Sometimes I like to categorize Old Testament prophecies in accordance with certain attributes of the Messiah (Kingly, Priestly, etc.)

For today’s post I want to share the core of the “pierced messiah” verses, including one that I think often goes unnoticed in terms of its implications.

■Zechariah 12:10

And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

■Zechariah 13:7

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,against the man who is my associate,”says the Lord of hosts. Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.”

■Psalm 22

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced※ my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

■Wisdom of Solomon 2:18-20

18 For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will deliver him from the hands of his enemies.19 Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his meekness and try his patience. 20 Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be respect had unto him by his words.

■Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded on account of our sins, and was bruised because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his bruises we were healed.

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Okay, so many readers may be familiar with the above verses. However I recently discovered the following little connection and felt it worth sharing.

■Zechariah 11:12-13

12 I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.

Now, what many people may not know (except astute readers of Exodus) is that thirty pieces of silver was the price to be paid to the owner of a servant who had been gored by your ox.

So here in stating that the price would be thirty pieces of silver, the implication is that someone would be “gored.”

■Exodus 21:32

If the ox gores a male or female slave, the owner shall give his or her master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

So here in Zechariah 11:12 we get yet another bit of foreshadowing of the fate that was to befall the Messiah.

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※Ed. Note:

I understand that the translation of “pierced” here has been fiercely debated by Jewish rabbis over the years. Jewish bibles say “like a lion my hands and feet.”

However, all of the most ancient sources corroborate the “pierced” translation. Not only do the Septuagint (circa 150 BC) and the Peshitta contain it, but the Dead Sea Scrolls Fragment 4Q88 has been identified by Dr. Eugene Urlich (head editor of the Qumran scrolls) to say “pierced.” Additionally, the 5/6HevPs DSS text also says “pierced.”

For more information see:

・Eugene Urlich, The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Supplements to Vestus Testamentum, Vol. 134 (Brill 2010) p. 634

・Flint, Peter W., Discoveries in the Judean Desert, Vol 38 (Oxford)

・The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: The Oldest Known Bible Translated for the First Time into English, edited by Martin G. Abegg, Peter W. Flint and Eugene Charles Ulrich