Zechariah 11:6

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Zechariah 11:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah; but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor`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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah; but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor`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.
Zechariah 11:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Zechariah 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah; but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor`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.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord, etc.] Or spare them; but cause his wrath to come upon them to the uttermost, as it did at the time of Jerusalem’s destruction by the Romans; but, lo, I will deliver the men everyone into his neighbour’s hand; this seems to refer to the factions and divisions among themselves during the siege of Jerusalem, when multitudes fell into the hands of the zealots, and heads of parties, and perished by them: and into the hand of his king; Vespasian the Roman emperor; the Jews having declared, long before this time, that they had no king but Caesar, (<431915>John 19:15) and now into his hands they were delivered up: and they shall…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Jehovah, in vengeance for their rejection of Messiah, gave them over to intestine feuds and Roman rule. The Zealots and other factious Jews expelled and slew one another by turns at the last invasion by Rome. his king--Vespasian or Titus: they themselves (Joh 19:15) had said, unconsciously realizing Zechariah's words, identifying Rome's king with Judah's ("his") king, "We have no king but CÃ&brvbrsar." God took them at their word, and gave them the Roman king, who "smote (literally, 'dashed in pieces') their land," breaking up their polity, when they rejected their true King who would have saved them.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For I will no more pity - Therefore were they a “flock of the slaughter,” because God would “have no pity” on those who went after shepherds “who had no Pity” upon them, but corrupted them; who “entered not in themselves, and those who were entering in, they hindered” Luke 11:52. The inhabitants of the land - “That land, of which he had been speaking,” Judaea. “And lo.” God, by this word, “lo,” always commands heed to His great doings with man; I, I, Myself, visibly interposing, “will deliver man,” the whole race of inhabitants, “every one into his neighbor’s hand,” by confusion and strife and hatred within, “and into the hand of his king,” him whom they chose and took as their own king,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“I will deliver - To rob, imprison, banish, or kill each other. Of his king - The Roman Caesar, whom the Jews had chosen to be so. The land - Their king and his armies shall destroy the land. Zechariah 11:7”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I will no: Zac 11:5; Isa 27:11; Eze 8:18, Eze 9:10; Hos 1:6; Mat 18:33-35, Mat 22:7, Mat 23:35-38; Luk 19:43, Luk 19:44, Luk 21:22-24; Th1 2:16; Heb 10:26-31; Jam 2:13 deliver: Heb. make to be found, Zac 11:9, Zac 11:14, Zac 8:10; Isa 3:5, Isa 9:19-21; Jer 13:14; Mic 7:2-7; Hag 2:22; Mat 10:21, Mat 10:34-36, Mat 24:10; Luk 12:52, Luk 12:53, Luk 21:16, Luk 21:17 into the: Dan 9:26, Dan 9:27; Mat 22:7; Joh 19:15 they shall: Mal 4:6 and out: Psa 50:22; Hos 2:10; Mic 5:8, Mic 6:14; Heb 2:3, Heb 10:26, Heb 10:27 Zechariah 11:7”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification