God’s Word Translation
Zechariah 11:14
14Then I broke my second staff, called Unity, in pieces, to break off the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Zechariah 11:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
- New International Version (NIV)Then I broke my second staff called Union, breaking the family bond between Judah and Israel.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then I cut in two my other staff, Bonds, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Context of Zechariah 11:14
12Then I said to them, “If it’s alright with you, pay me my wages. But if it’s not, don’t.” And they paid me my wages—30 pieces of silver. 13The Lord told me, “Give it to the potter.” So I took the 30 pieces of silver. Such a magnificent price was set by them! I gave the pieces of silver to the potter at the house of the Lord. Then I broke my second staff, called Unity, in pieces, to break off the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. 15Then the Lord said to me, “Use the equipment of a foolish shepherd again. 16I’m about to place a shepherd in the land. He will not take care of those that are dying. He will not search for the young. He will not heal those that have broken their legs or support those that can still stand. But he will eat the meat of the fat animals and tear off their hoofs.
Read all of Zechariah 11Zechariah 11:14 word by word
וָֽאֶגְדַּע֙ אֶת־מַקְלִ֣י הַשֵּׁנִ֔י אֵ֖ת הַחֹֽבְלִ֑ים לְהָפֵר֙ אֶת־הָֽאַחֲוָ֔ה בֵּ֥ין יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבֵ֥ין יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then I cut asunderגָּדַעgâda‛ · to cut down/offH1438
- mine otherשֵׁנִיshênîy · secondH8145
- staffמַקֵּלmaqqêl maqqelâh · rodH4731
- Bandsחָבַלchâbal · to pledgeH2254
- that I might breakפָּרַרpârar · to breakH6565
- the brotherhoodאַחֲוָה'achăvâh · brotherhoodH264
- between Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
- and Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
Cross-references for Zechariah 11:14
- Zechariah 11:9So I said, “I won’t be your shepherd. Let those that are dying die. Let those that are missing stay missing. And let those that are left devour each other.”
- Isaiah 9:21Manasseh is against Ephraim. Ephraim is against Manasseh. Together they attack Judah. Even after all this, his anger will not disappear, and he is still ready to use his power.
- Isaiah 11:13Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, and Judah’s opponents will come to an end. Ephraim won’t be jealous of Judah, and Judah won’t oppose Ephraim.
- Ezekiel 37:16“Son of man, take a stick and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the Israelites who are associated with it.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘The stick of Ephraim, for Joseph and for all the people of Israel associated with it.’
- Matthew 24:10Then many will lose faith. They will betray and hate each other.
- Acts 23:7After Paul said that, the Pharisees and Sadducees began to quarrel, and the men in the meeting were divided.
- Galatians 5:15But if you criticize and attack each other, be careful that you don’t destroy each other.
- James 3:14But if you are bitterly jealous and filled with self-centered ambition, don’t brag. Don’t say that you are wise when it isn’t true.
- James 4:1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Aren’t they caused by the selfish desires that fight to control you?
- Zechariah 11:7So I became the shepherd of the sheep that were to be slaughtered and also of the oppressed sheep. I took two shepherd staffs and named one Favor and the other Unity. And I took care of the sheep.
Commentaries on Zechariah 11:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14That I might break the brotherhood - I cannot, says Newcome, explain this passage, without supposing that the kingdom of Israel subsisted when the prophet wrote it; and that either the wars between Judah and Israel are referred to, (see 2 Kings 16:5;), or the captivity of the ten tribes, when the brotherly connection between these kingdoms ceased.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14And I cut asunder mine other staff, Bands, to dissolve the brotherhood between Judah and Israel - Hitherto prophecy had spoken of the healing of the great breach between Israel and Judah, in Christ. “The Lord,” Isaiah said, “shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-14Verses 4-14 Christ came into this world for judgment to the Jewish church and nation, which were wretchedly corrupt and degenerate. Those have their minds wofully blinded, who do ill, and justify themselves in it; but God will not hold those guiltless who hold themselves so. How can we go to God to beg a blessing on unlawful methods of getting wealth, or to return thanks for success in them? There was a general decay of religion among them, and they…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-17The Hebrew leaders are compared to shepherds in the last three messages (Zechariah 9:9–11:17) of Zechariah’s first oracle (Zechariah 9–11). This message uses allegory and symbolic actions by Zechariah to show the wickedness of Israel’s leaders. The prophet acts out a story of a “good shepherd” chosen by God to guide and unite the people. However, the people reject this shepherd and the promise of protection from other nations (Zechariah 11:10) and unity…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. The breaking of the bond of union between Judah and Israel's ten tribes under Rehoboam is here the image used to represent the fratricidal discord of factions which raged within Jerusalem on the eve of its fall, while the Romans were thundering at its gates without. See Josephus [Wars of the Jews]. Also the continued severance of the tribes till their coming reunion (Ro 11:15).Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 11:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Zechariah 11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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