Zechariah 13:3

Amharic New Standard Translation (አማርኛ አዲሱ መደበኛ ትርጉም) 2005

ማንም ነቢይ ነኝ ብሎ ቢነሣ የወለዱት አባቱና እናቱ በእግዚአብሔር ስም ሐሰትን ስለ ተናገርክ መሞት አለብህ ይሉታል፤ ትንቢትም ሲናገር ወላጆቹ ወግተው ይገድሉታል።

What Does This Mean?

This verse describes a future time when false prophets will face severe consequences from their own parents, who will oppose and even kill them for lying in the name of God.

Explained for Children

Imagine if someone told lies about your favorite superhero and said they were true stories. Your family would be so upset that they wouldn't want you to keep spreading those lies. This verse is like that, but much more serious because it's about people lying about God.

Historical Background

Zechariah wrote this prophecy around 520-518 BCE during the time of Persian rule over Judah. The audience was Israelites returning from exile and rebuilding Jerusalem. Zechariah’s words were meant to prepare them for future challenges, including false prophets.

Living It Out Today

Today, we can apply this by being cautious about those who claim to speak on behalf of God without clear evidence or backing from established religious teachings. It's important to verify sources before accepting their messages as truth.

Topics

• prophecy
• false teaching
• divine judgment
• truth
• religious authority
• family

Related Verses

• Deuteronomy 13:6-10
• Matthew 7:15-20
• Acts 8:9-24
• Revelation 2:2
• Jeremiah 23:16-22

Recommended Reading

Commentary Zechariah Commentaries → Get This Bible Amharic New Standard Translation (አማርኛ አዲሱ መደበኛ ትርጉም) Study Bible →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main message of Zechariah 13:3?

The main message is about the severe consequences for those who falsely claim to prophesy in God's name, even from their own family members.

How did false prophets affect the Israelites at that time?

False prophets often led people astray with misleading messages and could undermine trust in true prophetic words and religious authority.

Can parents really be expected to condemn their children for lying about God?

The verse emphasizes the seriousness of false prophecy. In this context, parents are called to reject falsehood even if it comes from a child, reflecting a society deeply committed to truth.

Is there any parallel in today's world where we can see similar dynamics?

Yes, people who falsely claim religious authority or spread misinformation about spiritual matters often face rejection and criticism within their communities.