Zechariah 13:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Even individuals who once exhibited such brazen insolence now seek punishment for their folly, urging one another to abandon their wicked ways and to 'put on the skin of Vlasyanu, for they have lied.' This signifies a mourning over their misdeeds and a contrition for having reached a point of folly, speaking falsehoods against God without any sense of shame. They openly confess their transgressions and seek forgiveness, stating plainly: 'I am not a prophet, for man hath begotten me from my youth,' acknowledging their humanity. Human nature is frail, easily swayed towards error, and prone to sin. Such might mirror the expressions of the repentant. If, however, one asks, 'What are these wounds or sores visible on your hands?' they would reply, 'By them I was wounded in the house of my beloved,' indicating the reproach from their parents and the discipline they faced for their foolishness, with the 'house of the beloved' representing the home of one’s parents. Consider the stark contrast between the earlier and the current conditions. The false prophets of the past garnered admiration, respect, and a positive reputation among their contemporaries and did not express remorse for their actions. In these times, however, anyone who dares to follow such erroneous predictions faces criticism and shame, often receiving punishment from their parents, leading to genuine repentance, mourning, and tears, all while confessing the frailty of human nature and its inclination to sin, as the unclean spirit has been driven from the earth by the might and authority of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When questioned about the wounds in his hands, he will say, “I am not a prophet; I was raised as a man of the earth.” If he is criticized for attempting to prophesy and the truth of his prophecies is evident since they have indeed occurred, he will be confused and will no longer attempt deceitful appearances.

It has been customary for prophets to wear tattered clothing to urge the people to repent, as seen when Isaiah was directed to walk naked (Isaiah 20:2), not in a time of repentance, but as a sign of impending captivity. Therefore, this false prophet will avoid wearing a prophetic mantle to mislead the unsuspecting, preferring instead to work the soil, embracing the labor imposed upon Adam: “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all your days; it shall bring forth thorns and thistles for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field” (Gen. 3:17-18). When he shows that he toils for his sustenance, another will inquire about the significance of the wounds and scars on his hands. The question will be: Why do you bear the marks of torment? What have you done to deserve such suffering? He will then explain, “These wounds are a result of my condemnation; I was punished not by adversaries, but by those who loved me.” In stripping away falsehood, the truth will shine brightly to the point where even the one who faced punishment will acknowledge the justice of his sentence.

The scripture’s declaration that they will not be covered with coarse garments to deceive signifies that they will be devoid of the demonic spirit, as referenced by Isaiah when he describes those clothed with hair, to ensure they are not mistaken for speaking on God's behalf, or to avoid denying God, since the term used can mean both to lie and to disown.

This is reflected in the saying, “and they shall be clothed in a skin of wool.” They will be so overwhelmed with terror that they will forsake immorality, finding joy instead in the soil, proclaiming to all, “I was hardly born when I learned this trade from my ancestors.”