Zechariah 13:8-9

[8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

What is the context of Zechariah 13:8-9?

What does Zechariah 13:8-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The scattering of the sheep would result in two-thirds of the flock dying and one-third remaining alive. The Lord would refine the surviving one-third in the fires of affliction (cf. Zechariah 3:2; Ezekiel 5:1-12). This remnant must be the same group of Israelites, described in Zechariah 12:10 to Zechariah 13:1, who would turn to God in repentance. Evidently two-thirds of the Jews, the unbelieving, will perish during the Tribulation and one-third will live through it and enter the Millennium. This surviving remnant then must include the144 ,000 Israelite witnesses of Revelation 7:1-8; Revelation 14:1-5. The one-third will call on the Lord"s name in supplication for forgiveness ( Zechariah 12:10). The Lord will respond to their cry by reaffirming His new covenant relationship with them, and they will agree to it (cf. Ezekiel 20:37).