Zechariah 13:5 Each will say, 'I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.'

◄ Zechariah 13:5 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Each will say, 'I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.'

English Standard Version
but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’

New American Standard Bible
but he will say, 'I am not a prophet; I am a tiller of the ground, for a man sold me as a slave in my youth.'

King James Bible
But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He will say: I am not a prophet; I work the land, for a man purchased me as a servant since my youth.

International Standard Version
"He will say, 'I am no mere prophet. A servant of mankind am I, because a man dedicated to this have I been from my youth.'

American Standard Version
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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he shall say: I am no prophet, I am a husbandman: for Adam is my ex- ample from my youth.

Darby Bible Translation
And he shall say, I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for man acquired me as bondman from my youth.

Young's Literal Translation
And one hath said, 'I am not a prophet, A man, a tiller of ground I am, For ground is my possession from my youth.'

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

13:1-6 In the time mentioned at the close of the foregoing chapter, a fountain would be opened to the rulers and people of the Jews, in which to wash away their sins. Even the atoning blood of Christ, united with his sanctifying grace. It has hitherto been closed to the unbelieving nation of Israel; but when the Spirit of grace shall humble and soften their hearts, he will open it to them also. This fountain opened is the pierced side of Christ. We are all as an unclean thing. Behold a fountain opened for us to wash in, and streams flowing to us from that fountain. The blood of Christ, and God's pardoning mercy in that blood, made known in the new covenant, are a fountain always flowing, that never can be emptied. It is opened for all believers, who as the spiritual seed of Christ, are of the house of David, and, as living members of the church, are inhabitants of Jerusalem. Christ, by the power of his grace, takes away the dominion of sin, even of beloved sins. Those who are washed in the fountain opened, as they are justified, so they are sanctified. Souls are brought off from the world and the flesh, those two great idols, that they may cleave to God only. The thorough reformation which will take place on the conversion of Israel to Christ, is here foretold. False prophets shall be convinced of their sin and folly, and return to their proper employments. When convinced that we are gone out of the way of duty, we must show the truth of our repentance by returning to it again. It is well to acknowledge those to be friends, who by severe discipline are instrumental in bringing us to a sight of error; for faithful are the wounds of a friend, Pr 27:6. And it is always well for us to recollect the wounds of our Saviour. Often has he been wounded by professed friends, nay, even by his real disciples, when they act contrary to his word.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

5, 6. The detection of one of the false prophets dramatically represented. He is seized by some zealous vindicator of the law, and in fear cries out, "I am no prophet."

man—that is, one.

taught me to keep cattle—As "keeping cattle" is not the same as to be "an husbandman," translate rather, "Has used (or 'appropriated') me as a servant," namely, in husbandry [Maurer]. However, husbandry and keeping cattle might be regarded as jointly the occupation of the person questioned: then Am 7:14, "herdman," will accord with English Version. A Hebrew kindred word means "cattle." Both occupations, the respondent replies, are inconsistent with my being a "prophet."