Zechariah 12: God, The One They Pierced
Zechariah 12: God Was The One They Have Pierced
Collin Leong. February 27, 2026
(v1-9) The Coming Deliverance of Judah
(v1-2) The oracle of the word of the LROD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him. "Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding people. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah."
Exp: In v2, "a cup of staggering" or "a cup of drunkenness" (NKJ) is judgement against other nations. The effect of drinking is disorientation, confusion, and collapse. It conveys that the nations who attack Jerusalem will be thrown into chaos, unable to stand firm. Similarly, in Jeremiah 25:15-16, God gives the nations a “cup of wine of wrath,” and they stagger and fall because of it. Though they will siege Jerusalem against Judah, but it will be their own downfall.
(v3-5) "On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. On that day, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God."
Exp: When you try to lift a "heavy stone", you will injure your self. God will watch ("keep my eyes open") over Judah and He will actively destroy the enemies that attack them. Then they will say they are saved not through their own strength, but through the strength of God.
(v6) "On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem."
Exp: God says that Judah will be like a fire, compared to the weapons of wood and sheaves, and they will devour the surrounding enemies. Judah will continue to live in Jerusalem.
This prophecy resemblance what Judah (the Jews) have experience since their independence in 1948, 14th of May. The very next day, five of the "surrounding" (v6b) nations attacked them, as they disagreed that the Jews should have a country. They have large army, tanks and air force, while Israel only have 30,000 fighters and special elite force. But they found Israel "too heavy" (v3) for them to cause any major damage. There have been multiple wars against the Arab nations around them, and every time they attacked, they literally "hurt themselves" (v3), as they were always defeated and lost a lot of their land to Israel. In fact in a very short time, Israel's offensive and defensive weapons and air force became far superior than any of the Arab nations (v6a). There were many miracles told by Israeli soldiers, and they began to recognize that God is protecting them and enable them to win (v5). (See my blog "Re-birth of Israel" for details of the wars between Israel and the Arab countries.)
(v7-9) "And the LORD will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah. On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem."
Exp: In v7, God will save the "tents of Judah" first, this means the rural, less fortified communities outside Jerusalem. They were more vulnerable than the capital city and its royal house. It also says the glory of David's house and Jerusalem inhabitants will not overshadow the rest of Judah, that is, there is equitability in protecting everyone in Israel.
In v8, God says that one day, He will make Israel strong again ("like David"), and the royal line ("house of David") will be "like God" - meaning that their effectiveness in battles will reflect God's own presence with them and He will lead them by going ahead of them. The "angel of the LORD" often represents God’s active presence and protection (e.g., leading Israel in the wilderness). At times, it also refers to Pre-incarnate Christ. (eg: Genesis 22:11–18 (Abraham and Isaac); Exodus 3:2–6 (Burning Bush); Judges 6:11–24 (Gideon), 13:3–22 (Manoah and his wife).
Since God returned his people and gave them independence in 1948, He has always been protecting them from their enemies, even though most of them are not believers in Christ (which will be addressed in further verses). God had promised that they will never lose their land again. In v9. God said that He will destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem - this means the judgement hasn't ended yet, since some of their enemies still exist, eg. Iran, Syria, Lebanon (via Hezbollah), Gaza (via Hamas). The judgement will happen during the tribulation, when Jesus comes to save Israel and destroy their enemies.
(10-14) Him Whom They Have Pierced
(v10-11) And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one weeps over a firstborn. On that day, the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
Exp: Continuing from v9 that says God will destroy Israel's armies, He will give grace and mercy to his people when they cried out to him. (v10a) Grace conveys undeserved favor, and it is not self-generated but a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8–9;5:15)
In v10b, the Israelites will look at God, and they recognize He is the one they have pierced. This refers to Jesus, whom they accused as a rebel against the Roman government and they demand that He be crucified. His hands and feet were pierced with long nails on the cross. Note that God called Jesus as Himself - another evidence of trinity.
And they will mourn as they understand that their ancestors killed the Messiah, and also for their own guilt of refusing to believe in Christ in their life. In v11, "the mourning of Haddad-rimmon" refers to the lamentation over King Josiah's death. Josiah, one of Judah’s most righteous kings, was killed in battle against Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:20–25). His death was a national tragedy, and the people of Judah held a profound mourning ritual for him.
(v12-14) The land shall mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; and all the families that are left, each by itself and their wives be themselves.
Exp: In ancient Israelite culture, men and women often participated in mourning separately, reflecting ritual boundaries and modesty norms. This passage highlights that the mourning goes beyond national mourning, extending to family and individual's mourning. Both men and women are equally affected when they recognize that they are the ones who pierced Jesus, their own Messiah.
Some say there's a reason why these clans are mentioned. David’s House represents the royal line. It underscores that leadership itself must bow before Jesus. Nathan was a prophet in David’s court, famous for confronting David about Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12). This highlights that those who speak God’s word are also pierced by grief and repentance. Levi represents the priestly tribe, that even the religious leaders are equally implicated and moved to repentance. Shimei is less prominent, but he was a Levite family (Numbers 3:17–18, 21). Including Shimei emphasizes that even lesser-known clans are not exempt.
Key Messages
Zechariah 12 proclaims God’s sovereign defense of Jerusalem against hostile nations and His ultimate salvation for His people. The chapter emphasizes divine protection, the empowerment of God’s people, the destruction of their enemies, and the outpouring of grace leading to deep repentance. It points forward to Christ, “the one they have pierced,” whose rejection brings mourning but also opens the way for mercy and restoration.
1. God defends His people (Zech 12:2–4)
Application:
Believers can trust God’s sovereign protection even when surrounded by hostility.
Human powers that oppose God’s purposes will ultimately collapse under His judgment.
This encourages faith in God’s vigilance: He sees, He acts, and He preserves His people.
2. God empowers the weak (Zech 12:5–8)
Application:
God transforms weakness into strength when His Spirit is at work.
Believers should not despise smallness or frailty; God delights to magnify His power through it.
This points to Christ, the greater David, who empowers His people to stand firm.
3. God destroys hostile nations (Zech 12:9)
Application:
God’s justice is certain: opposition to His covenant people is opposition to Him.
Believers can rest in God’s ultimate victory over evil, even when present struggles seem overwhelming.
This strengthens hope and perseverance in times of persecution.
4. God pours out grace and brings repentance (Zech 12:10–14)
Application:
True salvation comes through God’s grace, not human effort.
Mourning over “the pierced one” points to Christ’s crucifixion, calling believers to repentance and faith.
Repentance is both communal and personal: each family, each individual must respond to God’s mercy.
This passage foreshadows the gospel - grace poured out, eyes opened to Christ, and hearts broken over sin.
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