---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Zechariah 13:1. In that day there shall be a fountain opened — This chapter is a continuation of the preceding, and should not have been separated f"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/zechariah/13"
---

Verse [Zechariah 13:1](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/1). ***In that day there shall be a fountain opened*** — This chapter is a *continuation* of the preceding, and should not have been separated from it.
***A fountain*** — The source of mercy in Christ Jesus; perhaps referring to the death he should die, and the *piercing* of *his* *side*, when *blood and water issued out*.
***To the house of David*** — To David's family, and *such like persons* as it included. See the history of David and his sons, and then learn *for whom* Christ shed his blood.
***Inhabitants of Jerusalem*** — Such like persons as the Jews were in *every part of their history*, and in their *last* times, when they clamoured for the blood of Christ, and pursued him unto death! Learn from this also *for whom* Christ died! These were the *worst* of the human race; and if he died for *them*, none need *despair*. They *rejected, betrayed, crucified, slew*, and *blasphemed* Christ, and afterwards persecuted his followers. For these he died! Yes: and he tasted death for EVERY MAN.
***For sin and for uncleanness.*** — For the removal of the *guilt* of sin, and for the *purification* of the soul from the uncleanness or pollution of sin.

Verse [Zechariah 13:2](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/2). ***I will cut off the names of the idols*** — There shall not only be no *idolatry*, but the very *names* of the *idols* shall be forgotten, or be held in such abhorrence that no person shall *mention* them. This prophecy seems to be ancient, and to have been delivered while idolatry had prevalence in Israel and Judah.
***I will cause the prophets*** — All false teachers.
***And the unclean spirit*** — That which leads to impurity, the spirit of *divination*; the lust of the flesh, and of the eye, and the pride of life. Satan shall have neither a *being in*, nor *power* *over*, the hearts of sincere believers in Christ.

Verse [Zechariah 13:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/3). ***When any shall yet prophesy*** — Falsely; such shall be the horror of such an evil, that there shall be no toleration of it. Itself, and they who practise it, shall be everywhere destroyed.

Verse [Zechariah 13:4](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/4). ***Neither shall they wear a rough garment*** — A *rough* *garment* made of *goats'* hair, *coarse* wool, or the *coarse pile* of the *camel*, was the ordinary garb of God's prophets. And the false prophets wore the same; for they pretended to the same gifts, and the same spirit, and therefore they wore the same kind of *garments*. John Baptist had a garment of this kind.

Verse [Zechariah 13:5](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/5). ***But he shall say, I*****am*****no prophet*** — This must be the case of a *false prophet* or diviner, who had been obliged to give up his infamous practice, and become even a *labourer* in the land. But having been known to be such, he is questioned by the people to see if he still were addicted in heart to the same practices. He declares he is *no prophet*, neither true nor false; that he is now a *husbandman*, and was brought up a *herdsman*.

Verse [Zechariah 13:6](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/6). ***What*****are*****these wounds in thine hands?*** — *Marks* which he had received in honour of his idols. But he shall excuse himself by stating that he had received these marks in his *own family*; when, most probably, they had been dedicated to some of those idols. [Isaiah 44:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/5). I do not think that these words are spoken at all concerning Jesus Christ. I have heard them quoted in this way; but I cannot hear such an application of them without horror. In quoting from the Old Testament in reference to the New, we cannot be too cautious. We may wound the truth instead of honouring it.

Verse [Zechariah 13:7](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/7). ***Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd*** — This is generally understood of Jesus Christ. The *sword* is that of Divine justice, which seemed to have been long *asleep*, and should long ago have struck either MAN, or his SUBSTITUTE, the *Messiah*. Jesus is here called God's *Shepherd*, because he had appointed him to *feed* and *govern*, as well as to *save*, the whole lost world. This is a prosopopoeia, and the address to the sword is very poetic. There is a fine passage in *AEschylus* to the same effect: -
***Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered*** — This is quoted by our Lord, [Matthew 26:31](../../../kjv/matthew/26/31), in relation to his disciples, who should be scattered on his crucifixion: and they were so; for every one, giving up all for lost, *went to his own house*.
***And I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.*** — I will take care of the *little flock*, and preserve them from Jewish malice and Gentile persecution. And so this little flock was most wondrously preserved, and has been increasing from year to year from that time to the present day.

Verse [Zechariah 13:8](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/8). ***Two parts therein shall be cut off*** — In the war with the Romans.
***But the third shall be left*** — Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be preserved alive; and not one of these perished in the siege, or afterwards, by those wars.

Verse [Zechariah 13:9](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/9). ***I will bring the third part through the fire*** — The *Christian Church* shall endure a great fight of afflictions, by which they shall be refined-not consumed.
***They shall call on my name*** — In this way shall they offer all their prayers and supplications to God.
***I will say, It*****is*****my people*** — The Church that I have chosen in the place of the Jews who have filled up the measure of their iniquity.
***And they shall say, The Lord*****is*****my God*** — And thus *communion* shall be established between me and them for ever. Thus there shall be a general restoration.

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