If any one again appears as a prophet: It is still false prophets that are in mind, as is shown by the charge brought against them later in the verse. The phrase appears as a prophet is simply a verb in Hebrew. Other versions render it as such in English: “If a man still prophesies” (New American Bible; similarly New International Version), “if anyone still goes on prophesying” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “if anyone continues to prophesy” (Revised English Bible; similarly New English Bible). Translators may also say “If such a person continues to prophesy falsely [or, continues to claim to be my messenger].”
His father and mother who bore him: In Hebrew the verb translated bore is plural, and refers to the activity of both father and mother in producing a child. This presents an unusual translation problem in English, as there is no English verb of equivalent meaning. There are the verbs “beget” (used for the father’s activity, but rather old-fashioned) and “bear” (used for the mother’s activity), but no general term. Revised Standard Version changes the verb to who bore him, which omits the father’s activity. Good News Translation and New Living Translation avoid the problem by omitting the verb and saying “his own father and mother” (similarly Contemporary English Version). New Jerusalem Bible and New English Bible/ Revised English Bible say “his parents, his own father and mother” (similarly New American Bible), but this sounds odd because there is no apparent reason for saying the same thing twice. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh makes a better effort with “his own father and mother, who brought him into the world,” though this is rather long. Perhaps the most effective is New International Version with “his father and mother, to whom he was born.” Many languages are like Hebrew and have a single word that can be used of both the father’s activity and the mother’s, but for those languages that have the same problem as English, the above examples may offer some help. Another possibility would be “his father and mother who gave him life.”
You shall not live may be expressed directly as “You shall die” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “You must die” (New International Version, Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Another possibility is “You have forfeited your life” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). This is helpful because it conveys the sense that the Law of God has been broken. This is indeed the case, as is shown by the next clause, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD. The so-called prophet claimed that his words carried the authority of the LORD when in fact they did not. The penalty for such a sin was death (Deut 18.20). The Law also prescribed that if anyone tried to lead people away from the true worship of the LORD, his own family should be the ones to kill him (Deut 13.6-10). It is in accordance with this law that his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies. The repetition of his father and mother who bore him strengthens the emotional impact in Hebrew, but may not have this effect in other languages. Some versions avoid direct repetition by saying “his own father and mother” the first time, and “his own parents” the second (Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente; similarly New International Version). For the translation of who bore him, see the notes above.
Shall pierce him through: In Deut 13.10 the method of execution is to be stoning. The focus here is on the fact of execution rather than the method, and the verb translated pierce is a form of the same Hebrew verb as that used in 12.10. This may suggest that the figure pierced in 12.10 was a true prophet who wrongly received the punishment due to false prophets. For the translation of pierce, see the notes on 12.10. Good News Translation uses the same expression here as it used there, “stab … to death.” This link is certainly helpful, though a number of modern versions fail to make it (Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible, Beck). Contemporary English Version has “kill them with a sword” here, despite the fact that it had “with a spear” in 12.10. However, it could have been a spear here just as well as in 12.10. If their language must indicate the weapon used, translators may choose between a sword and a spear, but should make the same choice both times. If possible, they should avoid mention of a particular weapon in either place.
When he prophesies: Some scholars and translators interpret this clause to mean that the execution is to take place at the same time as the prophetic activity. Thus New Jerusalem Bible has “even while he is prophesying” (compare Moffatt, Bible de Jérusalem, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, Meyers & Meyers). Others take it as explanatory, giving the reason for the execution. Thus New English Bible and Revised English Bible have “because he has prophesied.” Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch also interpret the Hebrew this way, and it certainly seems to fit the context better.
Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Zechariah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .