Zechariah 12 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter is a new oracle in which Yahweh promises to defend Jerusalem and Judah against the nations that attack them (verses 1-9), then to pour out grief so that the people mourn over “the one whom they pierced” (verses 10-14). The repeated phrase “on that day” marks these as future events.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

The one whom they pierced

In verse 10 the pronouns shift from “me” to “him” for the pierced one. Preserve this ambiguity rather than deciding who he is.