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.

Bible > Zechariah > Chapter 11 > Verse 13

◄ Zechariah 11:13 ►

New International Version
And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter"—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the LORD.

New Living Translation
And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the LORD.

English Standard Version
Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

New King James Version
And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD for the potter.

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

NASB 1995
Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

NASB 1977
Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that valuable price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter [as if to the dogs]—that magnificent sum at which I am valued by them!” So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
“Throw it to the potter,” the LORD said to me—this magnificent price I was valued by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw it into the house of the LORD, to the potter.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Throw it to the potter,” the LORD said to me—this magnificent price I was valued by them. So I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw it into the house of the LORD, to the potter.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto me, Cast it unto the potter, the goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them unto the potter, in the house of Jehovah.

English Revised Version
And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter, the goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them unto the potter, in the house of the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD told me, "Give it to the potter." So I took the 30 pieces of silver. Such a magnificent price was set by them! I gave the pieces of silver to the potter at the house of the LORD.

Good News Translation
The LORD said to me, "Put them in the Temple treasury." So I took the thirty pieces of silver--the magnificent sum they thought I was worth--and put them in the Temple treasury.

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told me, "Throw the money into the treasury —that magnificent value they placed on me!" So I took the 30 shekels of silver and threw them into the treasury of the Temple of the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
The LORD then said to me, "Throw to the potter that exorbitant sum at which they valued me!" So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the temple of the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter, the handsome price that I was valued at by them." I took the thirty pieces of silver, and threw them to the potter, in the house of the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the potter: a goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

World English Bible
Yahweh said to me, “Throw it to the potter—the handsome price that I was valued at by them!” I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in Yahweh’s house.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to me, “Cast it to the potter”; the good price that I have been prized at by them, and I take the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them [into] the house of YHWH, to the potter.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto me, 'Cast it unto the potter;' the goodly price that I have been prized at by them, and I take the thirty silverlings, and cast them to the house of Jehovah, unto the potter.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to me, Cast it to the potter: a splendor of price which I was prized of them. And I shall take the thirty of silver and cast it in the house of Jehovah, to the potter.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to me: Cast it to the statuary, a handsome price, that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and I cast them into the house of the Lord to the statuary.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to me: Cast it towards the statuary, the handsome price at which I have been valued by them. And I took the thirty silver coins, and I cast them into the house of the Lord, towards the statuary.

New American Bible
Then the LORD said to me, Throw it in the treasury—the handsome price at which they valued me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the treasury in the house of the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it into the treasury”—this lordly price at which I was valued by them. So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them into the treasury in the house of the LORD.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to me, Cast it into the treasury; a goodly price that I was prized at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them into the treasury in the house of the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to me: ”Throw it into the house of treasure, the glory and honor with which I was honored by them! And I took the thirty pieces of silver and I cast them into the house of treasure in the house of LORD JEHOVAH

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD said unto me: 'Cast it into the treasury, the goodly price that I was prized at of them.' And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the treasury, in the house of the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said to me, Drop them into the furnace, and I will see if it is good metal, as I was proved for their sakes. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the furnace in the house of the Lord.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Thirty Pieces of Silver
…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. 14Then I cut in two my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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 19:1-13
This is what the LORD says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take some of the elders of the people and leaders of the priests, / and go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Proclaim there the words I speak to you, / saying, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on this place that the ears of all who hear of it will ring, ...

Jeremiah 32:6-9
Jeremiah replied, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying: / Behold! Hanamel, the son of your uncle Shallum, is coming to you to say, ‘Buy for yourself my field in Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it.’ / Then, as the LORD had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and urged me, ‘Please buy my field in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for you own the right of inheritance and redemption. Buy it for yourself.’” Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. ...

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.

Psalm 69:21
They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

Psalm 22:18
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

Acts 1:16-20
“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. ...

Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Isaiah 52:14
Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—

Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

Isaiah 53:9
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Micah 5:1
Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.

Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

Cast.

Isaiah 54:7-10
For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee…

Matthew 27:3-10,12
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, …

Acts 1:18,19
Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out…

a goodly.

Isaiah 53:2,3
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him…

Acts 4:11
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

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Cast Goodly Handsome House Lordly Magnificent Paid Pieces Potter Price Prized Shekels Silver Silverlings Silver-Pieces Store-House Thirty Threw Throw Treasury Valued

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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.

Berean Study Bible

And the LORD said to me
This phrase indicates divine communication, emphasizing the prophetic nature of Zechariah's message. The Hebrew root for "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred name of God, underscoring His sovereignty and authority. This divine instruction highlights the intimate relationship between God and His prophets, where God directly guides and reveals His will.

Throw it to the potter
The command to "throw it to the potter" is rich in symbolism. The "potter" in ancient Israelite culture was a common artisan, yet here it signifies something deeper. The act of throwing the silver to the potter suggests a rejection or disdain for the value placed on the divine. Historically, pottery shards were often found in archaeological digs, symbolizing brokenness and worthlessness, which aligns with the prophetic message of betrayal and undervaluation.

this magnificent price
The phrase "this magnificent price" is deeply ironic. The Hebrew word for "magnificent" can also mean "glorious" or "splendid," yet it is used sarcastically here. The "price" refers to the thirty pieces of silver, which was the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32), highlighting the contemptuous valuation of the Messiah. This irony serves to underscore the gravity of the betrayal and the blindness of those who failed to recognize the true worth of the Lord.

at which they valued Me
This phrase reveals the personal nature of the offense against God. The valuation is not just of a prophet or a leader, but of God Himself. The Hebrew root for "valued" implies an estimation or appraisal, which in this context is grossly inadequate. This reflects the spiritual blindness and moral failure of those who rejected the Messiah, fulfilling the prophetic foreshadowing of Christ's betrayal.

