Zechariah 13:2
in Zechariah 13And on that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah 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.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Zechariah 13
Commentary
11 notes on this verseI will cut off the names of the idols - There shall not only be no idolatry, but the very names of the idols shall be forgotten, or be held in such abhorrence that no person shall mention them. This prophecy seems to be ancient, and to have been delivered while idolatry had prevalence in Israel and Judah. I will cause the prophets - All false teachers. And the unclean spirit - That which leads to impurity, the spirit of divination; the lust of the flesh, and of the eye, and the pride of life.
This site's exposition
cut off the names of the idols
on Zechariah 13:2-3
The Lord promises to cut off the names of the idols from the land so they are no longer remembered, and to remove the prophets and the unclean spirit along with them, purging false worship and false prophecy in the same stroke. The purge reaches into the family itself, if a son should still prophesy, his own father and mother will tell him he speaks lies in the name of the Lord and will thrust him through for it. Gill and Wesley read the extremity of the household's own hand turned against a false prophet as measuring how seriously the restored community will guard the Lord's name, without the notes claiming the law was ever carried out to that letter.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Hermes Trismegistus lamented these vain, deceptive, pernicious, sacrilegious things because he foresaw that the time was coming when they would be abolished. He was impudent in his grief as imprudent in his prophecy, since the Holy Spirit had made no revelation to him as to the holy prophets, who exultantly proclaimed their inspired visions: "Shall a man make gods to himself, and they are no gods?" and again, "And it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will destroy the names of the idols out of the earth, and they shall be remembered no more." It is relevant to recall that holy Isaiah uttered a particular prophecy concerning Egypt: "And the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst thereof," and the rest.
Let us see, then, the necessity of literary erudition; let us reflect that partly it cannot be admitted, partly cannot be avoided. Learning literature is allowable for believers, rather than teaching; for the principle of learning and teaching is different. If a believer teaches literature, while he teaches doubtless he commends, while he delivers he affirms, while he recalls he bears testimony to, the praise of idols interspersed therein. He seals the gods themselves with this name [of gods], whereas the law, as we have said, prohibits "the names of gods to be pronounced" and this name [of God] to be conferred on vanity. Hence the devil gets people's early faith built up from the beginnings of erudition. Inquire whether he who catechizes about idols commits idolatry. But when a believer learns these things, if he is already capable of understanding what idolatry is, he neither receives nor allows them; much more if he is not yet capable. Or, when he begins to understand, it behooves him first to understand what he has previously learned, that is, touching God and the faith. Therefore he will reject those things and will not receive them; and [the believer] will be as safe as one who knows it not, who knowingly accepts poison but does not drink it. To him necessity is attributed as an excuse, because he has no other way to learn. Moreover, the not teaching literature is as much easier than the not learning, as it is easier too for the pupil not to attend than for the master not to frequent the rest of the defilements incident to the schools from public and scholastic solemnities.
(V2.) And it shall be in that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will destroy the names of the idols from the land, and they shall be remembered no more; and I will also remove the false prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. LXX: And it shall be in that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will destroy the names of the idols from the land, and their memory shall no longer exist; and the false prophets and the unclean spirit I will remove from the land.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts,....
False prophecy shall also be brought to an end: I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit, the prophets that are under the influence of the unclean spirit, to pass out of the land. The devil is an unclean spirit; sin and uncleanness are from him; he has his prophets, that serve his interests and receive their instructions from him.
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Ps 16:4). out of the land--Judea's two great sins, idolatry and false prophecy, have long since ceased. But these are types of all sin (for example, covetousness, Eph 5:5, a besetting sin of the Jews now).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2431: “The Double Cleansing” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
WHEN you read a letter, it is well to notice the date upon it—you may make mistakes if you do not. The promise in our text is dated, "In that day." If we look a little way back, we shall find, in the 10th verse of the 12th chapter, these words, "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of Grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him."
