Zechariah 11:6

For I will no longer have compassion on the people of the land, declares the LORD, but behold, I will cause each man to fall into the hands of his neighbor and his king, who will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from their hands.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD speaks through the prophet Zechariah immediately after describing the failure of Israel’s shepherds and the exploitation of the flock. The declaration marks a decisive shift from pastoral care to withheld mercy amid the nation’s ongoing corruption.

The words — אֶחְמ֥וֹל ('echmol) means “I will have compassion,” paired with לֹ֣א (lo') “not” and ע֛וֹד (od) “again,” forming the literal phrase “I will no longer have compassion.” נְאֻם־ (ne'um) translates to “utterance” or “declaration,” anchoring the statement as divine speech.

The thread — The theme of withheld compassion and mutual devastation echoes Jeremiah 13:14, where God promises to smash people against one another without pity. Isaiah 9:19 similarly depicts the land scorched by divine wrath while the people become fuel for fire.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine protection ends when leadership abandons the vulnerable. It asks the reader to confront the consequence of systemic betrayal without softening the declaration of judgment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 13:14 I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’”
Isaiah 9:19 By the wrath of the LORD of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire. No man even spares his brother.
Micah 5:8 Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which tramples and tears as it passes through, with no one to rescue them.
Matthew 22:7 The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.
Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
Psalms 50:22 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
Isaiah 3:5 The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable.
Isaiah 27:11 When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
Ezekiel 8:18 Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Although they shout loudly in My ears, I will not listen to them.”
Ezekiel 9:10 But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads.”