Zechariah 14:2
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | For 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. | For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city. | For 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. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedZechariah 14 opens with 'Behold, the day of the LORD cometh' (14:1), and this verse goes on to say what that day brings. God says he will gather all nations to fight Jerusalem, and the city will fall and suffer terribly, yet the rest of the people will not be cut off. The next verse turns at once: the LORD himself will go out and fight those nations. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3
SpeakingThe LORD speaks in the first person ('I will gather') through the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon and were living in and around Jerusalem. Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe people of Jerusalem, who suffer the attack, and the nations that come against the city, whom the LORD later strikes. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:12
A siege of Jerusalem by all nations: the city taken, houses plundered, women raped, and half the people led into exile. The rest of the people are not cut off from the city. This disaster is followed by the LORD's own fight against the attackers and his reign over all the earth. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:9
Jerusalem is the city under attack. The chapter goes on to name the mount of Olives, east of the city, as the place where the LORD's feet will stand. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:4Jerusalem
The eventsThe text places these events on 'the day of the LORD', still future from the prophet's point of view. It gives no calendar date. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:2
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 1-8 are widely dated to 520-518 BC, but chapters 9-14 are undated, and many scholars assign them to a later writer or writers, while others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse shows that even this disaster is under God's hand, since he is the one who gathers the nations. It also shows that he keeps a remnant and then acts to rescue them. The point of the chapter is the day when 'the LORD shall be king over all the earth.' Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:9Zechariah overview
In the whole of ScriptureThe words echo earlier prophecy of a city's fall, where houses are spoiled and wives ravished. The promise that a remnant remains matches Paul's use of Isaiah: 'a remnant shall be saved', and 'Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed.' Isaiah 13:16Romans 9:27Romans 9:29
For readersJesus also warned of Jerusalem surrounded by armies, its people led captive, and days so hard that 'except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.' Read with Zechariah, these passages teach that God allows real suffering but does not let his people be wiped out. Luke 21:20Luke 21:24Matthew 24:22
Christians read this differently
No cited Scripture says exactly when this siege happens. Some read it as a future, end-time attack on Jerusalem, ended by the LORD's coming and his rule over all the earth (14:3-9). Others see it fulfilled, at least in part, when armies surrounded Jerusalem and its people were led captive, as Jesus foretold in Luke 21. Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:9Luke 21:20Luke 21:24
- I will gatherאָסַף
The word means to gather or collect, and here God himself is the one doing it. The nations come against Jerusalem because God brings them, and the next verse has him fight them. Strong's H0622Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3
- captivityגּוֹלָה
The word means exile or captivity, and it can also mean the exiles as a group. Half the city goes out into exile, a threat spoken to readers who had themselves come back from exile in Babylon. Strong's H1473Zechariah 14:2Zechariah overview
- residueיֶ֫תֶר
The word means remainder or remnant. It marks those who are left after the disaster, and it ties to the wider promise that 'a remnant shall be saved.' Strong's H3499ARomans 9:27
- cut offכָּרַת
The word means to cut off, destroy or eliminate. The verse says the rest of the people will not be cut off, so God promises they will survive. Strong's H3772IZechariah 14:2
Takeaway
Zechariah 14:2 describes a real and terrible fall of Jerusalem that God himself brings about. Yet he spares a remnant and then rises to fight for his people. The verse should be read with the verses that follow, which end with the LORD as king over all the earth. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 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 I will gather | וְאָסַפְתִּ֨י | ve-'a-saf-TI | H0622 | to gatherאָסַף (a.saph) 1) to gather, receive, remove, gather in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to gather, collect 1a2) to gather (an individual into company of others) 1a3) to bring up the rear 1a4) to gather and take away, remove, withdraw 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to assemble, be gathered 1b2) (pass of Qal 1a2) 1b2a) to be gathered to one's fathers 1b2b) to be brought in or into (association with others) 1b3) (pass of Qal 1a4) 1b3a) to be taken away, removed, perish 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to gather (harvest) 1c2) to take in, receive into 1c3) rearguard, rearward (subst) 1d) (Pual) to be gathered 1e) (Hithpael) to gather oneself or themselves |
