And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The LORD [is] my God.
And I will bring {H935} the third part {H7992} through the fire {H784}, and will refine {H6884} them as silver {H3701} is refined {H6884}, and will try {H974} them as gold {H2091} is tried {H974}: they shall call {H7121} on my name {H8034}, and I will hear {H6030} them: I will say {H559}, It is my people {H5971}: and they shall say {H559}, The LORD {H3068} is my God {H430}.
That third part I will bring through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined, I will test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is my people' and they will say, 'ADONAI is my God.'"
This third I will bring through the fire;I will refine them like silverand test them like gold.They will call on My name,and I will answer them.I will say, ‘They are My people,’and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”
And I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, Jehovah is my God.
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Psalms 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. -
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. -
Jeremiah 29:12
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. -
Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. -
Isaiah 65:23
They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. -
Isaiah 65:24
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. -
Isaiah 48:10
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Zechariah 13:9 is a powerful prophetic verse that speaks to God's ultimate plan for purification and restoration for a remnant of His people. It follows a declaration of widespread judgment (Zechariah 13:8), where two-thirds will be cut off, but the remaining "third part" will undergo an intense refining process.
Context of Zechariah 13:9
This verse is part of Zechariah's final prophetic section (chapters 9-14), which transitions from immediate post-exilic concerns to future eschatological events, including the first and second comings of the Messiah, global conflict, and the ultimate establishment of God's kingdom. Specifically, chapter 13 focuses on the purification of the land from idolatry and false prophecy, culminating in a severe but redemptive judgment upon the nation. The "fire" here represents intense tribulation and suffering that God allows to achieve a profound spiritual cleansing among His chosen people.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew words for "refine" (tsarap) and "try" (bachan) are significant. Tsarap literally means to smelt or purge, emphasizing the intense heat used to separate precious metal from dross. Bachan means to examine, prove, or test, highlighting the scrutinizing nature of the process. Together, they convey a thorough and deliberate purification, much like a metallurgist carefully removes impurities from silver and gold. This imagery is also used in Malachi 3:3 to describe the Messiah's work of purification.
Practical Application
For believers today, Zechariah 13:9 offers profound comfort and challenge. It teaches that God can use difficult circumstances, trials, and even suffering not as punishment, but as tools for spiritual growth and purification. When we face hardships, we can trust that God is working to remove our impurities, strengthen our faith, and draw us closer to Him. This verse encourages us to persevere through adversity, knowing that our cries are heard and that the ultimate outcome of God's refining fire is a deeper, more authentic relationship where we truly acknowledge Him as our God, and He unequivocally claims us as His people. It reminds us that the testing of our faith is more precious than gold.