King James Version

What Does Zechariah 11:13 Mean?

Zechariah 11:13 in the King James Version says “And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty p...” — study this verse from Zechariah chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.”

Zechariah 11:13 · KJV

Context

11

And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. so: or, the poor of the flock, etc. certainly knew

12

And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. If ye: Heb. If it be good in your eyes

13

And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

14

Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. Bands: or, Binders

15

And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.

Read Zechariah 11 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. This verse drips with divine irony following the contemptuous payment of thirty silver pieces. The command "Cast it unto the potter" (hashlikhehu el-ha-yotser, הַשְׁלִיכֵהוּ אֶל־הַיּוֹצֵר) involves throwing the money contemptuously to the potter—either a craftsman working in the temple precincts or symbolizing worthlessness (clay vessels being common and cheap). God's sarcasm is biting: "a goodly price that I was prised at of them" (eder ha-yeqar asher yaqareti me'aleyhem)—"What a magnificent sum they valued me at!"

The thirty pieces of silver represents the price for a slave gored by an ox (Exodus 21:32), an insulting valuation for the Shepherd of Israel. Matthew 27:9-10 explicitly identifies this as prophecy fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty silver pieces, then threw the money into the temple. The priests used it to purchase the potter's field for burying strangers (Matthew 27:3-10). The prophetic precision is stunning: the specific amount, the rejection by religious leaders, the money cast into the temple, and the connection to a potter/field purchase—all fulfilled exactly.

This demonstrates how Israel corporately valued their covenant Lord—as worth only slave-price. The rejection prefigures the ultimate rejection when Jewish leaders delivered Jesus to crucifixion. Yet God's sovereignty operates even through betrayal: the very act of contempt becomes the mechanism of redemption. What humans intend for evil, God orchestrates for salvation (Genesis 50:20).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Zechariah enacted this prophetic sign-act around 520-518 BC during temple rebuilding. The shepherd symbolism throughout Zechariah 11 represents God's care for Israel and their rejection of His shepherding. The immediate context involves breaking the staff called "Beauty" (covenant favor) and "Bands" (unity between Judah and Israel), depicting covenant dissolution due to rejection.

The fulfillment came over 500 years later when Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Jesus for exactly thirty silver pieces (Matthew 26:14-16). After Jesus's arrest, Judas experienced remorse and threw the blood money into the temple (Matthew 27:3-5). The chief priests, considering it unclean for the treasury, used it to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners (Matthew 27:6-10). Matthew sees this as fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy (though attributing it to Jeremiah, possibly because Jeremiah stood first in the prophetic scroll order, or combining Jeremiah 18-19's potter imagery with Zechariah's text).

This prophecy demonstrates Scripture's unity and divine inspiration—specific details predicted centuries before fulfillment, impossible through human foresight alone. It reveals Israel's pattern of rejecting God's messengers, culminating in rejecting Messiah Himself.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do I value Jesus—as precious beyond measure (1 Peter 1:18-19), or do I treat Him as cheaply as thirty pieces of silver?
  2. What does the fulfillment of such specific prophetic details teach about Scripture's divine inspiration and reliability?
  3. How does God's sovereignty operate even through human betrayal and rejection to accomplish redemptive purposes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 20

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֖ה2 of 20

“And the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֵלַ֗י3 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

וָאַשְׁלִ֥יךְ4 of 20

“and cast”

H7993

to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)

אֶל5 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַיּוֹצֵֽר׃6 of 20

“it unto the potter”

H3335

to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e., form a resolution)

אֶ֣דֶר7 of 20

“a goodly”

H145

amplitude, i.e., (concrete) a mantle; also (figuratively) splendor

הַיְקָ֔ר8 of 20

“price”

H3366

value, i.e., (concretely) wealth; abstractly, costliness, dignity

אֲשֶׁ֥ר9 of 20
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יָקַ֖רְתִּי10 of 20

“that I was prised”

H3365

properly, apparently, to be heavy, i.e., (figuratively) valuable; causatively, to make rare (figuratively, to inhibit)

מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֑ם11 of 20
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

וָֽאֶקְחָה֙12 of 20

“at of them And I took”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים13 of 20

“the thirty”

H7970

thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth

הַכֶּ֔סֶף14 of 20

“pieces of silver”

H3701

silver (from its pale color); by implication, money

וָאַשְׁלִ֥יךְ15 of 20

“and cast”

H7993

to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)

אֹת֛וֹ16 of 20
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בֵּ֥ית17 of 20

“in the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יְהוָ֖ה18 of 20

“And the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֶל19 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַיּוֹצֵֽר׃20 of 20

“it unto the potter”

H3335

to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e., form a resolution)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Zechariah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Zechariah 11:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Zechariah 11:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 27:3-10Acts 1:18-19Isaiah 53:2-3Matthew 27:12Isaiah 54:7-10Acts 4:11

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