Zechariah 14

Zechariah · Chapter 14

Zechariah 14:4

1Behold, 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.8And 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.16And 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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
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.On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the north and half to the south.And 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 be cleft 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.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

After all nations gather against Jerusalem and the city is taken, the LORD goes out to fight against those nations (14:2-3). His feet stand on the Mount of Olives east of the city, and the mountain splits to form a very great valley. His people flee to that valley (14:5), and the LORD becomes king over all the earth (14:9). Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:5Zechariah 14:9

SpeakingThe prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah, gives the LORD's word. The LORD himself speaks in the chapter ("I will gather all nations," 14:2). Zechariah overviewZechariah 14:2

ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. In the chapter they are addressed as "ye" who will flee to the valley. Zechariah overviewZechariah 14:5

Also involvedJerusalem and the people left in it, and the nations that fight against the city. The LORD strikes those nations with a plague (14:12). Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:12

The LORD goes out to fight for Jerusalem, and his feet stand on the Mount of Olives. The mountain splits from east to west. Half moves north and half moves south, opening a very great valley, and the people flee to it. The land around Jerusalem is also reshaped (14:10). Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:5Zechariah 14:10

The Mount of Olives, the hill just east of Jerusalem. Ezekiel saw the LORD's glory leave the city and stand "upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city." Here the LORD's feet stand on the mount east of Jerusalem as he fights for the city. Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:3Mount Of OlivesJerusalemEzekiel 11:23

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The events"In that day," the day of the LORD that "cometh" (14:1), still future when the prophecy was given. The text gives no date for it. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:4

WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book; his dated messages run from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah then, but chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many scholars assign them to a later writer or writers, while others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview

HereTo promise that when Jerusalem seems lost, the LORD himself will fight for his people and give them a place to flee to. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:5

In the whole of ScriptureThe verse is part of the day when "the LORD shall be king over all the earth." After it come living waters flowing from Jerusalem and a city that is safely inhabited. Other prophets also describe the LORD coming down with mountains and valleys breaking under him (Micah 1:3-4), and the nations gathered for judgment (Joel 3:12-14). Zechariah 14:9Zechariah 14:8Zechariah 14:11Micah 1:3Micah 1:4Joel 3:12Joel 3:14Zechariah overview

For readersGod does not leave his people when their situation is hopeless. He comes himself, makes a way for them, and the story ends with his rule over the whole earth. Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:5Zechariah 14:9

Christians read this differently

Many Christians read the verse as a literal future event. They link it to Acts 1:11-12, where Jesus is taken up from the mount called Olivet and is to come "in like manner," so on this view his feet will stand there when he returns. Others read the splitting mountain as vivid picture language for the LORD's coming and victory, like Micah 1:3-4, where mountains melt and valleys are cleft before him. Zechariah 14:4Acts 1:11Acts 1:12Micah 1:3Micah 1:4

  • standעָמַד
    Hebrew · a.mad · H5975G

    The word means to stand or take one's stand, and it can also mean to hold one's ground or to appear. Here the LORD's feet take their stand on the mount as he goes out to fight (14:3). Strong's H5975GZechariah 14:3

  • cleaveבָּקַע
    Hebrew · ba.qa · H1234

    The word means to split, break open or tear. Here it is glossed "and it will be split open," in a form meaning to be cleft or split open. Strong's H1234

  • valleyגַּיְא
    Hebrew · gay · H1516R

    The word is defined as a valley, a steep valley or a narrow gorge. In the next verse the people flee to "the valley of the mountains" (14:5). Strong's H1516RZechariah 14:5

Takeaway

Zechariah 14:4 promises that on the day of the LORD, God himself will stand on the Mount of Olives and split it, opening a valley for his people to flee to. Then he will reign as king over all the earth. Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:5Zechariah 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

Behind this verse

Jerusalem: The mount of Olives
The hill "which is before Jerusalem on the east," across the Kidron valley. David went up it weeping when he fled from Absalom. Zechariah 14:42 Samuel 15:30Acts 1:12

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
  1. 539 BC
    WarBabylon 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

  2. 538 BC
    God'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

  3. c. 536 BC
    God'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

  4. 525 BC
    WarPersia 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

  5. 522-521 BC
    WarDarius 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

  6. 520 BC
    God'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

  7. c. 520-519 BC
    RulersDarius 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

  8. 515 BC
    BuildingThe 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

  9. 490-479 BC
    WarPersia'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

  10. 445 BC
    BuildingNehemiah 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

  11. 332 BC
    WarAlexander 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

Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and they will standוְעָמְד֣וּve-'a-me-DUH5975G
to stand: stand

עָמַד (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 …

feet hisרַגְלָ֣יוrag-LAVH7272
foot

רְגַל (re.gal) foot Aramaic of re.gel (רֶ֫גֶל "foot" H7272)

on the dayבַּיּוֹם־bai-yom-H3117G
day

יוֹם (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 thatהַ֠הוּאHA-hu'H1931
he/she/it

