Zechariah 14:10
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | All 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. | All the land from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem will be turned into a plain, but Jerusalem will be raised up and will remain in her place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. | All the land shall be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she shall be lifted up, and shall dwell in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel unto the king’s winepresses. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedOn the coming day of the LORD, after he fights for Jerusalem and becomes king over all the earth, all the land from Geba to Rimmon will be turned into a plain like the Arabah. Jerusalem will be lifted up and lived in on its own site, from gate to gate and from tower to winepress. The next verse gives the result: people will live there safely, with no more utter destruction. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:9Zechariah 14:10Zechariah 14:11Strong's H6160G
SpeakingThe LORD speaks through the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah. The chapter carries the LORD's first-person voice: "I will gather all nations." Zechariah overviewZechariah 14:2
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon, at the time the temple was being rebuilt. Zechariah overview
Also involvedJerusalem and the people who live in it. The city that was taken and plundered in verse 2 is the city lifted up and safely inhabited here. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:10Zechariah 14:11
The verse describes a change in the land. All the land from Geba, a city of Benjamin, to Rimmon south of Jerusalem is turned into a plain, and the city is lifted up. Jerusalem is inhabited in her place across its full extent, marked out by Benjamin's gate, the first gate, the corner gate, the tower of Hananeel and the king's winepresses. Zechariah 14:10Strong's H6160GStrong's H7213Strong's H8478IStrong's H1387G1 Kings 15:22
Jerusalem and the land around it. Geba is a city of Benjamin about six miles northeast of Jerusalem, and Rimmon, which the verse places south of Jerusalem, is named in the town list of Joshua 15:32. Benjamin's gate, the corner gate and the tower of Hananeel were in Jerusalem itself; Jeremiah was seized at the gate of Benjamin, and the king once sat there. Strong's H1387G1 Kings 15:22Joshua 15:32Rimmon 2Benjamin GateCorner GateTower Of HananelJeremiah 37:13Jeremiah 38:7
The eventsThese things belong to "that day," the day of the LORD. It comes after the LORD fights the nations and his feet stand on the mount of Olives. For Zechariah and his hearers it was still to come. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:9
WrittenTraditional view: Zechariah wrote the book, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly view: most accept chapters 1-8 as Zechariah's from 520-518 BC, but many assign the undated chapters 9-14, including this verse, to a later writer or writers, while others hold that Zechariah wrote the whole book. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse shows Jerusalem raised up and lived in again across its whole extent, from Benjamin's gate to the corner gate and from the tower of Hananeel to the king's winepresses. Verse 11 adds that there will be no more utter destruction. Zechariah 14:10Zechariah 14:11
In the whole of ScriptureIt answers the chapter's opening, where the city is taken and half its people go into captivity (14:2). Once "the LORD shall be king over all the earth" (14:9), the city stands secure. Jeremiah also promises the city built "from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner," never to be thrown down any more. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:9Jeremiah 31:38Jeremiah 31:40
For readersA city that had known capture and plunder is promised a lasting home under the LORD's rule. God's promises reach real places, named gate by gate. Zechariah 14:10Zechariah 14:11
Christians read this differently
The text does not say whether the leveled land and the raised city are a literal change in geography or picture-language, and no cited Scripture settles it. Some read it literally, together with the splitting of the mount of Olives, as a physical reshaping of the land when the LORD comes. Others read it as a vivid image of Jerusalem raised high and made secure under God's reign. Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:9Zechariah 14:10
- plain (Arabah)עֲרָבָה
The word means a desert plain or steppe, and here it is glossed "like the Arabah," the name of a region. The land from Geba to Rimmon is pictured as becoming flat like that plain. Strong's H6160GArabahZechariah 14:10
- lifted upרָאַם
The gloss is simply "to rise." While the land is turned into a plain, the city rises. Strong's H7213Zechariah 14:10
- in her placeתַּחַת
The word can mean "the place in which one stands." Jerusalem is restored on its own site, which matches "inhabited again in her own place" in Zechariah 12:6. Strong's H8478IZechariah 12:6
- inhabitedיָשַׁב
The word means to dwell, remain or abide, and in some forms "to be inhabited." Verse 11 picks up the same idea: "men shall dwell in it... Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited." Strong's H3427Zechariah 14:11
Takeaway
Zechariah 14:10 promises that on the day the LORD reigns, Jerusalem will be lifted up and lived in again on its own ground, from end to end. It is a promise of lasting safety for a city that had known capture and plunder. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:9Zechariah 14:10Zechariah 14:11Zechariah 12:6
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
Behind this verse
- Jerusalem: Gates and towers
- Zechariah 14:10 measures the city by Benjamin's gate, the first gate, the corner gate and the tower of Hananeel. Jeremiah and Nehemiah name the same landmarks. Zechariah 14:10Jeremiah 31:38Nehemiah 3:1
About 520-518 BC. King of Persia: Darius I (522-486 BC). Where Zechariah prophesied. A small, poor community was rebuilding the temple among the ruins of the city Babylon had burned.
