Zechariah 13:5 - Exposition

I am an husbandman . The imposter shall confess the truth about himself, and own that he is only "a tiller of the ground ( ἄνθρωπος ἐργαζόμενος τὴν γῆν )," as Genesis 4:2 . The abnegation in Amos 7:14 is quite different in character. Man taught me to keep cattle; literally, man bought (or, possessed ) me; Revised Version, I have been made a bondman . So eager is he now to hide his false pretensions, that he is willing, to be considered a slave, employed from his youth in farm work, and therefore incapable of executing the prophetical office. Vulgate, Quoniam Adam exemplum meum ab adoloscentia mea; i.e. "I have followed the example of Adam in tilling the ground and in earning my bread by the sweat of my brow." St. Cyril and some modern commentators hold that the false prophet says this in sorrow and repentant, not with any idea of deceiving; and that herein is exhibited a signal instance of the grace of God in the Messanic period, when even such sinners are converted from the error of their ways.