John Calvin Commentary Zechariah 13:8

"And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith Jehovah, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein." — Zechariah 13:8 (ASV)

He continues with the same subject, for he reminds the faithful that even though God had resolved to restore His Church, and though His blessing would be evident, very heavy afflictions were not far distant. It is as though he had said, "God will give you a serene heaven and mild air, so that the land may bring forth its fruit; but still there is a heavy tempest approaching, and you shall not be exempt from storms and hail."

But when God has laid waste a part of the land, He will bless you with grain and wine, so that you shall have sufficient support." So also in this place he says, "God will protect His Church and will also be favorable to it, for He will wash away all the filth of wickedness and will give you faithful pastors, once He has removed the deceptions of Satan. But in the meantime, most severe afflictions await you, and a hard state of affairs, difficult to bear, must be expected; for God will appear as though He intended to destroy His people: such will be the scattering."

For this reason he says that there will be through the whole land the most severe calamities: Two parts, he says, shall die; the third only shall remain.

We now see how all these things agree and how the Prophet’s words harmonize. In short, he means that what he had before promised respecting the future favor of God does not belong indiscriminately to all, or to the whole body of the people, but to the faithful, whom God will in a wonderful manner deliver from ruin. For of the people, God will only save the third part, as He had already resolved to destroy the other two parts. The intention of the Prophet is now not at all doubtful.

But from this we conclude that what God daily promises to His Church is not to be extended indiscriminately to all, for many falsely profess His name. But He knows His own, as Paul says, and therefore exhorts them to depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:16). Let us then know that promises of God’s favor do not pertain to hypocrites. For though He has decreed to deal kindly and graciously with His Church, He yet continues to diminish it, so that only the third part remains safe.

Whenever, then, we speak of God’s mercy towards His Church, and of His aid and help, let us always bear in mind the cleansing of which Zechariah now speaks: that God will reserve the third part, while the greater portion always runs headlong into ruin. It is then enough that the third part should be delivered from destruction. But this verse, as it has already appeared, ought to be applied to the kingdom of Christ.

Literally, we read, the mouth of the two; but פי, pi, is to be taken metaphorically for part or portion. A part then of the two in it, or two parts in it (the plural is joined with the singular, as often is the case), shall perish, shall be cut off.

The verb כרת, caret, means to cut off; and then גוע, guo, signifies to die or to sink. Though he understands the same things by the two words, it is not yet a meaningless repetition. For it might have seemed hard and unreasonable that only a third part of God’s people should remain. This diminution of the Church might have disturbed the minds of many and might have appeared incredible. Therefore, the Prophet, in order to confirm what in itself seemed a paradox, says, they shall die, they shall perish; it has been so decreed, and you are not to contend with God. For the greater number shall be given up to ruin, while only a few shall remain: the third part then shall remain in it.