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.
Zechariah 13:3 · King James Version
Meaning
This verse from the book of Zechariah in the Bible describes a harsh punishment for false prophets. In ancient times, prophesying in the name of the Lord was taken very seriously, and those who claimed to speak on behalf of God had to be genuine in their messages. If a person was found to be speaking lies in the name of the Lord, even their own parents were expected to condemn them. The verse paints a picture of a society that upheld the sanctity of prophecy and held false prophets accountable for their deceit. The severe consequence of being put to death by one's own parents serves as a warning to those who might attempt to deceive others with false prophecies. It highlights the importance of discerning true prophets from false ones and underscores the gravity of misusing the name of the Lord for personal gain or manipulation.
Theological Overview
In this verse from the book of Zechariah, the idea of false prophets and the consequences of their actions are explored. The theological interpretation highlights the seriousness of falsely claiming to speak in the name of the Lord. The verse depicts a scenario where parents reject their own child who falsely prophesies in the name of God. This harsh response shows the severity with which false prophecy was viewed in ancient times. The word "prophecy" in this context refers to speaking on behalf of God, and the Hebrew word used implies a divine message or revelation. The act of thrusting the false prophet through signifies the ultimate punishment for deceiving others in the name of the Lord. This passage serves as a warning against deceitful practices and emphasizes the importance of discerning true messages from God.
Zechariah 13:3 in other translations
American Standard Version
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 Jehovah; and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.
World English Bible
It will happen that, when anyone still prophesies, then his father and his mother who bore him will tell him, ‘You must die, because you speak lies in Yahweh’s name;’ and his father and his mother who bore him will stab him when he prophesies.
Douay-Rheims
And it shall come to pass, that when any man shall prophesy any more, his father and his mother that brought him into the world, shall say to him: Thou shalt not live: because thou hast spoken a lie in the name of the Lord. And his father, and his mother, his parents, shall thrust him through, when he shall prophesy.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And when any shall yet prophesie, his father and his mother that begate him, shall say vnto him, Thou shalt not liue: 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.