Who ruled
- King of PersiaDarius I522-486 BC
Zechariah dates his messages by the years of Darius. Darius confirmed Cyrus's decree and ordered the temple work to go on at royal expense. Zechariah 1:1Zechariah 7:1Ezra 6:1-12Haggai 1:1Behistun Inscription
- Governor of JudahZerubbabelc. 520 BC
A descendant of David who led the rebuilding. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it." Zechariah 4:6-10Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:8
- High priestJoshua the high priestc. 520 BC
Called Jeshua in Ezra. He stands in Zechariah's vision clothed in filthy garments, which are taken away, and later receives crowns as a sign. Zechariah 3:1-10Zechariah 6:11Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:2
- Persian governor "on this side the river"Tattenaic. 520 BC
The governor of the province west of the Euphrates. He asked who had allowed the building, wrote to Darius, and was told to let the work go on. Ezra 5:3-6Ezra 6:6-13
What was happening, 539 BC to 332 BC
- 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus king of Persia took Babylon, ending the empire that had destroyed Jerusalem. Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleThe first return
Cyrus let the exiles go home to build the LORD's house. About fifty thousand returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Ezra 1:1-4Ezra 2:1-2Ezra 2:64-65
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe foundation is laid, then the work stops
The returned exiles laid the temple's foundation with shouting and weeping. Opposition from their neighbors stopped the work until the second year of Darius. Ezra 3:10-13Ezra 4:4-5Ezra 4:24
- 525 BCWarPersia conquers Egypt
Cyrus's son Cambyses invaded and took Egypt, bringing the whole region from the Nile to the Indus under one king. Herodotus, Histories 3.1-16
- 522-521 BCWarDarius crushes the revolts
When Darius took the throne, provinces across the empire rebelled, Babylon twice. By 520 he had put them all down. Compare the riders' report in Zechariah's first vision: "all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." Behistun InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 3.150-159Zechariah 1:11
- 520 BCGod's peopleHaggai and Zechariah stir the people to build
In Darius's second year the two prophets urged the people to take up the temple work again, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua began to build. Ezra 5:1-2Haggai 1:1-15Zechariah 1:1
- c. 520-519 BCRulersDarius confirms Cyrus's decree
Tattenai questioned the building. A search found Cyrus's decree at Achmetha, and Darius ordered the work to continue and be paid for from royal taxes. Ezra 5:3-6:12
- 515 BCBuildingThe second temple is finished
The temple was finished on the third day of Adar in Darius's sixth year and dedicated with joy. Ezra 6:14-18Zechariah 4:9
- 490-479 BCWarPersia's wars with Greece
Persia invaded Greece twice and was turned back at Marathon (490), Salamis (480) and Plataea (479). Greece, which Zechariah names in 9:13, was becoming Persia's great rival. Herodotus, Histories 6.102-117Herodotus, Histories 8.40-96Herodotus, Histories 9.1-89Zechariah 9:13
- 445 BCBuildingNehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem's walls
Under the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah came from Shushan and rebuilt the walls in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 6:15
- 332 BCWarAlexander takes Tyre and Gaza
Alexander the Great besieged island Tyre for seven months and then Gaza for two, on his way to Egypt. Zechariah 9 speaks of Tyre's "strong hold" and of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron and Ashdod. Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 2.15-27Zechariah 9:3-7
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records (the Behistun Inscription, the Cyrus Cylinder, the Babylonian Chronicles) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Where
- Arabah regionMapAbout this place
- Benjamin Gate gateMapAbout this place
- Corner Gate gateMapAbout this place
- Geba 3 settlementMapAbout this place
- Jerusalem settlementMapAbout this place
- Rimmon 2 settlementMapAbout this place
- Tower of Hananel structureMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| it will change | יִסּ֨וֹב | yi-SOV | H5437G | to turn: turnסָבַב (sa.vav) : turn/bring_around 1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change 1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round 1b2) to be turned over to 1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform 1d) (Poel) 1d1) to encompass, surround 1d2) to come about, assemble round 1d3) to march, go about 1d4) to enclose, envelop 1e) (Hiphil) … |
| all | כָּל־ | kol- | H3605 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606) |
