Zechariah 14:21
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Yea, 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. | Indeed, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD of Hosts, and all who sacrifice will come and take some pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of Hosts. | Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holy unto Jehovah of hosts; and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and boil therein: and in that day there shall be no more a Canaanite in the house of Jehovah of hosts. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis is the last verse of Zechariah, closing a picture of "that day" when the LORD is king over all the earth. Holiness will reach so far that every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD, and those who sacrifice may take them and boil their offerings in them. In that day there will be no more "Canaanite" in the house of the LORD. Zechariah 14:9Zechariah 14:20Zechariah 14:21
SpeakingThe prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah, gives the LORD's message. Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon and were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. Zechariah overview
Also involvedAll who come to sacrifice, and the chapter says survivors of the nations will go up yearly to worship the King and keep the feast of tabernacles. Also the "Canaanite", who will no longer be in the LORD's house. Zechariah 14:16Zechariah 14:21
"HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD" will be written on the horses' bells, and the pots in the temple will be like the bowls before the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will also be holy to the LORD. Ordinary things are set apart for him, and the "Canaanite" is no longer in his house. Zechariah 14:20Zechariah 14:21Strong's H6944GStrong's H5518A
Jerusalem and the land of Judah, centered on the house of the LORD, the temple. Zechariah 14:21JerusalemZechariah overview
The eventsThe verse speaks of "that day", the coming day of the LORD described through the chapter. The text does not give a date for it. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:21Strong's H3117G
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah at that time, but chapters 9-14 are undated, and many assign them to a later writer or writers. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse ends the book with the goal of its promises: when the LORD is king over all the earth, his holiness will fill his city and land. Zechariah 14:9Zechariah 14:21Zechariah overview
In the whole of ScriptureOther Scripture gives the same hope. Joel says Jerusalem shall be holy and no strangers shall pass through her any more. Ezekiel says no stranger uncircumcised in heart shall enter God's sanctuary, and Revelation says nothing that defiles shall enter the holy city. Joel 3:17Ezekiel 44:9Revelation 21:27
For readersThe verse shows everyday things, even cooking pots, belonging to the LORD. Paul gives a like charge: "whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31), and he that eats "eateth to the Lord" (Romans 14:6). Zechariah 14:211 Corinthians 10:31Romans 14:6
Christians read this differently
The word rendered "Canaanite" is glossed in the lexicon as "a merchant, trader". Some read the verse as saying no ungodly outsider will be in God's house, in line with Joel 3:17 and Ezekiel 44:9. Others read it as saying no traders will be in the temple. Strong's H3669BJoel 3:17Ezekiel 44:9Zechariah 14:21
- potסִיר
The word is defined both as a household pot and as a pot of the temple. The verse joins the two: pots across Jerusalem and Judah become holy like the temple's vessels. Strong's H5518AZechariah 14:20Zechariah 14:21
- holinessקֹ֫דֶשׁ
It means apartness, sacredness, holiness, and is used of God, of places and of things. Here it is said of ordinary pots, so they are set apart for the LORD. Strong's H6944GZechariah 14:21
- Canaaniteכְּנַעֲנִי
The lexicon glosses this word as "a merchant, trader" and groups it with ke.na.an, "merchant". So the word can point to traders, not only to a people. Strong's H3669B
Takeaway
Zechariah ends with a day when God's holiness reaches even the cooking pots of his land. Like Paul's charge to do all to the glory of God, it shows every part of life belonging "unto the LORD." Zechariah 14:211 Corinthians 10:31Romans 14:7
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
- The high priest's mitre
- The high priest wore a mitre with a gold plate engraved "HOLINESS TO THE LORD." Zechariah sees a clean mitre set on Joshua's head, and later the same words on the bells of the horses. Exodus 28:36-38Zechariah 3:5Zechariah 14:20
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 it will be | וְ֠הָיָה | VE-ha-yah | 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) … |
| every | 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) |
| pot | סִ֨יר | sir | H5518A | potסִיר (sir) 1) pot 1a) pot (household utensil) 1b) pot (of temple) |
| in Jerusalem | בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֜ם | bi-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 in Judah | וּבִֽיהוּדָ֗ה | u-vi-hu-DAH | H3063G | Judahיְהוּד (ye.hud) A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35; son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812); brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); married to Bath-shua (H1323I) and Tamar (H8559); father of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209), Shelah (H7956), Perez (H6557) and Zerah (H2226I) Aramaic of ye.hu.dah (יְהוּדָה "Judah" H3063) Judah-the territory of the tribe of Judah |
| a holy thing | קֹ֚דֶשׁ | KO-desh | H6944G | holinessקֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) 1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness 1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness 1a1) of God 1a2) of places 1a3) of things 1b) set-apartness, separateness |
| to Yahweh | לַיהוָ֣ה | la-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) |
| of hosts | צְבָא֔וֹת | tze-va-'ot | H6635B | Hostsצָבָא (tsa.va) The Hosts (of the Lord) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| and they will come | וּבָ֙אוּ֙ | u-VA-'u | H0935G | to come (in): comeבּוֹא (bo) : come/go_in 1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to enter, come in 1a2) to come 1a2a) to come with 1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy) 1a2c) to come to pass 1a3) to attain to 1a4) to be enumerated 1a5) to go 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lead in 1b2) to carry in 1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon 1b4) to bring to pass 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought, brought in 1c2) to be introduced, be put |
| 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) |
| those [who] sacrifice | הַזֹּ֣בְחִ֔ים | ha-ZOE-CHIM | H2076 | to sacrificeדְּבַח (de.vach) (P'al) to sacrifice Aramaic of za.vach (זָבַח "to sacrifice" H2076) |
| and they will take | וְלָקְח֥וּ | ve-la-ke-CHU | H3947G | to take: takeלָקַח (la.qach) : take 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed … |
| and they will boil | וּבִשְּׁל֣וּ | u-vi-she-LU | H1310 | to boilבָּשַׁל (ba.shal) 1) to boil, cook, bake, roast, ripen, grow ripe 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to boil, cook 1a2) to grow ripe, ripen 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to boil 1b2) to cook 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be boiled 1c2) to be sodden 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to ripen 1d2) ripen, brought to ripeness |
| and not | וְלֹא־ | ve-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) |
| [he] will be | יִהְיֶ֨ה | yih-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) … |
| a Canaanite | כְנַעֲנִ֥י | khe-na-'a-NI | H3669B | merchantכְּנַעֲנִי (ke.na.a.ni) a merchant, trader Group of ke.na.an (כְּנַ֫עַן "merchant" H3667B) |
| again | ע֛וֹד | od | H5750 | stillעוֹד (od) subst 1) a going round, continuance adv 2) still, yet, again, besides 2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence) 2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition) 2c) again 2d) still, moreover, besides Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751) |
| in [the] house of | בְּבֵית־ | be-veit- | H1004Q | No entry |
| Yahweh | יְהוָ֥ה | 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) |
| of hosts | צְבָא֖וֹת | tze-va-'ot | H6635B | Hostsצָבָא (tsa.va) The Hosts (of the Lord) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| on the day | בַּיּ֥וֹם | bai-YOM | H3117G | dayיוֹם (yom) : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow |
| the that | הַהֽוּא׃ | ha-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) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.