Zechariah 11 · Grade 4
Thirty Pieces of Silver
Read and Think
Zechariah 11 is a story the prophet acts out. God says the flock is being mistreated by those who buy and sell it, and its own shepherds do not pity it. So Zechariah becomes a shepherd and feeds the flock, especially the oppressed of the flock.
He takes two staffs, naming one Favor and the other Union. But the flock grows weary of him, and he of them. He breaks the staff called Favor. The poor of the flock who listened knew this was Yahweh's word.
Zechariah asks for his wages, and they weigh out thirty pieces of silver. God says with irony, throw it to the potter, the handsome price that I was valued at by them! Zechariah throws it in the house of Yahweh, to the potter. Then he breaks Union. The chapter ends with a woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock. In the New Testament, Matthew 27:9-10 connects the thirty pieces of silver to Judas and the potter's field.
Show What You Know
Which part of the flock did Zechariah feed especially?
What were the two staffs named?
What does God call the thirty pieces of silver?
Where does the New Testament connect the thirty pieces of silver to Judas?
Word Bank Fill-In
Use the word bank to fill in each blank.
- says the flock is being mistreated by those who buy and sell it, and its own shepherds do not pity it.
- He takes two staffs, naming one and the other Union.
- He breaks the called Favor.
- Zechariah asks for his wages, and they weigh out thirty pieces of .
- God says with irony, throw it to the , the handsome price that I was valued at by them!
Think About It
The people valued their shepherd at only thirty pieces of silver. How do people show what they truly value?
A worthless shepherd leaves the flock. How can you be faithful to people who depend on you?
Memory Verse
“So I fed the flock to be slaughtered, especially the oppressed of the flock. I took for myself two staffs. The one I called “Favor” and the other I called “Union”, and I fed the flock.”
Zechariah 11:7 (WEB)
Copy It
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for being my Good Shepherd. Help me . Amen.
Take It Home
For families: talk about these together.
- How do you feel when a promise is broken?
- How can you show that God matters more to you than money?
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.