Zechariah 11 · Verse 13

Zechariah 11:13

And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.
Zechariah 11:13, King James Version

Zechariah 11:13 in other translations

BSBAnd the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent price at which they valued me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
WEBThe LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter—the handsome price that I was valued at by them!” I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the LORD’s house.
ASVAnd Jehovah said unto me, Cast it unto the potter, the goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them unto the potter, in the house of Jehovah.
YLTAnd Jehovah saith unto me, ‘Cast it unto the potter;' the goodly price that I have been prized at by them, and I take the thirty silverlings, and cast them to the house of Jehovah, unto the potter.
DARBYAnd Jehovah said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty silver-pieces, and cast them to the potter in the house of Jehovah.
BBEAnd the Lord said to me, Put it into the store-house, the price at which I was valued by them. And I took the thirty shekels of silver and put them into the store-house in the house of the Lord.
WebsterAnd the LORD said to me, Cast it to the potter: a goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

What does Zechariah 11:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. Cast it unto the potter--proverbial: Throw it to the temple potter, the most suitable person to whom to cast the despicable sum, plying his trade as he did in the polluted valley (2Ki 23:10) of Hinnom, because it furnished him with the most suitable clay. This same valley, and the potter's shop, were made the scene of symbolic actions by Jeremiah (Jr 18:1-19:15) when prophesying of this very period of Jewish history. Zechariah connects his prophecy here with the older one of Jeremiah: showing the further application of the same divine threat against his unfaithful people in their destruction under Rome, as before in that under Nebuchadnezzar. Hence Mt 27:9, in English Version, and in the oldest authorities, quotes Zechariah's words as Jeremiah's, the latter being the original author from whom Zechariah derived the groundwork of the prophecy. Compare the parallel case of Mr 1:2, 3 in the oldest manuscripts (though not in English Version), quoting Malachi's words as those of "Isaiah," the original source of the prophecy. Compare my Introduction to Zechariah. The "potter" is significant of God's absolute power over the clay framed by His own hands (Is 45:9; Jr 18:6; Ro 9:20, 21). in the house of the Lord--The thirty pieces are thrown down in the temple, as the house of Jehovah, the fit place for the money of Jehovah-Messiah being deposited, in the treasury, and the very place accordingly where Judas "cast them down." The thirty pieces were cast "to the potter," because it was to him they were "appointed by the Lord" ultimately to go, as a worthless price (compare Mt 27:6, 7, 10). For "I took," "I threw," here Matthew has "they took," "they gave them"; because their (the Jews' and Judas') act was all His "appointment" (which Matthew also expresses), and therefore is here attributed to Him (compare Ac 2:23; 4:28). It is curious that some old translators translate, for "to the potter," "to the treasury" (so Maurer), agreeing with Mt 27:6. But English Version agrees better with Hebrew and Mt 27:10.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter - Jehovah calls the price of his prophet his own price; and commands that it should not be accepted, but given to a potter, to foreshadow the transaction related Mat 27:7. "Earthen vessels were used in the temple; and we may suppose that some Levites were employed within the sacred precincts to furnish them. To these, the humblest of his ministers in the temple, God commands that the degrading price should be cast." This is the substance of the notes on these two verses, given by Abp. Newcome. We may look at it in another light, Give me my price! הבו שכרי habu sichri, bring my price, or give him any price; that is, Give the money to Judas which you have agreed to give him; for he can neither betray me nor you crucify me, but my own permission. But if not, forbear; take time to consider this bloody business, and in time forbear. For though I permit you to do it, yet remember that the permission does not necessitate you to do it; and the salvation of the world may be effected without this treachery and murder. See my notes on this place, Mat 27:9, where I have examined the evidence for the reading of "Zechariah the prophet," instead of "Jeremiah."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Zechariah 11:4-14

Christ came into this world for judgment to the Jewish church and nation, which were wretchedly corrupt and degenerate. Those have their minds wofully blinded, who do ill, and justify themselves in it; but God will not hold those guiltless who hold themselves so. How can we go to God to beg a blessing on unlawful methods of getting wealth, or to return thanks for success in them? There was a general decay of…

Read the full comment on Zechariah 11:4-14 →

Zechariah 11:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֵלַ֗י'e.Laito meH413
הַשְׁלִיכֵ֙הוּ֙hash.li.Khe.huthrow itH7993
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הַיּוֹצֵ֔רhai.yo.Tzerthe potterH3335
אֶ֣דֶר'E.der[the] magnificence ofH145
הַיְקָ֔רhay.Karthe valueH3366
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhichH834
יָקַ֖רְתִּיya.Kar.tiI was valuedH3365
מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֑םme.'a.lei.Hemfrom <the> with themH5921
וָֽאֶקְחָה֙va.'ek.Chahand I took !H3947
שְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimthirtyH7970
הַכֶּ֔סֶףha.Ke.sefthe silverH3701
וָאַשְׁלִ֥יךְva.'ash.Likhand I threwH7993
אֹת֛וֹ'o.To<obj.> itH853
בֵּ֥יתbeit[the] house ofH1004
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הַיּוֹצֵֽר\׃hai.yo.Tzerthe potterH3335

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Zechariah 11:13

  • Matthew 27:3-10

    Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. …

  • Acts 1:18-19

    Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

  • Isaiah 53:2-3

    For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

  • Matthew 27:12

    And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

  • Acts 4:11

    This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

  • Isaiah 54:7-10

    For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Cast.
Isa 54:7-10; Mt 27:3-10,12; Ac 1:18,19
a goodly.
Isa 53:2,3; Ac 4:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Zechariah 11:12

    And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

  • Zechariah 11:13

    And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.

  • Zechariah 11:14

    Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

Read all of Zechariah 11

Zechariah 11:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y díjome Jehová: Echalo al tesorero, hermoso precio con que me han apreciado. Y tomé las treinta piezas de plata, y echélas en la casa de Jehová al tesorero.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’ Éternel me dit: Jette-le au potier, ce prix magnifique auquel j’ai été estimé par eux. Et je pris les 30 pièces d’argent, et je les jetai au potier, dans la maison de l’ Éternel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da sprach Jehova zu mir: Wirf ihn dem Töpfer hin, den herrlichen Preis, dessen ich von ihnen wertgeachtet bin! Und ich nahm die dreißig Silbersekel und warf sie in das Haus Jehovas, dem Töpfer hin.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et dixit Dominus ad me: Projice illud ad statuarium, decorum pretium quo appretiatus sum ab eis. Et tuli triginta argenteos, et projeci illos in domum Domini, ad statuarium.