Zechariah 14:12
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | And 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. | And this will be the plague with which the LORD strikes all the peoples who have warred against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. | And this shall be the plague wherewith Jehovah will smite all the peoples that have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedZechariah 14 describes the day of the LORD, when all nations gather to fight Jerusalem and the LORD goes out to fight against them. Verse 12 tells how he will strike those attackers: a plague that rots their flesh, eyes and tongues while they are still standing. It comes right after the promise that Jerusalem will be safely inhabited. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:11Zechariah 14:12
Commonly taken out of context
How it’s often usedOften quoted as a forecast of nuclear or other modern weapons melting bodies where they stand.
In contextThe verse calls this "the plague wherewith the LORD will smite" the attackers, and the verb shows the LORD as the one who causes the rotting. It names no human weapon. Its point is that the LORD himself fights for Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:12Zechariah 14:3Strong's H4046Strong's H5062Strong's H4743
SpeakingThe prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah, speaking the LORD's message. Zechariah overviewZechariah 14:12
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview
Also involvedAll the peoples that have fought against Jerusalem. Their animals in the camp are struck the same way. Zechariah 14:12Zechariah 14:15
The LORD sends a plague on Jerusalem's attackers. Their flesh, eyes and tongues waste away while they are still standing on their feet. In the same day, a great tumult from the LORD turns them against one another. Zechariah 14:12Zechariah 14:13Strong's H4046Strong's H4743
At Jerusalem, among the armies and their tents gathered against the city. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:12Zechariah 14:15Jerusalem
The events"In that day," the day of the LORD, when the nations gather against Jerusalem and the LORD's feet stand on the mount of Olives. The text gives no calendar date. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:13
WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah, whose dated messages run from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many scholars assign them to a later writer or writers, while others hold that Zechariah wrote the whole book. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse shows that the LORD himself defends Jerusalem. The nations that attack it are struck down, so the city can be safely inhabited. Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:11Zechariah 14:12Zechariah 12:9
In the whole of ScriptureOther prophets also picture many nations gathered against Zion and the LORD judging them: Micah 4:11 speaks of nations gathered against her, and Isaiah 66:16 says "the slain of the LORD shall be many." In Zechariah 14 the LORD becomes "king over all the earth" (v. 9), survivors of the nations come yearly to worship the King (v. 16), and the chapter closes with even the pots of Jerusalem and Judah marked "holiness unto the LORD of hosts" (vv. 20-21). Micah 4:11Isaiah 66:16Zechariah 14:9Zechariah 14:16Zechariah 14:20Zechariah 14:21
For readersThe verse warns that fighting against God's people is fighting against God. It also assures his people that he will be their defender. Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:12Zechariah 12:9
Christians read this differently
Readers differ on how to take this battle scene. Some read it as a literal future event at the LORD's coming, when his feet stand on the mount of Olives (14:4), the hill Jesus went up from and will return to "in like manner" (Acts 1:11-12). Others read it as a vivid picture of God's sure judgment on all who oppose his people. Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:5Zechariah 14:12Acts 1:11Acts 1:12
- plagueמַגֵּפָה
The word means a blow, slaughter, or plague, including a pestilence sent as divine judgment. The same English word "plague" appears in verses 15 and 18 for the LORD's punishments. Strong's H4046Zechariah 14:15Zechariah 14:18
- consume awayמָקַק
The word means to decay, rot, or fester. Here it is in a form meaning "to cause to rot," so the LORD is the one bringing the decay. Strong's H4743
- smiteנָגַף
The word means to strike or smite, and its subject here is the LORD. The judgment is his own act. Strong's H5062Zechariah 14:12
Takeaway
Zechariah 14:12 shows the LORD striking down the nations that attack Jerusalem, so that his city can dwell safely. The God who defends his people is also the King to whom the nations will come to worship. Zechariah 14:11Zechariah 14:12Zechariah 14:16Zechariah 14:9
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
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