הוּא (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)

onעַל־'al-H5921A
upon

עַל (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) …

[the] mountain ofהַ֨רharH2022G
mountain: mount

הַר (har) : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount

the Olivesהַזֵּתִ֜יםha-ze-TIMH2132G
(Mount of) Olives

זַ֫יִת (za.yit) This name means olive, olive tree Also named: elaiōn (ἐλαιών "Olivet" G1638)

whichאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a-SHERH0834A
which

אֲשֶׁר (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

[is] onעַל־'al-H5921A
upon

עַל (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) …

[the] face ofפְּנֵ֥יpe-NEIH6440G
face: before

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) : before/to/front 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַם֮ye-ru-sha-LIMH3389
Ariel

אֲרִיאֵל (a.ri.el) Ariel = "lion of God" or "lioness of God" Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

from [the] eastמִקֶּדֶם֒mi-ke-DEMH6924G
east

קֵ֫דֶם (qe.dem) adv eastward, to or toward the East Another spelling of qe.dem (קֶ֫דֶם ": east" H6924)

and it will be split openוְנִבְקַע֩ve-niv-KA'H1234
to break up/open

בָּקַע (ba.qa) 1) to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cleave, cleave open 1a2) to break through, break into 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cleft, be rent open, be split open 1b2) to be broken into 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cleave, cut to pieces, rend open 1c2) to break through, break down 1d) (Pual) 1d1) to be ripped open, be torn open 1d2) to be rent 1d3) to be broken into 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to break into 1e2) to break through 1f) (Hophal) to be broken into 1g) (Hithpael) to burst (themselves) open, cleave asunder

[the] mountain ofהַ֨רharH2022G
mountain: mount

הַר (har) : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount

the Olivesהַזֵּיתִ֤יםha-zei-TIMH2132G
(Mount of) Olives

זַ֫יִת (za.yit) This name means olive, olive tree Also named: elaiōn (ἐλαιών "Olivet" G1638)

from middle itsמֵֽחֶצְיוֹ֙me-chetz-YOH2677
half

חֲצִי (che.tsi) 1) half 1a) half 1b) middle

east -wardמִזְרָ֣חָהmiz-RA-chahH4217H
east

מִזְרָח (miz.rach) 1) place of sunrise, east 1a) sunrise, east (with 'sun') 1b) the east (without 'sun') 1b1) to or toward the place of sunrise 1b2) to the east, eastward

and west -wardוָיָ֔מָּהva-YA-mahH3220H
sea

יָם (yam) : sea 1) sea 1a) Mediterranean Sea 1b) Red Sea 1c) Dead Sea 1d) Sea of Galilee 1e) sea (general) 1f) mighty river (Nile) 1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court) 1h) seaward, west, westward

a valleyגֵּ֖יאgei'H1516R
valley

גַּיְא (gay) valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

greatגְּדוֹלָ֣הge-do-LAHH1419A
great: large

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) adj 1) great 1a) large (in magnitude and extent) 1b) in number 1c) in intensity 1d) loud (in sound) 1e) older (in age) 1f) in importance 1f1) important things 1f2) great, distinguished (of men) 1f3) God Himself (of God) subst 1g) great things 1h) haughty things 1i) greatness Also means: ga.dol (גָּדוֹל ": old" H1419K) § Haggedolim = "the great one" (CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

veryמְאֹ֑דme-'ODH3966
much

מְאֹד (me.od) adv 1) exceedingly, much subst 2) might, force, abundance n m 3) muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly 3a) force, might 3b) exceedingly, greatly, very (idioms showing magnitude or degree) 3b1) exceedingly 3b2) up to abundance, to a great degree, exceedingly 3b3) with muchness, muchness

and it will departוּמָ֨שׁu-MASHH4185
to remove

מוּשׁ (mush) 1) to depart, remove 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to depart 1a2) to remove 1a3) to be removed (of inanimate objects) 1b) (Hiphil) to remove, depart

the half ofחֲצִ֥יcha-TZIH2677
half

חֲצִי (che.tsi) 1) half 1a) half 1b) middle

the mountainהָהָ֛רha-HARH2022G
mountain: mount

הַר (har) : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount

north -wardצָפ֖וֹנָהtza-FO-nahH6828G
north

צָפוֹן (tsa.phon) 1) north (of direction), northward 1a) north 1b) northward

and half of itוְחֶצְיוֹ־ve-chetz-yov-H2677
half

חֲצִי (che.tsi) 1) half 1a) half 1b) middle

south -wardנֶֽגְבָּה׃NEG-bahH5045H
Negeb

נֶ֫גֶב (ne.gev) region of southern Judah Also named: ne.gev (נֶ֫גֶב "south" H5045H) This name means south-country

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.