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Zechariah 13:5

3 And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not remain alive, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will pierce him through.

4 And on that day every prophet who prophesies will be ashamed of his vision, and he will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive.

He will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I work the land, for I was purchased as a servant in my youth.’

6 If someone asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your chest ?’ he will answer, ‘These are the wounds I received in the house of my friends.’

7 Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
He will say, ‘I am not a prophet; I work the land, for I was purchased as a servant in my youth.’
KJV
But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
WEB
but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondservant from my youth.’
ASV
but he shall say, I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondman from my youth.
DARBY
And he shall say, I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for man acquired me [as bondman] from my youth.
BLB
And he will say, ‘I [am] not a prophet; I [am] a farmer working the land, for a man acquired me in my youth.
ÅB
Men hver av dem skal si: Jeg er ikke noen profet; jeg er jordbruker, for det var en som kjøpte meg til slave da jeg var ung gutt.
OTB
Hver vil si, ‘Jeg er ikke en profet; jeg er en jordbruker, for jeg har vært en arbeider siden min ungdom.’
B1930
Men hver av dem skal si: Jeg er ikke nogen profet; jeg er jordbruker, for det var en som kjøpte mig til træl da jeg var ung gutt.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Amos 7:14

    “I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees.

    Read in context

  • Acts 19:17–20

    This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

    Read in context