Zechariah 13:6

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 13:6 (KJV)

Context

Zechariah 13:6 belongs to a prophetic section in Zechariah 12–13 that describes a coming day of cleansing and mourning for Jerusalem. In the immediate context, verses 1–6 address the removal of false prophets and idolatry. The verse presents a dialogue: someone asks about the wounds in a man’s hands, and he answers that he was wounded in the house of his friends.

Meaning

The wounds in the hands are likely marks of conflict or persecution, and the phrase “house of my friends” suggests injury from those who should have been allies. The response probably refers to punishment for false prophecy, inflicted within a familiar setting. The following verse, Zechariah 13:7, shifts to a prophecy about a shepherd being struck and the sheep scattered, an image often interpreted as referring to the Messiah.

Biblical connections

While some Christian interpretations connect Zechariah 13:6 to the crucifixion of Jesus, the immediate context relates more directly to the condemnation of false prophets. The New Testament records that after His resurrection Jesus showed His disciples the wounds in His hands as evidence of His identity (Luke 24:39; John 20:20). The question “What are these wounds?” also echoes Thomas’s inquiry, where Christ shows His hands as proof (John 20:25–27).

Application

The verse warns that even those closest to us can cause harm, yet God can use such wounds for redemptive purposes. It calls us to reflect on how we treat Christ and His messengers, and assures that our wounds, suffered in faithfulness, are seen by God.