Bible Strands
Zechariah 13:4
And on that day every prophet who prophesies will be ashamed of his vision, and he will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet Zechariah delivers this message on behalf of the LORD to Israel, describing a future day of divine judgment against false prophetic ministry.
The words — יֵבֹ֧שׁוּ (ye.Vo.shu) = they will be ashamed, and מֵ/חֶזְיֹנ֖/וֹ (me./chez.yo.N/o) = from/ his/ vision.
The thread — The failure of prophecy appears in Micah 3:6, where night and darkness replace visions for corrupt seers. The hairy cloak motif connects to 2 Kings 1:8 and Matthew 3:4, where genuine messengers wear it as a recognized sign of divine calling.
Why it lands — It requires readers to test spiritual claims against observable truth and reject any ministry that relies on deceptive symbols rather than authentic divine authority.
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
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:
Cross-references
- Micah 3:6 Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.
- Matthew 3:4 John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
- 2 Kings 1:8 “He was a hairy man,” they answered, “with a leather belt around his waist.” “It was Elijah the Tishbite,” said the king.
- Isaiah 20:2 the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot.
- Revelation 11:3 And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
- Jeremiah 6:15 Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.
- Mark 1:6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
- Jeremiah 2:26 As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
- Matthew 11:8 Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces.