translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: ZEC

label: NET textual note

text: For the MT reading לָכֵן עֲנִיֵּי ( lakhen ’ aniyyey , “therefore the [most] afflicted of”) the LXX presupposes לִכְנַעֲנֵיּי (“to the merchants of”). The line would then read “So I began to shepherd the flock destined for slaughter for the sheep merchants” (cf. NAB). This helps to explain the difficult לָכֵן ( lakhen ) here but otherwise has no attestation or justification, so the MT is followed by most modern English versions.


label: NET translator note

text: The Hebrew term נֹעַם ( no ’ am ) is frequently translated “Favor” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); cf. KJV “Beauty”; CEV “Mercy.” sn The name of the first staff, pleasantness , refers to the rest and peace of the covenant between the Lord and his people (cf. v. 10 ).


text: The Hebrew term חֹבְלִים ( khovlim ) is often translated “Union” (so NASB, NIV, NLT); cf. KJV, ASV “Bands”; NAB “Bonds”; NRSV, TEV, CEV “Unity”). sn The name of the second staff, Binders , refers to the relationship between Israel and Judah (cf. v. 14 ).


text: Heb “splendor of splendor” ( אֶדֶר הַיְקָר , ’ eder hayqar ). This expression sarcastically draws attention to the incredibly low value placed upon the Lord ’s redemptive grace by his very own people.


text: The Syriac presupposes הָאוֹצָר ( ha ’ otsar , “treasury”) for the MT הַיּוֹצֵר ( hayyotser , “potter”) perhaps because of the lack of evidence for a potter’s shop in the area of the temple. The Syriac reading is followed by NAB, NRSV, TEV. Matthew seems to favor this when he speaks of Judas having thrown the thirty shekels for which he betrayed Jesus into the temple treasury (27:5-6). However, careful reading of the whole gospel pericope makes it clear that the money actually was used to purchase a “potter’s field,” hence Zechariah’s reference to a potter. The MT reading is followed by most other English versions.


text: Heb “house” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).


text: Heb “the broken” (so KJV, NASB; NRSV “the maimed”).


text: Heb “the fat [ones].” Cf. ASV “the fat sheep”; NIV “the choice sheep.”