Zechariah 11:12
New International Version
I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.

New Living Translation
And I said to them, “If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.” So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.

English Standard Version
Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.

Berean Standard Bible
Then I told them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver.

King James Bible
And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

New King James Version
Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.

New American Standard Bible
And I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!” So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages.

NASB 1995
I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!” So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages.

NASB 1977
And I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!” So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages.

Legacy Standard Bible
And I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!” So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages.

Amplified Bible
I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, do not.” So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver as my wages.

Christian Standard Bible
Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed my wages, thirty pieces of silver.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed my wages, 30 pieces of silver.”

American Standard Version
And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver.

English Revised Version
And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then I said to them, "If it's alright with you, pay me my wages. But if it's not, don't." And they paid me my wages-30 pieces of silver.

Good News Translation
I said to them, "If you are willing, give me my wages. But if not, keep them." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver as my wages.

International Standard Version
I told them, "If it's alright with you, pay me what I've earned. But if it isn't, don't." So they paid out what I had earned—30 pieces of silver.

Majority Standard Bible
Then I told them, ?If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.? So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver.

NET Bible
Then I said to them, "If it seems good to you, pay me my wages, but if not, forget it." So they weighed out my payment--thirty pieces of silver.

New Heart English Bible
I said to them, "If you think it best, give me my wages; and if not, keep them." So they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I said to them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

World English Bible
I said to them, “If you think it best, give me my wages; and if not, keep them.” So they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I say to them: “If good in your eyes, give my hire, and if not, refrain”; and they weigh out my hire—thirty pieces of silver.

Young's Literal Translation
And I say unto them: 'If good in your eyes, give my hire, and if not, forbear;' and they weigh out my hire -- thirty silverlings.

Smith's Literal Translation
And saying to them, If good in your eyes, give ye my hire; and if not, desist. And they will weigh my hire, thirty of silver.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said to them: If it be good in your eyes, bring hither my wages: and if not, be quiet. And they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I said to them: If it is good in your eyes, bring me my wages. And if not, remain still. And they weighed for my wages thirty silver coins.

New American Bible
Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, withhold them.” And they counted out my wages, thirty pieces of silver.

New Revised Standard Version
I then said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of silver.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I said to them, If it seems good in your sight, give me my wages; and if not, then you are doing me injustice. So they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I said to them: ”If it is good in your eyes, give me my wages or reject me!” And they weighed my wages as thirty pieces of silver
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I said unto them: 'If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear.' So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will say to them, If it be good in your eyes, give me my price, or refuse it. And they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Thirty Pieces of Silver
11It was revoked on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me knew that it was the word of the LORD. 12Then I told them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver. 13And 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.…

Cross References
Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests / and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. / So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Matthew 27:3-10
When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. / “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” / So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. ...

Exodus 21:32
If the ox gores a manservant or maidservant, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of that servant, and the ox must be stoned.

Jeremiah 32:9
So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out seventeen shekels of silver.

Acts 1:16-19
“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus. / He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.” / (Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out. ...

Genesis 37:28
So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Leviticus 27:2-7
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons, / if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. / Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. ...

2 Kings 6:25
So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver.

Amos 2:6
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Israel, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.

Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Psalm 41:9
Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

John 12:4-6
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, / “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” / Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.

John 13:21-30
After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” / The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant. / One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side. ...

Mark 14:10-11
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. / They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

And I said to them, If you think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

ye think good.

1 Kings 21:2
And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.

2 Chronicles 30:4
And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.

give.

Matthew 26:15
And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

John 13:2,27-30
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; …

So.

Genesis 37:28
Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Exodus 21:32
If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Matthew 26:15
And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

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Best Eyes Forbear Good Hire Mind Paid Pay Payment Pieces Price Right Seems Shekels Sight Silver Silverlings Silver-Pieces Think Thirty Wages Weigh Weighed Weight
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Best Eyes Forbear Good Hire Mind Paid Pay Payment Pieces Price Right Seems Shekels Sight Silver Silverlings Silver-Pieces Think Thirty Wages Weigh Weighed Weight
Zechariah 11
1. The destruction of Jerusalem.
3. The elect being cared for, the rest are rejected.
10. The staves of Beauty and Bands broken by the rejection of Christ.
15. The type and curse of a foolish shepherd.














I told them
This phrase indicates a direct communication from the prophet Zechariah, who is speaking on behalf of God. The Hebrew root for "told" is "אָמַר" (amar), which means to say or declare. This highlights the authoritative nature of the message being delivered. In the context of Zechariah, a post-exilic prophet, this communication underscores the role of prophets as God's mouthpiece, conveying divine intentions and judgments to the people of Israel.

