◄ Zechariah 11:13 ►
And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter"--this magnificent price at which they valued me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Study Bible
And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”
This phrase indicates a divine command given to the prophet Zechariah. The "potter" is symbolic, often representing God's sovereignty and authority over creation, as seen in Jeremiah 18:1-6. The act of throwing the silver to the potter suggests a rejection or disdain for the value placed on the shepherd, which is a prophetic foreshadowing of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 27:3-10). The potter's field, purchased with the returned silver, becomes a burial place for foreigners, fulfilling prophecy and symbolizing the rejection of Christ by His own people.

this magnificent price at which they valued me.
The phrase is deeply ironic, as the "magnificent price" is actually a paltry sum, highlighting the contempt and undervaluation of the shepherd, who represents God Himself. In Exodus 21:32, thirty pieces of silver is the price of a slave, underscoring the insult. This valuation reflects Israel's rejection of God's leadership and foreshadows the betrayal of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who was also undervalued and betrayed for the same amount.

So I took the thirty pieces of silver
Zechariah's action of taking the silver signifies acceptance of the people's valuation, which is a prophetic act symbolizing the future betrayal of Jesus. The thirty pieces of silver are a direct connection to the New Testament account of Judas's betrayal, emphasizing the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture.

and threw them to the potter
This act of throwing the silver to the potter signifies disdain and rejection. In the New Testament, Judas returns the silver to the temple, and the chief priests use it to buy the potter's field (Matthew 27:7), fulfilling this prophecy. The act of throwing the silver also symbolizes the ultimate rejection of Christ by the religious leaders of His time.

in the house of the LORD.
The location, "in the house of the LORD," underscores the religious and spiritual dimensions of the betrayal. It highlights the hypocrisy and corruption within the religious establishment, as the temple, meant to be a place of worship and reverence, becomes the setting for this transaction. This setting foreshadows the events in the Gospels where the religious leaders conspire against Jesus within the temple precincts, further fulfilling the prophetic imagery of Zechariah.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zechariah
A prophet of the Old Testament, Zechariah is the author of the book bearing his name. He is known for his visions and prophecies concerning Israel and the coming Messiah.

2. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who speaks to Zechariah, instructing him in this passage.

3. The Potter
A symbolic figure in this passage, representing God's sovereignty and the shaping of Israel's destiny. The potter's house is a place where broken vessels are remade, symbolizing restoration and judgment.

4. Thirty Pieces of Silver
The price at which Zechariah, representing the Messiah, is valued. This amount is significant as it is later associated with Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus.

5. The House of the LORD
Refers to the temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship and sacrifice for the Israelites.
Teaching Points
The Value of Christ
Reflect on how the world often undervalues Christ, much like the thirty pieces of silver. Consider how we can ensure that we are valuing Him appropriately in our lives.

Prophetic Fulfillment
Recognize the accuracy and fulfillment of biblical prophecy as seen in the connection between Zechariah and the New Testament events. This strengthens our faith in the reliability of Scripture.

God's Sovereignty
The reference to the potter reminds us of God's control over our lives and circumstances. Trust in His ability to shape and guide us according to His purpose.

Repentance and Restoration
The act of throwing the silver into the temple signifies a rejection of the betrayal price. It serves as a call to repentance and the possibility of restoration through God's grace.

The Cost of Betrayal
Consider the cost of betrayal in our own lives, whether through sin or turning away from God. Reflect on the importance of faithfulness and integrity in our relationship with Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the valuation of thirty pieces of silver in Zechariah 11:13 reflect the world's perception of Jesus, and how can we counteract this undervaluation in our daily lives?

2. In what ways does the fulfillment of prophecy in the New Testament strengthen your faith in the reliability of Scripture?

3. How can the imagery of the potter and clay in Jeremiah 18:1-6 help us understand God's role in shaping our lives?

4. What steps can we take to ensure that we are not betraying Christ in our actions or decisions, even in seemingly small ways?

5. How does the concept of repentance and restoration play a role in your personal spiritual journey, and what can you learn from Zechariah's actions in this passage?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 27:3-10
This passage describes Judas Iscariot returning the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, who then use it to buy the potter's field. This directly fulfills the prophecy in Zechariah 11:13.