| 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 nations | הַגּוֹיִ֥ם׀ | ha-go-YIM | H1471A | nationגּוֹי (goy) 1) nation, people 1a) nation, people 1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people 1a2) of descendants of Abraham 1a3) of Israel 1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.) |
| to | אֶֽל־ | 'el- | H0413 | to(wards)אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to) |
| Jerusalem | יְרוּשָׁלִַם֮ | 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) |
| for the battle | לַמִּלְחָמָה֒ | la-mil-cha-MAH | H4421 | battleמִלְחָמָה (mil.cha.mah) battle, war |
| and it will be captured | וְנִלְכְּדָ֣ה | ve-nil-ke-DAH | H3920 | to captureלָכַד (la.khad) 1) to capture, take, seize 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to capture, seize 1a2) to capture (of men) (fig.) 1a3) to take (by lot) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be caught (of men in trap, snare) (fig.) 1c) (Hithpael) to grasp each other |
| the city | הָעִ֗יר | ha-'IR | H5892B | cityעִיר (ir) 1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town |
| and they will be plundered | וְנָשַׁ֙סּוּ֙ | ve-na-SHA-su | H8155 | to spoilשָׁאַס (sha.as) 1) to plunder, spoil 1a) (Qal) ones plundering (participle) |
| the houses | הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים | ha-BA-TIM | H1004B | to lodgeבִּית (but) (P'al) to pass the night, lodge Aramaic of ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת ": home" H1004B) |
| and the women | וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים | ve-ha-na-SHIM | H0802G | womanאִשָּׁה (ish.shah) : woman 1) woman, wife, female 1a) woman (opposite of man) 1b) wife (woman married to a man) 1c) female (of animals) 1d) each, every (pronoun) |
| they will be lain with | תִּשָּׁכַ֑בְנָה | ti-sha-khab-nah | H7901I | to lie down: lay downשָׁכַב (sha.khav) : lay_down/lie_with 1) to lie down 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on 1a2) to lodge 1a3) to lie (of sexual relations) 1a4) to lie down (in death) 1a5) to rest, relax (fig) 1b) (Niphal) to be lain with (sexually) 1c) (Pual) to be lain with (sexually) 1d) (Hiphil) to make to lie down 1e) (Hophal) to be laid |
| and it will go out | וְיָצָ֞א | ve-ya-TZA' | H3318G | to come out: comeיָצָא (ya.tsa) : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth |
| the half of | חֲצִ֤י | cha-TZI | H2677 | halfחֲצִי (che.tsi) 1) half 1a) half 1b) middle |
| the city | הָעִיר֙ | ha-'IR | H5892B | cityעִיר (ir) 1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town |
| in the exile | בַּגּוֹלָ֔ה | ba-go-LAH | H1473 | captivityגּוֹלָה (go.lah) 1) exiles, exile, captivity 1a) exiles (coll) 1b) exile, captivity (abstract) |
| and [the] rest of | וְיֶ֣תֶר | ve-YE-ter | H3499A | remainderיֶ֫תֶר (ye.ter) 1) remainder, excess, rest, remnant, excellence 1a) remainder, remnant 1b) remainder, rest, other part 1c) excess 1d) abundantly (adv) 1e) abundance, affluence 1f) superiority, excellency |
| the people | הָעָ֔ם | ha-'AM | H5971A | peopleעַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men |
| not | לֹ֥א | lo' | H3808 | notלֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809) |
| it will be cut off | יִכָּרֵ֖ת | yi-ka-RET | H3772I | to cut: cutכָּרַת (ka.rat) : cut/fell 1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cut off 1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead 1a2) to cut down 1a3) to hew 1a4) to cut or make a covenant 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cut off 1b2) to be cut down 1b3) to be chewed 1b4) to be cut off, fail 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be cut off 1c2) to be cut down 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cut off 1d2) to cut off, destroy 1d3) to cut down, destroy 1d4) to take away 1d5) to permit to perish 1e) (Hophal) cut off |
| from | מִן־ | min- | H4480A | fromמִן־ (min) prep 1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than 1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of 1b) out of 1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling) 1b2) (of material from which something is made) 1b3) (of source or origin) 1c) out of, some of, from (partitively) 1d) from, since, after (of time) 1e) than, more than (in comparison) 1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or 1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons) 1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive) conj 2) that … |
| the city | הָעִֽיר׃ | ha-'IR | H5892B | cityעִיר (ir) 1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.