King James Version

What Does Zechariah 11:6 Mean?

Zechariah 11:6 in the King James Version says “For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his ... — study this verse from Zechariah chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour'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. deliver: Heb. make to be found

Zechariah 11:6 · KJV


Context

4

Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;

5

Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

6

For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour'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. deliver: Heb. make to be found

7

And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. even: or, verily the poor Bands: or, Binders

8

Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. lothed: Heb. was straightened for them


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour'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. This verse announces God's judgment on Israel for rejecting the Good Shepherd. "I will no more pity" (lo echmos, לֹא אֶחְמוֹל) uses the same verb (chamal) from verse 5—as the shepherds showed no pity, God will withdraw His pity.

"I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand" describes civil strife and internal conflict. Josephus's account of Jerusalem's siege (AD 66-70) records horrific factional warfare among the Jews themselves—Zealots, Sicarii, and others fought each other even as Rome besieged the city. Families turned against each other; neighbor betrayed neighbor. Jesus prophesied this: "Brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son" (Mark 13:12).

"And into the hand of his king" refers to foreign domination—Rome's authority over Judea. "They shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them" promises God will not intervene to save them from the consequences of rejecting His Shepherd. This is judicial abandonment—God giving them over to their choice. Paul describes similar divine judgment in Romans 1:24, 26, 28: "God gave them up."

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy had devastating fulfillment in AD 66-70. Jewish revolt against Rome led to four years of horror. Josephus describes the siege: famine so severe that mothers ate their own children (fulfilling Deuteronomy 28:53-57), rival Jewish factions burning each other's food supplies while Rome besieged them, and ultimately over a million deaths and the temple's destruction. Titus ("his king"—the Roman commander) leveled Jerusalem so thoroughly that Jesus's prophecy was fulfilled literally: "There shall not be left here one stone upon another" (Matthew 24:2).

The tragedy is that this judgment was avoidable. Jesus wept: "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee" (Luke 19:42-43). They rejected the Prince of Peace and got war; they rejected the Good Shepherd and got slaughter; they rejected God's pity and received judgment.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does this verse teach about the terrifying consequences of rejecting God's gracious provision?
  2. How does God's withdrawal of pity relate to judicial abandonment—giving people over to the consequences of their persistent rebellion?
  3. In what ways did Jesus offer Israel every opportunity to avoid this judgment, and what does their rejection teach us?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
כִּ֠י1 of 25
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

לֹ֣א2 of 25
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אֶחְמ֥וֹל3 of 25

For I will no more pity

H2550

to commiserate; by implication, to spare

ע֛וֹד4 of 25
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

עַל5 of 25
H5921

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

יֹשְׁבֵ֥י6 of 25

the inhabitants

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

הָאָ֔רֶץ7 of 25

of the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

נְאֻם8 of 25

saith

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָ֑ה9 of 25

the LORD

H3068

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

וְהִנֵּ֨ה10 of 25
H2009

lo!

אָנֹכִ֜י11 of 25
H595

i

מַמְצִ֣יא12 of 25

but lo I will deliver

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

אֶת13 of 25
H853

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

הָאָדָ֗ם14 of 25

the men

H120

ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

אִ֤ישׁ15 of 25

every one

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

מִיָּדָֽם׃16 of 25

and into the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙17 of 25

into his neighbour's

H7453

an associate (more or less close)

מִיָּדָֽם׃18 of 25

and into the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

מַלְכּ֔וֹ19 of 25

of his king

H4428

a king

וְכִתְּתוּ֙20 of 25

and they shall smite

H3807

to bruise or violently strike

אֶת21 of 25
H853

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

הָאָ֔רֶץ22 of 25

of the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וְלֹ֥א23 of 25
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אַצִּ֖יל24 of 25

I will not deliver

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

מִיָּדָֽם׃25 of 25

and into the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v


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 11:6 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 11:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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