Lyrics · Zechariah
They Shall Look upon the One They Pierced
Zechariah 12:1-13:1
LyricsNamed in this songJerusalemDavid
About the passage
Zechariah 12: Deliverance gives way to mourning
Jerusalem’s deliverance dominates the first half of the chapter, but Zechariah carefully prevents victory from becoming a reason for pride. The creator of heaven, earth, and the human spirit makes the city a staggering cup and an injuring stone to its attackers. Enemy cavalry loses sight and control while the LORD opens his eyes upon Judah. Even the order of rescue matters: the tents of Judah are saved first so that Jerusalem and David’s house cannot magnify themselves over the surrounding people. Then the chapter turns sharply from strength to grief. A spirit of grace and supplication is poured out, and the people look upon the pierced one, with the difficult movement from “me” to “him” left intact. The mourning that follows is national but not anonymous. Families and spouses grieve apart, so no royal, priestly, or household identity can substitute for personal response.
Study Zechariah 12 in depthZechariah 13: A fountain opens, and the shepherd is struck
The mourning of the previous chapter is followed by an opened fountain for sin and uncleanness. Cleansing is supplied to David’s house and Jerusalem, and the same renewal extends into the removal of idols, false prophecy, and the unclean spirit. The treatment of deceptive prophecy is severe enough to override even family loyalty, and the following scene shows a discredited prophetic identity being denied while unexplained wounds remain. Zechariah does not settle every detail of that exchange. The clearest New Testament connection comes in the final oracle, where the sword is commanded against the LORD’s own shepherd and the sheep scatter. Jesus applies that line to his arrest and disciples. Zechariah continues into devastation, survival, and refining. The remaining third passes through fire rather than avoiding it, and the chapter ends with restored mutual recognition: the people call, the LORD hears, and each names the other in covenant language.
Study Zechariah 13 in depth