| the land | הָאָ֤רֶץ | ha-'A-retz | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
| like the Arabah | כָּעֲרָבָה֙ | ka-'a-ra-VAH | H6160G | Arabahעֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah) § desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness |
| from Geba | מִגֶּ֣בַע | mi-GE-va' | H1387G | Gebaגֶּ֫בַע (ge.va) § Gaba or Geba or Gibeah = "hill" a city in Benjamin, modern 'Jeba', which stands on the top of a steep terraced hill, six miles or ten kilometres north east of Jerusalem and three miles or five kilometres from Gibeah, on the edge of the Wadi Suweinit looking northward to the opposite village of ancient Michmash, modern 'Mukhmas' |
| to Rimmon | לְרִמּ֔וֹן | le-ri-MON | H7417G | No entry |
| [the] south of | נֶ֖גֶב | NE-gev | H5045H | Negebנֶ֫גֶב (ne.gev) region of southern Judah Also named: ne.gev (נֶ֫גֶב "south" H5045H) This name means south-country |
| Jerusalem | יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם | ye-ru-sha-LIM | H3389 | Arielאֲרִיאֵל (a.ri.el) Ariel = "lion of God" or "lioness of God" Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389) |
| and it will rise | וְֽרָאֲמָה֩ | ve-ra-'a-MAH | H7213 | to riseרָאַם (ra.am) (Qal) to rise |
| and it will remain | וְיָשְׁבָ֨ה | ve-ya-she-VAH | H3427 | to dwellיָשַׁב (ya.shav) 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488) |
| in place its | תַחְתֶּ֜יהָ | tach-TEI-ha | H8478I | underneath: underתַּחַת (ta.chat) : under/below 1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m 1a) the under part adv accus 1b) beneath prep 1c) under, beneath 1c1) at the foot of (idiom) 1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig) 1c3) of subjection or conquest 1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands 1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun) 1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense) 1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged) conj … |
| to from [the] gate of | לְמִשַּׁ֣עַר | le-mi-SHA-'ar | H8179G | gateשַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) : gate 1) gate 1a) gate (of entrance) 1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place) 1b1) city, town 1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle) 1d) heaven |
| Benjamin | בִּנְיָמִ֗ן | bin-ya-MIN | H1144M | (Gate of) Benjaminבִּנְיָמִין (bin.ya.min) § Benjamin = "son of the right hand" a gate in Jerusalem |
| to | עַד־ | 'ad- | H5704 | tillעַד (ad) prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705) |
| [the] place of | מְק֞וֹם | me-KOM | H4725 | placeמָקוֹם (ma.qom) 1) standing place, place 1a) standing place, station, post, office 1b) place, place of human abode 1c) city, land, region 1d) place, locality, spot 1e) space, room, distance 1f) region, quarter, direction 1g) give place to, instead of |
| [the] gate | שַׁ֤עַר | SHA-'ar | H8179G | gateשַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) : gate 1) gate 1a) gate (of entrance) 1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place) 1b1) city, town 1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle) 1d) heaven |
| the first | הָֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ | ha-ri-shOn | H7223H | firstרִאשׁוֹן (ri.shon) : first adj 1) first, primary, former 1a) former (of time) 1a1) ancestors 1a2) former things 1b) foremost (of location) 1c) first (in time) 1d) first, chief (in degree) adv 2) first, before, formerly, at first |
| to | עַד־ | 'ad- | H5704 | tillעַד (ad) prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705) |
| [the] gate of | שַׁ֣עַר | SHA-'ar | H8179G | gateשַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) : gate 1) gate 1a) gate (of entrance) 1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place) 1b1) city, town 1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle) 1d) heaven |
| the corners | הַפִּנִּ֔ים | ha-pi-NIM | H6434 | Cornerפֵּן (pen) 1) corner 1a) corner (of square objects) 1b) corner (of ruler or chief-fig.) Name of a gate (H6438) |
| and [the] tower of | וּמִגְדַּ֣ל | u-mig-DAL | H4026G | (Hananel) Towerמִגְדָּל (mig.dal) Combined with cha.nan.el (חֲנַנְאֵל " of Hananel" H2606) This name means tower |
| Hananel | חֲנַנְאֵ֔ל | cha-nan-'EL | H2606 | (Tower of) Hananelחֲנַנְאֵל (cha.nan.el) Hananeel = "God has favoured" the name of a tower in Jerusalem Combined with mig.dal (מִגְדָּל " Tower" H4026) |
| to | עַ֖ד | 'ad | H5704 | tillעַד (ad) prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705) |
| [the] wine-presses of | יִקְבֵ֥י | yik-VEI | H3342 | wineיֶ֫קֶב (ye.qev) wine vat, wine-press |
| the king | הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ | ha-ME-lekh | H4428G | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) 1) king Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.