So I took the thirty pieces of silver
The "thirty pieces of silver" is a direct reference to the price Judas Iscariot received for betraying Jesus (Matthew 26:15). In the historical and scriptural context, this amount was a paltry sum, further emphasizing the insult to the divine. The act of taking the silver signifies acceptance of the reality of betrayal, a poignant moment that prefigures the New Testament fulfillment.

and threw them into the house of the LORD
Throwing the silver into the "house of the LORD" signifies returning the blood money to the sacred space, highlighting the desecration of what is holy. The temple, as the house of God, represents purity and worship, yet here it becomes a place where the betrayal is acknowledged. This act symbolizes the rejection of the corrupt valuation and the ultimate sovereignty of God over human actions.

to the potter
The repetition of "to the potter" ties the narrative back to the earlier command, reinforcing the theme of worthlessness and judgment. In the New Testament, this is fulfilled when the chief priests use the returned silver to buy the potter's field (Matthew 27:7), a place for burying strangers, symbolizing the ultimate rejection and the consequences of valuing the divine so cheaply. This prophetic act serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of betrayal and the redemptive plan of God through Christ.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - The Lord said unto me. The Lord takes the insult as offered to himself in the person of his representative. Cast it unto the potter; Κάθες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ χωνευ τήριον, "Lay them in the foundry, and I will see if it is approved;" Vulgate; Projice illud ad statuarium; the Syriac and Targum have, "Put it into the treasury" (Malachi 3:10). This involves an alteration of the text, and is in itself an improbable reading, as God could not be made to tell the prophet to throw this despicable wage into his treasury, unless, perchance, it is said ironically. There may be an undesigned coincidence here. In Matthew 27:5 the council discuss the propriety of putting the thirty pieces of silver into the treasury. But taking our present text as genuine, commentators usually consider the phrase as a proverbial expression for contemptuous treatment; as the Greeks said, ἐς κόρακας, as the Germans say, "zum Schinder," "to the knacker," and we, "to the dogs." There is, however, no trace elsewhere of any such proverb, nor do we know how it could have arisen; it likewise does not very well suit the last clause of the verse, "I cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord." If we substitute the supposed analogous expression, "I threw them to the dogs," we see how unseemly would be the proverb in this connection. The rendering of the Jews in old time, adopted recently by Knabenbauer, "Cast them to the Creator," is considered by Dr. Pusey to be unidiomatic, and involves great difficulties. It seems simpler to consider that the command, "cast it to the potter," implies contemptuous rejection of the sum, and at the same time intimates the ultimate destination to which, in the sight of Omniscience, it was directed. The potter is named as the workman who makes the meanest utensils out of the vilest material. That this was ordered and executed in vision is plain; how much the prophet understood we cannot tell. The ambiguous and highly typical order was explained and fulfilled to the letter by the action of Judas Iscariot, as the evangelist testifies (Matthew 27:5-10). A (the) goodly price, etc. This is ironical, of course. Such was the price at which they estimated the good Shepherd's services. Cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. This rejection of the paltry wage took place in the house of the Lord (in the vision), because the insult had been really offered to him, and this was the natural place where oblations would be made; thus the transaction was represented as formal and national. Whether the potter was seen in the temple we know not. The prophet was made to connect him in some way with the business; and we learn from the fulfilment that the potter did in the end receive the money, which was paid for his field applied to an unclean purpose. In Matthew 27:9 the two verses, 12, 13, with some variations, are quoted as "spoken by Jeremy the prophet." Hence some attribute this part of Zechariah to Jeremiah; and others think that in St. Matthew the present name is a mistake. The probability is that the evangelist did not name any prophet, but that some early transcriber, remembering the purchase of the field in Jeremiah 32:6-12, attributed the quotation to that prophet. Or we may suppose that inspiration did not extend to all minor details, nor save the writers from unimportant errors.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And the LORD
יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to me,
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Throw
הַשְׁלִיכֵ֙הוּ֙ (haš·lî·ḵê·hū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

it to
אֵלַ֗י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the potter,”
הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר (hay·yō·w·ṣêr)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

this magnificent
אֶ֣דֶר (’e·ḏer)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 145: Glory, magnificence, a mantle, cloak

price
הַיְקָ֔ר (hay·qār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3366: Value, wealth, costliness, dignity

at which
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

they valued me.
יָקַ֖רְתִּי (yā·qar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3365: To be heavy, valuable, to make rare

So I took
וָֽאֶקְחָה֙ (wā·’eq·ḥāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

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

pieces of silver
הַכֶּ֔סֶף (hak·ke·sep̄)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

and threw
וָאַשְׁלִ֥יךְ (wā·’aš·lîḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

them
אֹת֛וֹ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the potter
הַיּוֹצֵֽר׃ (hay·yō·w·ṣêr)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

in the house
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the LORD.
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

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OT Prophets: Zechariah 11:13 Yahweh said to me Throw it (Zech. Zec Zc)