Zechariah 13 · Verse 1

Zechariah 13:1

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.
Zechariah 13:1, King James Version

Zechariah 13:1 in other translations

BSB“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.
WEB“In that day there will be a fountain opened to David’s house and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
ASVIn that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
YLTIn that day there is a fountain opened To the house of David And to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, For sin and for impurity.
DARBYIn that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
BBEIn that day there will be a fountain open to the family of David and to the people of Jerusalem, for sin and for that which is unclean.
WebsterIn that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

What does Zechariah 13:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Zec 13:1-9. Cleansing of the Jews from Sin; Abolition of Idolatry; the Shepherd Smitten; the People of the Land Cut Off, except a Third Part Refined by Trials.

1. Connected with the close of the twelfth chapter. The mourning penitents are here comforted. fountain opened--It has been long opened, but then first it shall be so "to the house of David," &c. (representing all Israel) after their long and weary wanderings. Like Hagar in the wilderness they remain ignorant of the refreshment near them, until God "opens their eyes" (Ge 21:19) [Moore]. It is not the fountain, but their eyes that need to be opened. It shall be a "fountain" ever flowing; not a laver needing constantly to be replenished with water, such as stood between the tabernacle and altar (Ex 30:18). for sin ... uncleanness--that is, judicial guilt and moral impurity. Thus justification and sanctification are implied in this verse as both flowing from the blood of Christ, not from ceremonial sacrifices (1Co 1:30; He 9:13, 14; 1Jo 1:7; compare Eze 36:25). Sin in Hebrew is literally a missing the mark or way.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

After the humiliation and conversion of the Jews, foretold in the preceding chapter, they are here promised the full pardon of their sins, and a deliverance from idolatry and false prophets, Zac 13:1-6. Prophecy concerning the death of the Messiah, and the persecution of his disciples, Zac 13:7. The remaining verses may refer to those Jewish converts to Christianity who survived the calamities which their country suffered from the Romans, Zac 13:8, Zac 13:9. Verse 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Zechariah 13:1-6
In the time mentioned at the close of the foregoing chapter, a fountain would be opened to the rulers and people of the Jews, in which to wash away their sins. Even the atoning blood of Christ, united with his sanctifying grace. It has hitherto been closed to the unbelieving nation of Israel; but when the Spirit of grace shall humble and soften their hearts, he will open it to them also. This fountain opened is the pierced side of Christ. We are all as an unclean thing. Behold a fountain opened for us to wash in, and streams flowing to us from that fountain. The blood of Christ, and God's pardoning mercy in that blood, made known in the new covenant, are a fountain always flowing, that never can be emptied. It is opened for all believers, who as the spiritual seed of Christ, are of the house of David, and, as living members of the church, are inhabitants of Jerusalem. Christ, by the power of his grace, takes away the dominion of sin, even of beloved sins. Those who are washed in the fountain opened, as they are justified, so they are sanctified. Souls are brought off from the world and the flesh, those two great idols, that they may cleave to God only. The thorough reformation which will take place on the conversion of Israel to Christ, is here foretold. False prophets shall be convinced of their sin and folly, and return to their proper employments. When convinced that we are gone out of the way of duty, we must show the truth of our repentance by returning to it again. It is well to acknowledge those to be friends, who by severe discipline are instrumental in bringing us to a sight of error; for faithful are the wounds of a friend, Pr 27:6. And it is always well for us to recollect the wounds of our Saviour. Often has he been wounded by professed friends, nay, even by his real disciples, when they act contrary to his word.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Zechariah 13:1 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.

בַּיּ֣וֹםbai.Yomon the dayH3117
הַה֗וּאha.Hu'<the> thatH1931
יִֽהְיֶה֙yih.Yehit will beH1961
מָק֣וֹרma.Kora fountainH4726
נִפְתָּ֔חnif.TachopenedH6605
לְבֵ֥יתle.Veitfor [the] house ofH1004
דָּוִ֖ידda.VidDavidH1732
וּלְיֹשְׁבֵ֣יu.le.yo.she.Veiand for [the] inhabitants ofH3427
יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimJerusalemH3389
לְחַטַּ֖אתle.cha.Tatfor sinH2403
וּלְנִדָּֽה\׃u.le.ni.Dahand for impurityH5079

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

Cross references for Zechariah 13:1

  • 1 Corinthians 6:11

    And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

  • John 1:29

    The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

  • Psalms 51:2

    Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

  • Ezekiel 36:25

    Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

  • 1 John 1:7

    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

  • Hebrews 9:13-14

    For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

  • 1 John 5:6

    This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

  • Revelation 7:13-14

    And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

  • Zechariah 12:7-8

    The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.

  • Isaiah 1:16-18

    Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

  • Revelation 1:5-6

    And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Psalms 51:7

    Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The fountain of purgation for Jerusalem,
2 from idolatry, and false prophecy.
7 The death of Christ, and the trial of a third part.

that,
12:3,8,11
a fountain,
Job 9:30,31; Ps 51:2,7; Isa 1:16-18; Eze 36:25; Joh 1:29; 19:34,35
1Co 6:11; Eph 5:25-27; Tit 3:5-7; Heb 9:13,14; 1Jo 1:7; 5:6
1Pe 1:19; Re 1:5,6; 7:13,14
the house.
12:7,10
uncleanness. Heb. separation for uncleanness.
Le 15:2-33; Nu 19:9-22; Eze 36:17,29

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

Context

  • Zechariah 13:1

    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.

  • Zechariah 13:2

    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.

Read all of Zechariah 13

Zechariah 13:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		EN aquel tiempo habrá manantial abierto para la casa de David y para los moradores de Jerusalem, para el pecado y la inmundicia.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		En ce jour-là, une source sera ouverte pour la maison de David et pour les habitants de Jérusalem, pour le péché et pour l’impureté.
German
Elberfelder 1871		An jenem Tage wird ein Quell geöffnet sein dem Hause Davids und den Bewohnern von Jerusalem für Sünde und für Unreinigkeit.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In die illa erit fons patens domui David et habitantibus Jerusalem, in ablutionem peccatoris et menstruatæ.