The Shepherd Struck
God's sword would strike his shepherd — the man close to him — and the sheep would scatter.
The Prophecy
Zechariah 13:7
~520 BCE
Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me! declares the LORD Almighty. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.
Manuscript Attestation
Dead Sea Scrolls Zechariah fragments; all codices.
Ancient Jewish Interpretation
God calls this shepherd "the man who is close to me" (amiti) — a term implying equality or intimate association with God.
The Fulfillment
Matthew 26:31
Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'"
Narrative Context
Jesus quoted Zechariah 13:7 to predict that his disciples would scatter when he was arrested — which is exactly what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The Evidence
The Hebrew term amiti ("my associate/companion") is used only here in the Old Testament in reference to a person's relationship with God. It implies the shepherd stands on equal footing with YHWH, which is an extraordinary claim for a human figure. The text is confirmed in Qumran Zechariah fragments.