ABSTRACT
Zechariah 12:10 (and parts of its sequel in vv. 12 and 14) is a text which clearly influenced a number of early Christian writers. The verse in Zech 12 talks of people looking ‘on one who is pierced5;1 these people will then ‘mourn’ for him, and the sequel in w . 12, 14 refers to various groups who will mourn, including ‘each family/tribe by itself’ (v. 12) and ‘all the families/tribes that are left’ (v. 14). Zechariah 12:10 is explicitly cited in John 19.37 (‘And again another passage of scripture says “they will look on the one whom they pierced” ’). It is clearly alluded to in Matt 24:30 (‘all the tribes of the earth will mourn [k61|/ovtou]’) and also in Rev 1:7 (‘Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and on his account all the tribes of the earth will mourn [KOijjovToa]’). It is also referred to in some patristic texts, notably Bam 7:9 as well as a number of passages in Justin (7 Apol 52:12; Dial 14:8 (though there wrongly ascribed to Hosea); 32:2; 64:7; 118:l.)2
Although John 19:37 is the only place where Zech 12:10 is quoted as an explicit citation (i.e. with a clear signal in the text by means of an introductory formula),3 it seems clear that this OT text was widely known and used as a Christian testimonium; moreover, it was apparently known and used in a relatively firm, but distinctive, text form. The text as cited in John 19:37 reads 01|/0v1m 6’u; ov 6£6K6v1^ 0av. Revelation 1:7 shares with John the use of 6kk6vt6g) as well as the use of 0iJj€Tca/01|j0vTa1, as does Matt 24:30. A reference to ‘all the tribes of the earth’ (moai al 4)1)A.ai zf\Q yfy;) who will ‘mourn’ (Koij/oviai) is also common to Rev 1:7 and Matt 24:30. Very similar wording is echoed in Justin, 1 Apol 52:12; Dial 14:8 (including the rather unusual 61 q [as in John 19:37], though Justin also inserts the verb yvcopiCeiv, resulting in a rather awkward yvcop1(6iv 61<;: cf. too Dial 32:2: 6myvcxj6o06 61c; ov ki€K^vzr\oaxe).4 The verse is thus used by a wide range of Christian writers in closely related, but not identical, forms. Literary dependence between such a cross-section of writers seems unlikely.5 There is thus widespread agreement that Zech 12:10 was known and used by Christians, probably substantially in the form as it appears in John 19:37: 01|/0vTa1 61 q ov 6£6k6vtr\oav. In addition there was probably a reference in the form of the citation as known and used to ‘all the tribes of the earth’ and ‘will mourn’ (koi|/ovt(u).6
