Zechariah 13:3
“And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.”
This verse is part of a prophecy given by the prophet Zechariah, who lived during the post-exilic period in Israel. This particular verse speaks about a scenario where a person prophesies falsely in the name of the Lord, and their parents respond by declaring that they should not live and proceeding to thrust them through when they prophesy.
To better understand the verse, let’s examine its context by looking at the surrounding verses:
“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. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. 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: But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” (Zechariah 13:1-6, KJV)
This passage provides a glimpse into the Messianic era or the time of the coming of the Lord. It speaks of a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness, symbolizing the forgiveness and cleansing that will be available through the Messiah.
In this future time, God promises to cut off the names of idols from the land and remove both false prophets and unclean spirits. The verse in question, Zechariah 13:3, describes a scenario where someone continues to prophesy falsely despite the absence of idols and the removal of false prophets. In this case, their parents, who begat them, will declare that they should not live because they speak lies in the name of the Lord. The parents will take extreme measures and thrust them through when they prophesy.
This verse underscores the seriousness with which false prophecy will be treated during the Messianic age. It highlights the purity and authenticity that will characterize the prophetic ministry at that time. God’s people will no longer tolerate deception or false claims of divine revelation. This passage emphasizes the importance of discernment and the rejection of false teachings.
It is worth noting that this verse should be understood in its context as a prophecy pertaining to a specific future time. It does not prescribe or condone violence against false prophets in our present age. The Bible teaches us to test the spirits and judge prophecies according to the standards of Scripture (1 John 4:1, 1 Corinthians 14:29). In our current era, false prophecy should be addressed with discernment, loving correction, and the proclamation of truth.
In conclusion, Zechariah 13:3 portrays a scenario in the future Messianic age where false prophets will be strictly dealt with, even by their own parents. It serves as a reminder of the importance of true prophecy and the rejection of falsehood. As believers today, we should exercise discernment and test all teachings and prophecies against the standard of God’s Word.