If it seems good to you
Here, Zechariah presents a conditional statement, which is somewhat unusual for prophetic declarations that are typically more absolute. The Hebrew word "טוֹב" (tov) for "good" implies a moral or ethical goodness, suggesting that the decision being offered is not merely a matter of preference but of righteousness. This phrase invites the hearers to reflect on their values and priorities, challenging them to align their actions with what is good in the sight of God.

give me my wages
The request for wages is symbolic, representing the value or worth that the people place on the prophetic ministry. In ancient Near Eastern culture, wages were a sign of respect and acknowledgment of service rendered. The Hebrew word "שָׂכָר" (sachar) for "wages" can also mean reward or recompense, indicating that Zechariah is asking for a tangible recognition of his role as a shepherd to the people, which is a metaphor for his prophetic leadership.

but if not, keep them
This phrase presents an alternative, emphasizing the freedom of choice given to the people. The Hebrew "חָדַל" (chadal) for "keep" means to refrain or cease, suggesting that if the people do not value the prophetic message, they are free to withhold their acknowledgment. This reflects the broader biblical theme of free will, where God allows individuals to choose their path, even if it leads away from His will.

So they weighed out
The act of weighing indicates a careful consideration and measurement, often associated with fairness and justice. In the ancient world, weighing silver or other commodities was a common practice to ensure accurate transactions. The Hebrew "שָׁקַל" (shaqal) for "weighed" implies a deliberate and thoughtful action, highlighting the seriousness of the decision being made by the people in response to Zechariah's request.

thirty pieces of silver as my wages
The specific amount of thirty pieces of silver is significant, as it was the price of a slave according to Exodus 21:32. This amount reflects the low value placed on Zechariah's prophetic ministry by the people. In the New Testament, this phrase gains further significance as it is the price for which Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:15), drawing a parallel between the rejection of Zechariah and the rejection of Christ. The use of silver, a precious metal, contrasts with the meager amount, underscoring the theme of undervaluation and betrayal.

Verse 12. - I said. The prophet is speaking in the person of the great Shepherd. Unto them. Unto the whole flock. Give me my price; my wages. He asks his hire of the flock, because the flock represents men. Acting far differently from the wicked shepherds, he used no violence or threats. He gives them this last opportunity of showing their gratitude for all the care bestowed upon them, and their appreciation of his tenderness and love. The wages God looked for were repentance, faith, obedience, or, in another view, themselves, their life and soul. It was for their sake he required these, not for his own. If not, forbear. He speaks with indignation, as conscious of their ungrateful contempt. Pay me what is due, or pay me not. I leave it to you to decide. I put no constraint upon you. So God has given us free will; and we can receive or reject his offers, as we are minded. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. This paltry remuneration displayed the people's ingratitude and contempt. It was the compensation offered by the Law to a master for the loss of a slave that had been killed (Exodus 21:82). It was, perhaps, double the pries of a female slave (Hosea 3:2); and the very offer of such a sum was an insult, and, says Dr. Alexander, "suggested an intention to compass his death. They despised his goodness; they would have none of his service; they sought to cut him off; and they were ready to pay the penalty which the Law prescribed for the murder of one of so mean a condition." The word "weigh" was used in money transactions even after the use of coined money rendered weighing unnecessary.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then I told
וָאֹמַ֣ר (wā·’ō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

them,
אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

it seems
בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֛ם (bə·‘ê·nê·ḵem)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

right to you,
ט֧וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

give
הָב֥וּ (hā·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3051: To give, to put, imperatively, come

me my wages;
שְׂכָרִ֖י (śə·ḵā·rî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7939: Payment of contract, salary, fare, maintenance, compensation, benefit

but if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

not,
לֹ֣א ׀ (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

keep them.”
חֲדָ֑לוּ (ḥă·ḏā·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 2308: To be flabby, desist, be lacking, idle

So they weighed out
וַיִּשְׁקְל֥וּ (way·yiš·qə·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8254: To suspend, poise

my wages,
שְׂכָרִ֖י (śə·ḵā·rî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7939: Payment of contract, salary, fare, maintenance, compensation, benefit

thirty
שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים (šə·lō·šîm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 7970: Thirty, thirtieth

[pieces] of silver.
כָּֽסֶף׃ (kā·sep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money


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OT Prophets: Zechariah 11:12 I said to them If you think (Zech. Zec Zc)
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