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2431: “The Double Cleansing” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
WHEN you read a letter, it is well to notice the date upon it—you may make mistakes if you do not. The promise in our text is dated, "In that day." If we look a little way back, we shall find, in the 10th verse of the 12th chapter, these words, "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of Grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him." When the soul learns to mourn before the Cross, then it shall perceive that there is cleansing from sin. If you have looked to Christ whom you have pierced and, if so looking, you have come to lament and loathe your sin, it is in that day that God reveals to you the fountain opened for your sin and for your uncleanness! Are any of you, here, broken down under a sense of sin? Then I am glad that I have such good news for you as my text contains. It is for sinners that Jesus bled and died! It is for you who are conscious of your great guiltiness that the fullness and the freeness of His Grace are manifested. If you are a sinner and Jesus is a Savior, you are well met. If, by faith, you will look to Him, it is a proof that He is looking to you, and He will take away your sin and you shall go your way taking with you a song of love and praise unto Him who has so graciously saved you! So, you see that where there is mourning for sin, there is pardon for sin! When the eyes are full of tears of repentance, they are most fit for looking to Christ who takes all our guilt away. God help every mourner, here, to rejoice in Christ Jesus and His great salvation! According to my text, this cleansing from guilt and sin is followed by a reformation.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
I will cut off the names of the idols - This had been a fence against idolatry. To name evil is a temptation to evil. Wrong words are the parents of wrong acts. To speak of evil awakens curiosity or passion; curiosity is one of the strongest incentives to act. All public mention of terrible crimes (it has been observed) produces imitation of the specific form of crime. Hence, it was commanded, “make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth” Exo 23:13. And Joshua names it in his dying charge to Israel, “Be ye therefore very strong to keep and to are all that is written in the book of the law of Moses - either make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them” Jos 23:6-7. Hence, they “changed” the “names” of cities , which bare idol names. David speaks of it, as part of fealty to God. “I will, not take their names upon my lips” Psa 16:4. Hosea prophesies of the times of the new covenant; “I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall be no more remembered by their name” Hos 2:17. Isaiah, “The idols he shall utterly abolish” Isa 2:18. Zechariah foretells their abolition with a turn of words, formed apparently on those of Hosea ; but slightly varied, because the worship of Baal, such a plague-spot in the time of Hosea, one, which continued until the year before the captivity , was gone, He implies nothing as to his own times, whether idolatry still existed. He predicts its entire abolition in the whole compass of the enlarged Judah, that is, of Christendom. And also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land - False prophecy sets itself to meet a craving of human nature to know something of its future. False prophets there were, even in the time of Nehemiah , and those in some number, hired to prophesy against the word of God. Our Lord warns against them. […]
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
for purification and for sprinkling and for sprinkling. So did Jonathan paraphrase: I will forgive their sins as they become purified with sprinkling water and with the ashes of the cow of purification; i.e., with the ashes of purification.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
24 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְהָיָה֩ | vehayah | and it will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בַיּ֨וֹם | vaiyom | on the day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| הַה֜וּא | hahu' | <the> that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| נְאֻ֣ם׀ | neum | [the] utterance of | H5002 → | 376 times |
| יְהוָ֣ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| צְבָא֗וֹת | tzevaot | of hosts | H6635 → | 485 times |
| אַכְרִ֞ית | ʾakhrit | I will cut off | H3772 → | 288 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| שְׁמ֤וֹת | shemot | [the] names of | H8034 → | 864 times |
| הָֽעֲצַבִּים֙ | haatzabim | the idols | H6091 → | |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הָאָ֔רֶץ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| וְלֹ֥א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִזָּכְר֖וּ | yizakheru | they will be remembered | H2142 → | |
| ע֑וֹד | od | again | H5750 → | 490 times |
| וְגַ֧ם | vegam | and also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַנְּבִיאִ֛ים | haneviim | the prophets | H5030 → | 314 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| ר֥וּחַ | ruach | [the] spirit of | H7307 → | 378 times |
| הַטֻּמְאָ֖ה | hatumah | <the> uncleanness | H2932 → | |
| אַעֲבִ֥יר | ʾaavir | I will cause to pass away | H5674 → | 556 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
וְהָיָה֩and it will be
vehayahH1961 →3559 times
בַיּ֨וֹםon the day
vaiyomH3117 →2304 times
הַה֜וּא<the> that
hahu'H1931 →1879 times
נְאֻ֣ם׀[the] utterance of
neumH5002 →376 times
יְהוָ֣הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
צְבָא֗וֹתof hosts
tzevaotH6635 →485 times
אַכְרִ֞יתI will cut off
ʾakhritH3772 →288 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
שְׁמ֤וֹת[the] names of
shemotH8034 →864 times
הָֽעֲצַבִּים֙the idols
haatzabimH6091 →
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הָאָ֔רֶץthe land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
וְלֹ֥אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
יִזָּכְר֖וּthey will be remembered
yizakheruH2142 →
ע֑וֹדagain
odH5750 →490 times
וְגַ֧םand also
vegamH1571 →769 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הַנְּבִיאִ֛יםthe prophets
haneviimH5030 →314 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
ר֥וּחַ[the] spirit of
ruachH7307 →378 times
הַטֻּמְאָ֖ה<the> uncleanness
hatumahH2932 →
אַעֲבִ֥ירI will cause to pass away
ʾaavirH5674 →556 times
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הָאָֽרֶץ׃the land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ezekiel 36:25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
- Jeremiah 33:8
And I will cleanse them from all the iniquity they have committed against Me, and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against Me.
- 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
- Titus 3:5–6
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
- Hebrews 10:22
Through
Exodus 23:13Pay close attention to everything I have said to you. You must not invoke the names of other gods; they must not be heard on your lips.
it leads to
- Joshua 23:7
So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 4:9
Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as…
- Hosea 2:17
For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals; no longer will their names be invoked.
- Joshua 23:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Zechariah
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, City of God 8.23; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2431: “The Double Cleansing” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Zechariah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Tertullian, ON IDOLATRY 10.