Zechariah 14

King James Version

Full text for Zechariah Chapter 14

1¶ Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

3Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

4And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

5And ye shall flee [to] the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, [and] all the saints with thee.

6And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the light shall not be clear, [nor] dark:

7But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, [that] at evening time it shall be light.

8¶ And it shall be in that day, [that] living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

9And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

10All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and [from] the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.

11And [men] shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

12And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

13And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.

14And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.

15And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.

16¶ And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

17And it shall be, [that] whoso will not come up of [all] the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

18And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that [have] no [rain]; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

19This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

20In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.

21Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Zechariah 14 prophesies a future "day of the LORD" where Jerusalem is attacked by all nations, partially captured, and plundered. The LORD then intervenes directly, fighting for the city and causing the Mount of Olives to split. This intervention establishes His universal kingship, brings forth living waters from Jerusalem, and leads to a time of peace, pervasive holiness, and required annual worship for all surviving nations.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with a prophecy of the "day of the LORD," when all nations will gather against Jerusalem, leading to its partial capture and plunder. However, the LORD will then personally fight against these nations, standing upon the Mount of Olives, which will cleave to form a great valley. In this day, unique light conditions will prevail, and living waters will flow from Jerusalem to both eastern and western seas, signifying a new era. The LORD will be acknowledged as king over all the earth, and Jerusalem will be safely inhabited, no longer facing utter destruction. A devastating plague will strike the nations that fought against Jerusalem, causing their flesh to consume away and leading to internal strife. Subsequently, all remaining nations will be required to come to Jerusalem annually to worship the LORD and keep the Feast of Tabernacles, with drought as the consequence for refusal.

Long Summary

Zechariah 14 details a future "day of the LORD" marked by a significant global conflict. All nations will be gathered against Jerusalem, resulting in the city's capture, the rifling of houses, and a portion of its inhabitants taken captive, though a remnant will remain. Following this initial devastation, the LORD Himself will go forth to battle against these invading nations, fighting with the same power as in ancient times. His feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives, causing it to cleave into a great valley, providing an escape route for the people, reminiscent of a past earthquake. This day will be unique, neither fully light nor dark, but known only to the LORD, with light appearing at evening. From Jerusalem, living waters will flow perpetually, both in summer and winter, towards the former and hinder seas. In that day, the LORD will be universally acknowledged as King over all the earth, with one name, and the land around Jerusalem will be transformed into a plain, while Jerusalem itself is lifted up and securely inhabited, free from further destruction. A terrible plague will afflict the nations that fought against Jerusalem, causing their flesh, eyes, and tongues to waste away while they stand. A great tumult from the LORD will also cause them to turn against each other, while Judah will fight at Jerusalem and gather the wealth of the surrounding heathen. All surviving nations will be mandated to come to Jerusalem annually to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to observe the Feast of Tabernacles. Failure to comply will result in a lack of rain or a specific plague, as exemplified by Egypt. Finally, a profound state of holiness will permeate all aspects of life, with even horse bells bearing the inscription "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD," and common pots in Jerusalem becoming as sacred as the temple bowls, signifying the complete removal of anything unclean or profane from the LORD's presence.

Core Concepts

  • The Day of the LORDThis refers to a future time when Jerusalem will face a devastating attack from all nations, followed by the LORD's direct and powerful intervention to defend His city and establish His universal reign.
  • Divine Intervention & Geological ChangeThe LORD's personal engagement in battle is highlighted by His feet standing on the Mount of Olives, causing it to split into a great valley, providing a means of escape for His people.
  • Universal Kingship of the LORDThe chapter culminates in the declaration that the LORD shall be king over all the earth, signifying a future era of singular divine authority and recognition of His name.
  • Living Waters from JerusalemA perpetual flow of life-giving waters will issue forth from Jerusalem, extending to both the eastern and western seas, symbolizing spiritual renewal and blessing for the land.
  • Plague upon Enemy NationsA severe and specific plague will be inflicted upon the nations that fought against Jerusalem, causing their bodies to waste away and leading to internal conflict among them.
  • Universal Worship & Feast of TabernaclesAll nations that survive the conflict will be required to come to Jerusalem annually to worship the LORD and observe the Feast of Tabernacles, with divine judgment upon those who refuse.
  • Pervasive HolinessIn this future day, holiness will extend beyond the temple, sanctifying even common items like horse bells and pots, and removing all "Canaanite" (unclean or profane) elements from the LORD's presence.