Exodus 21:32
The thirty pieces of silver is also the price of a slave, highlighting the undervaluation of the Messiah, who was betrayed for the price of a common servant.

Jeremiah 18:1-6
The imagery of the potter is used to describe God's authority over nations, illustrating His power to shape and reshape according to His will.
Sermons
The True ShepherdW. Forsyth Zechariah 11:7-14
A Model Spiritual TeacherHomilistZechariah 11:10-14
Mean Treatment of an Old Prophet by His PeopleJ. Morlais Jones.Zechariah 11:10-14
The Goodly Price of JesusW. Hay Aitken, M. A.Zechariah 11:10-14
The Price of Our RedemptionJohn Nance, D. D.Zechariah 11:10-14
A Model Spiritual TeacherD. Thomas Zechariah 11:12-14
People
Zechariah
Places
Bashan, Jordan River, Lebanon
Topics
Cast, Goodly, Handsome, Lordly, Magnificent, Paid, Pieces, Potter, Price, Priced, Prised, Prized, Shekels, Silver, Silverlings, Silver-pieces, Store-house, Thirty, Threw, Throw, Treasury, Valued
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Zechariah 11:13

     5445   potters and pottery

Zechariah 11:7-17

     7130   flock, God's

Zechariah 11:10-14

     4512   staff

Zechariah 11:12-13

     1654   numbers, 11-99

Library
Inspiration of Scripture. --Gospel Difficulties. --The Word of God Infallible. --Other Sciences Subordinate to Theological Science.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. BUT that is not exactly what St. Paul says. The Greek for that, would be He graphe--not pasa graphe--theopneustos. St. Paul does not say that the whole of Scripture, collectively, is inspired. More than that: what he says is, that every writing,--every several book of those hiera grammata, or Holy Scriptures, in which Timothy had been instructed from his childhood,--is inspired by God [330] . It comes to very nearly the same thing but it is not quite …
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

And Again David Says:...
And again David says: They looked upon me: they parted my garments among them, and upon any vesture they cast lots. For at His crucifixion the soldiers parted His garments as they were wont; and the garments they parted by tearing; but for the vesture, because it was woven from the top and was not sewn, they cast lots, that to whomsoever it should fall he should take it. And again Jeremiah the prophet says: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was sold, whom they bought …
Irenæus—The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

In the House of his Heavenly, and in the Home of his Earthly Father - the Temple of Jerusalem - the Retirement at Nazareth.
Once only is the great silence, which lies on the history of Christ's early life, broken. It is to record what took place on His first visit to the Temple. What this meant, even to an ordinary devout Jew, may easily be imagined. Where life and religion were so intertwined, and both in such organic connection with the Temple and the people of Israel, every thoughtful Israelite must have felt as if his real life were not in what was around, but ran up into the grand unity of the people of God, and …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Good Shepherd' and his one Flock' - Last Discourse at the Feast of Tabernacles.
The closing words which Jesus had spoken to those Pharisees who followed HIm breathe the sadness of expected near judgment, rather than the hopefulness of expostulation. And the Discourse which followed, ere He once more left Jerusalem, is of the same character. It seems, as if Jesus could not part from the City in holy anger, but ever, and only, with tears. All the topics of the former Discourses are now resumed and applied. They are not in any way softened or modified, but uttered in accents of …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Discourse on the Good Shepherd.
(Jerusalem, December, a.d. 29.) ^D John X. 1-21. ^d 1 Verily, verily, I say to you [unto the parties whom he was addressing in the last section], He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. [In this section Jesus proceeds to contrast his own care for humanity with that manifested by the Pharisees, who had just cast out the beggar. Old Testament prophecies were full of declarations that false shepherds would arise to …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The First Trumpet.
The first trumpet of the seventh seal begins from the final disturbance and overthrow of the Roman idolarchy at the close of the sixth seal; and as it was to bring the first plague on the empire, now beginning to fall, it lays waste the third part of the earth, with a horrible storm of hail mingled with fire and blood; that is, it depopulates the territory and people of the Roman world, (viz. the basis and ground of its universal polity) with a terrible and bloody irruption of the northern nations, …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

