Zechariah 13 opens with a prophecy about a future time when a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity. In that day, idols and false prophets will be banished from the land. If anyone still prophesies, their own parents will confront them and put them to death.
Then the chapter takes a dramatic turn as Zechariah speaks of a shepherd who will be struck and the sheep scattered. This is seen as a reference to Jesus, who was betrayed and crucified. In the chaos, two-thirds of the people will be cut off and perish, while one-third will be refined and call upon the Lord’s name.
The refining process will be harsh, as God will test and refine His people like gold in the fire. The Lord declares that He is their God, and they are His people. In the end, He will hear their cry and answer them, saying, “They are my people, and they shall say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”