- Jerusalem settlementMapAbout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and this | וְזֹ֣את׀ | ve-ZOT | H2063 | thisזֹאת (zot) 1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, such 1a) (alone) 1a1) this one 1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another 1b) (appos to subst) 1b1) this 1c) (as predicate) 1c1) this, such 1d) (enclitically) 1d1) then 1d2) who, whom 1d3) how now, what now 1d4) what now 1d5) wherefore now 1d6) behold here 1d7) just now 1d8) now, now already 1e) (poetry) 1e1) wherein, which, those who 1f) (with prefixes) 1f1) in this (place) here, then 1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter 1f3) thus and thus … |
| it will be | תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה | tih-YEH | H1961 | to beהָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) … |
| the plague | הַמַּגֵּפָ֗ה | ha-ma-ge-FAH | H4046 | plagueמַגֵּפָה (mag.ge.phah) 1) blow, slaughter, plague, pestilence, strike, smite 1a) blow (fatal stroke) 1b) slaughter (of battle) 1c) plague, pestilence (divine judgment) |
| which | אֲשֶׁ֨ר | 'a-SHER | H0834A | whichאֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when |
| he will strike | יִגֹּ֤ף | yi-GOF | H5062 | to strikeנָגַף (na.gaph) 1) to strike, smite 1a) (Qal) to strike, smite 1b) (Niphal) to be stricken, be smitten 1c) (Hithpael) to stumble |
| Yahweh | יְהוָה֙ | YAH-weh | H3068G | Lordאֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| 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 peoples | הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים | ha-'a-MIM | H5971A | peopleעַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men |
| which | אֲשֶׁ֥ר | 'a-SHER | H0834A | whichאֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when |
| they have waged war | צָבְא֖וּ | tza-ve-'U | H6633 | to serveצָבָא (tsa.va) 1) to go forth, wage war, fight, serve 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to wage war, fight, go forth to war 1a2) to serve (at sacred tent) 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to go forth, muster |
| on | עַל־ | 'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| Jerusalem | יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם | 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) |
| he will cause to rot | הָמֵ֣ק׀ | ha-MEK | H4743 | to rotמָקַק (ma.qaq) 1) to decay, pine away, rot, fester 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to fester (of wounds) 1a2) to rot, rot away 1a3) to moulder away 1a4) to pine away 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to rot |
| flesh its | בְּשָׂר֗וֹ | be-sa-RO | H1320 | fleshבָּשָׂר (ba.sar) 1) flesh 1a) of the body 1a1) of humans 1a2) of animals 1b) the body itself 1c) male organ of generation (euphemism) 1d) kindred, blood-relations 1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God) 1f) all living things 1g) animals 1h) mankind Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321) |
| and it | וְהוּא֙ | ve-HU' | H1931 | he/she/itהוּא (hu) pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article) |
| [is] standing | עֹמֵ֣ד | 'o-MED | H5975G | to stand: standעָמַד (a.mad) : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against … |
| on | עַל־ | 'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| feet its | רַגְלָ֔יו | rag-LAV | H7272 | footרְגַל (re.gal) foot Aramaic of re.gel (רֶ֫גֶל "foot" H7272) |
| and eyes its | וְעֵינָיו֙ | ve-'ei-NAV | H5869A | eyeעַ֫יִן (a.yin) : eye 1) eye 1a) eye 1a1) of physical eye 1a2) as showing mental qualities 1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.) |
| they will rot | תִּמַּ֣קְנָה | ti-MAK-nah | H4743 | to rotמָקַק (ma.qaq) 1) to decay, pine away, rot, fester 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to fester (of wounds) 1a2) to rot, rot away 1a3) to moulder away 1a4) to pine away 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to rot |
| in sockets their | בְחֹֽרֵיהֶ֔ן | ve-cho-rei-HEN | H2356 | holeחֹר (chor) hole, cave |
| and tongue its | וּלְשׁוֹנ֖וֹ | u-le-sho-NO | H3956G | tongueלָשׁוֹן (la.shon) : tongue/words 1) tongue 1a) tongue (of men) 1a1) tongue (literal) 1a2) tongue (organ of speech) 1b) language 1c) tongue (of animals) 1d) tongue (of fire) 1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped) |
| it will rot | תִּמַּ֥ק | ti-MAK | H4743 | to rotמָקַק (ma.qaq) 1) to decay, pine away, rot, fester 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to fester (of wounds) 1a2) to rot, rot away 1a3) to moulder away 1a4) to pine away 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to rot |
| in mouth their | בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ | be-fi-HEM | H6310G | lipפֶּה (peh) : lip/mouth peh 1) mouth 1a) mouth (of man) 1b) mouth (as organ of speech) 1c) mouth (of animals) 1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc) 1e) extremity, end pim 2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21 |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.