Remorse and Suicide of Judas.
(in the Temple and Outside the Wall of Jerusalem. Friday Morning.) ^A Matt. XXVII. 3-10; ^E Acts I. 18, 19. ^a 3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned [Judas, having no reason to fear the enemies of Jesus, probably stood in their midst and witnessed the entire trial], repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. [There are two Greek words which are translated "repented," …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Questions.
LESSON I. 1. In what state was the Earth when first created? 2. To what trial was man subjected? 3. What punishment did the Fall bring on man? 4. How alone could his guilt be atoned for? A. By his punishment being borne by one who was innocent. 5. What was the first promise that there should be such an atonement?--Gen. iii. 15. 6. What were the sacrifices to foreshow? 7. Why was Abel's offering the more acceptable? 8. From which son of Adam was the Seed of the woman to spring? 9. How did Seth's …
Charlotte Mary Yonge—The Chosen People

The Shepherd of Our Souls.
"I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep."--John x. 11. Our Lord here appropriates to Himself the title under which He had been foretold by the Prophets. "David My servant shall be king over them," says Almighty God by the mouth of Ezekiel: "and they all shall have one Shepherd." And in the book of Zechariah, "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the man that is My fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts; smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of Its Author
In Isaiah 41:21-23 we have what is probably the most remarkable challenge to be found in the Bible. "Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods." This Scripture has both a negative …
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon
OF THE HOUSE OF THE FOREST OF LEBANON. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. That part of Palestine in which the celebrated mountains of Lebanon are situated, is the border country adjoining Syria, having Sidon for its seaport, and Land, nearly adjoining the city of Damascus, on the north. This metropolitan city of Syria, and capital of the kingdom of Damascus, was strongly fortified; and during the border conflicts it served as a cover to the Assyrian army. Bunyan, with great reason, supposes that, to keep …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Of the Incapacity of an Unregenerate Person for Relishing the Enjoyments of the Heavenly World.
John iii. 3. John iii. 3. --Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. IN order to demonstrate the necessity of regeneration, of which I would fain convince not only your understandings, but your consciences, I am now proving to you, that without it, it is impossible to enter into the kingdom of God; and how weighty a consideration that is I am afterwards to represent. That it is thus impossible, the words in the text do indeed sufficiently prove: but for the further illustration …
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober Reason,
appears of itself highly credible and probable, and abundantly recommends itself in its native simplicity, merely by its own intrinsic goodness and excellency, to the practice of the most rational and considering men, who are desirous in all their actions to have satisfaction and comfort and good hope within themselves, from the conscience of what they do: So it is moreover positively and directly proved to be actually and immediately sent to us from God, by the many infallible signs and miracles …
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

The Covenant of Works
Q-12: I proceed to the next question, WHAT SPECIAL ACT OF PROVIDENCE DID GOD EXERCISE TOWARDS MAN IN THE ESTATE WHEREIN HE WAS CREATED? A: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge upon pain of death. For this, consult with Gen 2:16, 17: And the Lord commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
BY JOHN BUNYAN. London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1684. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. THIS valuable treatise was first published in a pocket volume in 1684, and has only been reprinted in Whitfield's edition of Bunyan's works, 2 vols. folio, 1767. No man could have been better qualified to give advice to sufferers for righteousness' sake, than John Bunyan: and this work is exclusively devoted to that object. Shut up in a noisome jail, under the iron hand of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Covenanting Predicted in Prophecy.
The fact of Covenanting, under the Old Testament dispensations, being approved of God, gives a proof that it was proper then, which is accompanied by the voice of prophecy, affording evidence that even in periods then future it should no less be proper. The argument for the service that is afforded by prophecy is peculiar, and, though corresponding with evidence from other sources, is independent. Because that God willed to make known truth through his servants the prophets, we should receive it …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Zechariah
CHAPTERS I-VIII Two months after Haggai had delivered his first address to the people in 520 B.C., and a little over a month after the building of the temple had begun (Hag. i. 15), Zechariah appeared with another message of encouragement. How much it was needed we see from the popular despondency reflected in Hag. ii. 3, Jerusalem is still disconsolate (Zech. i. 17), there has been fasting and mourning, vii. 5, the city is without walls, ii. 5, the population scanty, ii. 4, and most of the people …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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