Zechariah 11:12
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights the mutual contempt between God's representative and the people he serves. By offering his "wages" and letting them decide if he's owed anything, he exposes their utter lack of appreciation, and their response—thirty pieces of silver—reveals they valued him no more than a mere slave.
Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Zechariah is acting out a powerful, symbolic message about God's relationship with His people. Having been appointed to "shepherd" them, Zechariah now confronts them as he prepares to depart, asking for his "wages" as a sign of their final reckoning. Their response, weighing out a meager thirty pieces of silver, intentionally echoes the price of a slave, highlighting their utter contempt for God's care and foreshadowing the betrayal of Christ for a similar sum.
Imagine pouring your life into caring for someone, and when it's time to part, they offer you less than a slave's daily pay. That's the sting Zechariah feels.
In this passage, the prophet Zechariah, acting as a stand-in for God, asks for his "wages" or "hire." This isn't about God needing money; it's about acknowledging the immense care and effort He invests in His people.
The amount paid to Zechariah is no random number. It's a chilling foreshadowing of a betrayal that would shake the world.
The thirty pieces of silver are deeply significant because this exact amount becomes the price for betraying the Messiah Himself.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
keseph · Hebrew Noun
The standard unit of currency used in ancient Israel for commercial exchange, often used in legal contexts and occasionally symbolizing value, redemption price, or, ironically, the price of a slave.
The thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave, represent the utter contempt and betrayal the leaders of Israel would show to their divine Shepherd. This symbol, deeply rooted in the laws of the Old Testament and tragically fulfilled in Judas's bargain, highlights the profound spiritual bankruptcy of those who rejected God's ultimate gift.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divides
After King Solomon's death, the united Kingdom of Israel splits into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This division marks a period of ongoing political and religious instability.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people into exile. This event highlights the consequences of unfaithfulness to God and leaves Judah as the sole remaining Israelite kingdom.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
The Neo-Babylonian Empire conquers Judah, destroying Jerusalem and its Temple, and exiling much of the population to Babylon. This profound crisis shapes Jewish identity and theology for generations.
c. 520-518 BC
Rebuilding the Temple
Following the return from Babylonian exile, the Jewish people, under leaders like Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, begin rebuilding the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This signifies a return of hope and national identity.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Reforms
The scribe Ezra leads a group of exiles back to Jerusalem and institutes religious reforms, emphasizing strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the separation of the Jewish community from surrounding peoples.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and successfully organizes the rebuilding of the city walls, facing significant opposition. This event bolsters the physical security and community spirit of post-exilic Judah.
c. 470 BC— this verse
Zechariah's Ministry
Zechariah prophesies to the returned exiles, encouraging them to rebuild the Temple and return to God. His visions offer hope for future restoration and the coming of a Davidic king.
This passage establishes the value of a slave at thirty pieces of silver, directly connecting to the contemptuous price paid for the shepherd in Zechariah. It highlights how low the 'flock' valued their shepherd by offering him the price of a mere slave.
Matthew 26:15This verse records Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, showing the direct fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy. It illustrates how the leaders of Israel ultimately demonstrated their contempt for Jesus by offering such a paltry sum.
Matthew 27:3-10This passage details the aftermath of Judas's betrayal, showing how the thirty pieces of silver were returned and used to buy the potter's field. It completes the prophetic picture of the shepherd's 'wages' being treated with disdain and ultimately used for a lowly purpose.
Hosea 3:2Similar to Zechariah, this passage describes the prophet buying a woman for fifteen shekels and a homer of barley, illustrating a valuation of a person with a set price. This echoes the theme of valuing a person, or in Zechariah's case, the shepherd, with a monetary sum.
wesleyZechariah 11:12: "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver."
11:12 And I said - Upon parting, Christ seems after the manner of men, to mind them of his claims for them, and desire them to reckon with him. If ye think good - He puts it to them, whether they thought he deserved ought at their hands? So they - The rulers of the Jews, the high priest, chief priests, and pharisees. Weighed - Which was the mann…
clarkeZechariah 11:12: "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver."
If ye think good, give me my price - "Give me my hire." And we find they rated it contemptuously; thirty pieces of silver being the price of a slave, Exodus 21:32 .
The verse highlights the mutual contempt between God's representative and the people he serves. By offering his "wages" and letting them decide if he's owed anything, he exposes their utter lack of appreciation, and their response—thirty pieces of silver—reveals they valued him no more than a mere slave.
The prophet Zechariah is acting out a powerful, symbolic message about God's relationship with His people. Having been appointed to "shepherd" them, Zechariah now confronts them as he prepares to depart, asking for his "wages" as a sign of their final reckoning. Their response, weighing out a meager thirty pieces of silver, intentionally echoes the price of a slave, highlighting their utter contempt for God's care and foreshadowing the betrayal of Christ for a similar sum.
The prophet Zechariah is acting out a powerful, symbolic message about God's relationship with His people. Having been appointed to "shepherd" them, Zechariah now confronts them as he prepares to depart, asking for his "wages" as a sign of their final reckoning. Their response, weighing out a meager thirty pieces of silver, intentionally echoes the price of a slave, highlighting their utter contempt for God's care and foreshadowing the betrayal of Christ for a similar sum.
"Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver." — The verse highlights the mutual contempt between God's representative and the people he serves. By offering his "wages" and letting them decide if he's owed anything, he exposes their utter lack of…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
