 22:6

    And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

  • John 13:27

    And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

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