Read & explore together
An End to Idolatry
Zechariah 13:1–6 describes a future day when God deals with sin, uncleanness and false worship. The passage speaks as prophecy and teaching, showing both cleansing and a serious removal of deceit from among God’s people.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, Zechariah repeatedly says, “in that day”, marking a promised time of change. The focus stays on David’s house, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the land, idols and prophets. The passage moves from cleansing to the cutting off of idols, then to the shame and exposure of deceptive prophets.
Zechariah 13:1–6Main takeaway
This passage teaches that in the day God appoints, he will cleanse sin and remove idolatry, impurity and false prophecy from among his people.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A fountain for sin and uncleannessThe passage begins with hope. A “fountain” is opened for David’s house and Jerusalem’s inhabitants.
Explanation
The passage begins with hope. A “fountain” is opened for David’s house and Jerusalem’s inhabitants. Its purpose is clear: it is “for sin and for uncleanness”. The image points to abundant cleansing, not a small or partial washing. Before idols and false prophecy are addressed, the prophecy starts with God providing cleansing.
02Idols, prophets and impurity removedThe next verse explains what God will remove from the land. The names of the idols will be cut off so completely that they will not be remembered any more.
Explanation
The next verse explains what God will remove from the land. The names of the idols will be cut off so completely that they will not be remembered any more. Alongside this, “the prophets and the spirit of impurity” will pass out of the land. The passage joins false worship, false speaking and impurity together.
03False speaking in Yahweh’s name judgedVerse 3 gives a severe picture of how seriously lies in Yahweh’s name will be treated. Even a person’s own father and mother reject such prophecy and say, “You must die, because you speak lies in Yahweh’s name”.
Explanation
Verse 3 gives a severe picture of how seriously lies in Yahweh’s name will be treated. Even a person’s own father and mother reject such prophecy and say, “You must die, because you speak lies in Yahweh’s name”. This shows the passage’s strong condemnation of false prophecy, not approval for personal violence as a rule for readers.
04Ashamed prophets abandon their disguiseIn that day, prophets who deceived will be ashamed of their visions. They will no longer wear a hairy mantle “to deceive”.
Explanation
In that day, prophets who deceived will be ashamed of their visions. They will no longer wear a hairy mantle “to deceive”. Instead of claiming prophetic status, one says he is a tiller of the ground and a bondservant from youth. The point is exposure: the deceptive role and appearance are no longer maintained.
05Wounds that raise questionsThe final verse continues the exposure. Someone notices wounds “between your arms” and asks about them.
Explanation
The final verse continues the exposure. Someone notices wounds “between your arms” and asks about them. The answer given is, “Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” The passage does not explain more here, but it keeps the focus on marks that invite questioning and on a speaker trying to account for them.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What is the fountain opened for, and who is it opened for?
Look closely at the two groups named and the two problems the fountain addresses in the verse.
02Which three things does Yahweh say will pass from the land or be cut off from it?
List the idols, the prophets and the spirit named in the prophecy, and notice that forgetting the idols is part of their removal.
03How do verses 4–6 show that deceptive prophets are being exposed rather than honoured?
Notice the shame, the refusal to wear a deceptive garment, the denial of being a prophet and the questioning about the wounds.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Zechariah 13:1–6
1“In that day there will be a fountain opened to David’s house and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
2It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they will be remembered no more. I will also cause the prophets and the spirit of impurity to pass out of the land.
3It 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.
4It will happen in that day that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they won’t wear a hairy mantle to deceive,
5but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondservant from my youth.’
6One will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’