Tree of Life Version
Zechariah 13:9
9This third I will bring through the fire. I will refine them as silver is refined, and will test them as gold is tested. They will call on My Name and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will answer, ‘Adonai is my God.’
Zechariah 13:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and 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.’ ”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The Lord is my God.'"
- New King James Version (NKJV)I will bring the one–third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And 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 each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
Context of Zechariah 13:9
7Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, against the man who is My companion! It is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered! I will turn My hand against the little ones. 8Then it will happen —it is a declaration of Adonai— that in the entire land two-thirds will be cut off and die, but a third will be left in it. This third I will bring through the fire. I will refine them as silver is refined, and will test them as gold is tested. They will call on My Name and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will answer, ‘Adonai is my God.’
Read all of Zechariah 13Zechariah 13:9 word by word
וְהֵבֵאתִ֤י אֶת־הַשְּׁלִשִׁית֙ בָּאֵ֔שׁ וּצְרַפְתִּים֙ כִּצְרֹ֣ף אֶת־הַכֶּ֔סֶף וּבְחַנְתִּ֖ים כִּבְחֹ֣ן אֶת־הַזָּהָ֑ב ה֣וּא׀ יִקְרָ֣א בִשְׁמִ֗י וַֽאֲנִי֙ אֶעֱנֶ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ עַמִּ֣י ה֔וּא וְה֥וּא יֹאמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And I will bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- the third partשְׁלִישִׁיshelîyshîy · thirdH7992
- through the fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- and will refineצָרַףtsâraph · to refineH6884
- them as silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
- and will tryבָּחַןbâchan · to testH974
- them as goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
- they shall callקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- on my nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- and I will hearעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- them: I will sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- my peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- my Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
Cross-references for Zechariah 13:9
- Psalms 66:10For You have tested us, O God— You have purified us, as silver is refined.
- Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, or through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flame burn you.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11For no one can lay any other foundation than what is already laid—which is Yeshua the Messiah.
- 1 Peter 4:12Loved ones, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal taking place among you to test you—as though something strange were happening to you.
- Job 23:10Yet He knows the way that I take; if He tested me, I would come out as gold.
- Proverbs 17:3A crucible is for silver and a furnace is for gold, but Adonai tests the heart.
- Isaiah 48:10Behold, I have refined you, though not as silver. I tested you in the furnace of affliction.
- Malachi 3:2But who can endure the day of His coming? Or who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, and like soap for cleaning raw wool.
- James 1:12Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love Him.
- 1 Peter 1:6You rejoice in this greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.
- Zechariah 10:6I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, for I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had never spurned them, for I am Adonai their God and I will answer them!
- Zechariah 12:10“Then I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication, when they will look toward Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son and grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for a firstborn.
- Psalms 34:15Depart from evil and do good. Seek shalom and pursue it.
- Psalms 50:15Call upon Me in the day of trouble. When I rescue you, you will honor Me.”
- Psalms 91:15When he calls on Me, I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, rescue him, and honor him.
- Isaiah 58:9Then you will call, and Adonai will answer. You will cry and He will say, “Here I am.” If you get rid of the yoke among you— finger-pointing and badmouthing—
Commentaries on Zechariah 13:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9I will bring the third part through the fire - The Christian Church shall endure a great fight of afflictions, by which they shall be refined - not consumed. They shall call on my name - In this way shall they offer all their prayers and supplications to God. I will say, It is my people - The Church that I have chosen in the place of the Jews who have filled up the measure of their iniquity. And they shall say, The Lord is my God - And thus communion…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9I will bring the third part through the fire - Such is always God‘s ways. “Thou hast proved us, O God; Thou hast tried us, like as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the snare, Thou laidest trouble upon our loins: we went through fire and water, and Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place” Psalm 66:9-11. “I have refined thee, but not with silver, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” Isaiah 48:10; and, “Through much tribulation we…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-9Verses 7-9 Here is a prophecy of the sufferings of Christ. God the Father gave order to the sword of his justice to awake against his Son, when he freely made his soul an offering for sin. As God, he is called "my Fellow." Christ and the Father are one. He is the Shepherd who was to lay down his life for the sheep. If a Sacrifice, he must be slain, for without shedding of the life-blood there was no remission. This sword must awake against him, yet he had…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Fire is a metaphor for God's judgment (see Isaiah 66:15; Jeremiah 4:4; Ezekiel 36:5; Amos 5:6). God's fire can destroy the wicked or, as in this context, test and purify the righteous. Refine them … like gold: God acts as a divine metallurgist, using fire to remove impurities from metal (Isaiah 1:25; Malachi 3:2–3). They are my people … The LORD is our God: These declarations of loyalty by God and Israel restore their broken covenant relationship…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-98-9. Two-thirds of the Jewish nation were to perish in the Roman wars, and a third to survive. Probably from the context (Zec 14:2-9), which has never yet been fulfilled, the destruction of the two-thirds (literally, "the proportion of two," or "portion of two") and the saving of the remnant, the one-third, are still future, and to be fulfilled under Antichrist.Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 13:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Zechariah 13
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries