Zechariah 11:6

For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver [them].

For I will no more pity {H2550} the inhabitants {H3427} of the land {H776}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}: but, lo, I will deliver {H4672} the men {H120} every one {H376} into his neighbour's {H7453} hand {H3027}, and into the hand {H3027} of his king {H4428}: and they shall smite {H3807} the land {H776}, and out of their hand {H3027} I will not deliver {H5337} them.

I will no longer show pity to the inhabitants of the land," says ADONAI. "No, I will hand every one of them over to the power of a neighbor and to the power of his king; they will crush the land; and I won't rescue them from their power."

For I will no longer have compassion on the people of the land, declares the LORD, but behold, I will cause each man to fall into the hands of his neighbor and his king, who will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from their hands.โ€

For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah; but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighborโ€™s hand, and into the hand of his king; and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.

Commentary

Zechariah 11:6 presents a stark declaration from the LORD, revealing a pivotal moment of divine judgment against the inhabitants of the land. This verse marks a turning point where God withdraws His pity and protection, allowing internal chaos and external oppression to take hold as a consequence of their unfaithfulness.

Context

This verse is situated within Zechariah's prophetic vision concerning the shepherds of Israel, a powerful allegory for the nation's spiritual leaders and its relationship with God. The preceding verses (such as Zechariah 11:4-5) introduce the prophet as a shepherd appointed by God to care for a flock destined for slaughter, highlighting the exploitation by their previous shepherds. Verse 6 signifies God's decision to cease His long-standing forbearance, often seen as a direct consequence of the people's rejection of His true guidance and eventual rejection of the Messiah (foreshadowed later in Zechariah 11:12-13).

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Withdrawal of Pity: The phrase "I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land" signifies a cessation of God's compassionate intervention. This is not arbitrary cruelty but a just response to prolonged rebellion and unfaithfulness, where the people have consistently rejected His covenant love.
  • Consequences of Unfaithfulness: God's withdrawal leads directly to societal breakdown. The people are delivered "into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king," indicating both internal strife and external subjugation. This highlights the severe consequences when a nation abandons divine principles.
  • Lack of Divine Deliverance: The concluding statement, "out of their hand I will not deliver [them]," emphasizes the finality of this judgment. Once God removes His protective hand, there will be no rescue from the self-inflicted and divinely permitted calamities. This echoes warnings found in the Law, such as the curses for disobedience in Leviticus 26:17 and Deuteronomy 28:48.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "pity" here is chamal (ื—ึธืžึทืœ), which carries the meaning of to spare, to have compassion, or to show mercy. Its negation underscores God's deliberate decision to withhold the mercy He had previously extended. The term "deliver" (ืžึธืกึทืจ - masar) means to give over or abandon, indicating God's active relinquishing of His protective role, allowing natural and political consequences to unfold.

Practical Application

Zechariah 11:6 serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of rejecting God's authority and guidance. For believers, it highlights the importance of faithfulness and obedience, lest the blessings of God's protection be withdrawn. For societies, it warns that internal division and external oppression can be the direct result of widespread moral decay and a turning away from divine principles. It encourages introspection and repentance, emphasizing that God's mercy, while vast, is not without limits when continually spurned. This verse reminds us that true peace and security ultimately depend on a right relationship with the sovereign LORD.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 13:14

    And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.

  • Matthew 22:7

    But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

  • Isaiah 9:19

    Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.

  • Isaiah 9:21

    Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: [and] they together [shall be] against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

  • Micah 5:8

    And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

  • Hebrews 10:26

    For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

  • Hebrews 10:31

    [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
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