“But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.”
My Notes
What Does Zechariah 7:11 Mean?
Zechariah recounts what earlier generations did when God called: they refused to hearken, pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears. Three physical images for spiritual resistance — turning the ear away, shrugging off the yoke, and plugging the ears.
The refusal is active, not passive. They did not simply fail to hear. They refused. They pulled. They stopped. Each verb describes deliberate resistance to God's voice.
"Pulled away the shoulder" is the image of an ox refusing the yoke — turning sideways to avoid the harness. The people did not want God's direction. They physically resisted being guided.
"Stopped their ears" — they blocked the input. The ears that were designed to hear God's word were deliberately sealed. Not because the voice was inaudible. Because they did not want to hear it.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How do the three images — refusing, pulling away, stopping ears — describe different forms of spiritual resistance?
- 2.Where are you 'pulling away the shoulder' from God's direction?
- 3.Why do people stop their ears when hearing would lead to something good?
- 4.What is God currently saying that you are actively resisting?
Devotional
They refused to hearken. The voice was clear. The message was delivered. And they refused. Not could not hear. Refused to listen. The resistance was a choice.
Pulled away the shoulder. Like an animal fighting the yoke — twisting, turning, refusing to be guided. The direction was good. The harness was meant to lead them somewhere beneficial. And they pulled away.
Stopped their ears, that they should not hear. The ears were functional. The problem was not hearing loss. It was deliberate blockage. They chose not to hear because hearing would require responding — and responding would require changing.
Three images. Three forms of active resistance. Refusing the voice. Fighting the direction. Blocking the input. Each one is a decision — a deliberate, physical choice to resist what God is saying.
The pattern is ancient and current. God speaks. People resist. The voice is available. The ears are stopped. The yoke is offered. The shoulder pulls away.
Where are you refusing to hearken? Where are you pulling away from direction you know is good? Where have you stopped your ears — not because you cannot hear, but because hearing would require change you are not willing to make?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried,.... The Lord by the former prophets called them to repentance and…
But they gave a backsliding shoulder - Like a restive animal, which would not endure the yoke, dull and stupid as the…
Pulled away the shoulder - From under the yoke of the law, like an unbroken or restive bullock in the plough.
What was said Zac 7:7, that they should have heard the words of the former prophets, is here enlarged upon, for warning…
pulled away the shoulder Neh 9:29; Hos 4:16.
stopped Lit. made heavy, i.e. dull. Comp. Isa 6:10. The same word is used…
Cross References
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