Keraia
Zechariah 13

Zechariah 13:1

An End to Idolatry · Zechariah 13:1–6
Read Zechariah 13

Translations

Modern
“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.
Traditional
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
Literal
“ On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David, and for those dwelling in Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.
Latin
In die illa erit fons patens domui David et habitantibus Jerusalem, in ablutionem peccatoris et menstruatæ.

Original

Hebrew
English
“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

Notes

Zechariah 13:1

  • A fountain is a source of pure, flowing water used for cleansing and purification (see Zechariah 14:8; John 4:14; Revelation 22:1–2).

  • God will cleanse Israel, including its leaders (represented by the family line of kings descended from David) and all the people of Judah and Israel (represented by the people of Jerusalem, the nation's spiritual center).

  • to cleanse them: This cleansing, symbolized by the ceremonial washings in Old Testament worship (see Exodus 30:17–21), was provided in the new covenant as promised by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:34) and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:25; see Hebrews 10:1–22).

  • sin and impurity: The Hebrews would experience complete moral and spiritual cleansing because of their sorrow over their sin (Zechariah 12:10–14).

Zechariah 13:1–6

The second message (Zechariah 13:126) of the second oracle (Zechariah 12–14) focuses on cleansing from sin.

Zechariah 12:1–14:21

The theme of Jerusalem versus the nations connects the four messages in Zechariah's second oracle. The nations gather against Jerusalem at both the start (Zechariah 12:1–9) and the end (14:1–15) of the oracle. The repeated phrase on that day points to the future day of the Lord.

This oracle shows both judgment and blessing for Jerusalem. The main focus is the cleansing of the people of Israel (Zechariah 13:1), ending with God's universal kingdom (14:16–21). These future visions encouraged the Judeans of Zechariah's time to stay faithful despite feeling unimportant and helpless.

Theme notes and profiles

Apocalyptic Literature

Events

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Cleanness and Uncleanness, Regulations Concerning David John the Baptist Zechariah, Book of Zion

Topics

Ablution: Figurative Atonement: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Fountain of the Salvation of the Gospel Fountains and Springs of Christ Jesus, the Christ: Design of his Death Jesus, the Christ: Mission of Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Fountain Jesus, the Christ: Prophecies Concerning the Coming of Laver of Brass: Christ the Fountain for Sin Pardon: The Blood of Christ, Alone, is Efficacious For Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of Blessing and Restoration Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of Their Rejection of the Messiah Sin: God Has Opened a Fountain For The Atonement: Foretold Types of Christ: Laver of Brass Types of the Saviour: The Bronze Laver Washing of Regeneration