Zechariah 13:4

Translations

Modern

And on that day every prophet who prophesies will be ashamed of his vision, and he will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive.

Traditional

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:

Literal

And it will come to pass in that day, that will feel shame the prophets, each man from his vision, in his prophesying; and they will not clothe themselves with a cloak of hair in order to deceive.

Latin

Et erit: in die illa confundentur prophetæ, unusquisque ex visione sua cum prophetaverit: nec operientur pallio saccino, ut mentiantur:

Original

Hebrew

English

And on that day every prophet who prophesies will be ashamed of his vision, and he will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive.

Notes

Zechariah 13:4

ashamed of his vision: In the Old Testament, people often called a prophet a visionary "seer" (see 1 Samuel 9:9–19; 2 Kings 17:13) because they received divine messages in dreams or night visions (for example, Zechariah 1:7–6:15).
hairy cloak: Old Testament Hebrew prophets wore a rough cloak made of camel or goat hair (see 2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4).

Zechariah 13:4–6

God will completely cleanse his people from their sin and impurity. This cleansing will create such fear that false prophets will hide who they really are. They will deny their identity and lie about what they do, especially if their actions resemble those of prophets from idolatrous cults (groups that worship false gods).

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

Prophecies of Zechariahc. 520 BC

Related verses

Micah 3:6–7
Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.
Matthew 3:4
John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Revelation 11:3
And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Isaiah 20:2
…the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot.
2 Kings 1:8
“He was a hairy man,” they answered, “with a leather belt around his waist.” “It was Elijah the Tishbite,” said the king.
Jeremiah 6:15
Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.
Mark 1:6
John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Matthew 11:8–9
Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces.
Jeremiah 2:26
As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets

Glossary

Camel David John the Baptist Leather Postexilic Period Prophecy Sackcloth Spirit of God Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Christian Minister: False and Corrupt Prophets: Wore a Coarse Dress of Hair-Cloth Sackcloth: Rough and Unsightly

Zechariah 13:4

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Translations

Original

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Events

Related verses

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