The Pierced One
God speaks of one whom "they have pierced" — mourned as an only son by all Jerusalem.
The Prophecy
Zechariah 12:10
~520 BCE
And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child.
Manuscript Attestation
Dead Sea Scrolls Zechariah fragments; all codices.
Ancient Jewish Interpretation
Talmud Sukkah 52a discusses this passage in connection with Mashiach ben Yosef — a suffering messianic figure. The shift between "me" (first person, God speaking) and "him" (third person) creates a mysterious identification.
The Fulfillment
John 19:37; Revelation 1:7
As another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced." (John 19:37) "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him." (Revelation 1:7)
Narrative Context
John applies this to Jesus' crucifixion, specifically the moment when a Roman soldier pierced Jesus' side with a spear. Revelation projects the fulfillment forward to a future universal recognition.
The Evidence
The Talmud's discussion of a "Messiah son of Joseph" who suffers and dies (Sukkah 52a) shows that even rabbinic Judaism acknowledged a suffering messianic figure based on Zechariah 12:10. The interchange between "me" and "him" suggests the pierced figure is somehow identified with God himself — a theologically charged reading confirmed by the Dead Sea Scrolls text.