Zechariah 14:5
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | And 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. | You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him. | And ye shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azel; yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; and Jehovah my God shall come, and all the holy ones with thee. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedOn the coming day of the LORD, when the nations attack Jerusalem, the LORD stands on the Mount of Olives and splits it, opening a very great valley. This verse tells the people to flee to that valley, as their fathers fled the earthquake in King Uzziah's days. Then the LORD comes, and all the holy ones with him. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:5
SpeakingThe prophet speaks, calling the LORD "my God." The book names him as Zechariah son of Berechiah. Zechariah 14:5Zechariah overview
ToThe "ye" who flee are the people of Jerusalem in that day. The book was first given to the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:5Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe nations gathered against Jerusalem are the ones the LORD goes out to fight and strike. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:12
The LORD goes forth to fight against the nations (14:3), and his feet stand on the mount of Olives, which splits to open a valley reaching to Azal. The people flee through it, as they once fled the earthquake. Then the LORD comes with all the holy ones and becomes king over all the earth. Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:5Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:9
The scene is Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, which stands before the city on the east. The valley reaches to Azal, which the lexicon describes as a place near Jerusalem whose site is presently unknown. Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:5Strong's H0682B
The eventsThe events belong to the future "day of the LORD" (14:1). The earthquake it recalls was a past event in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, which Amos also uses to date his prophecy, "two years before the earthquake" (Amos 1:1). Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:5Amos 1:1
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah then, but many assign the undated chapters 9-14 to a later writer or writers, while others hold Zechariah wrote it all. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse shows that in Jerusalem's worst hour God himself opens a place of escape and then comes with his holy ones. It fits the chapter's promise that Jerusalem will at last be safely inhabited. Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:5Zechariah 14:11
In the whole of ScriptureThe LORD's coming leads to the chapter's high point: "the LORD shall be king over all the earth" (14:9). That is the hope the book holds out to its readers. Zechariah 14:9Zechariah overview
For readersThe New Testament uses the same picture of the Lord coming with a holy company: with "ten thousands of his saints" to execute judgment (Jude 1:14-15), with "all the holy angels" (Matthew 25:31), and "with his mighty angels" to give rest to the troubled (2 Thessalonians 1:7). Readers are pointed to a real day when the Lord comes to judge and to save. Jude 1:14Jude 1:15Matthew 25:312 Thessalonians 1:7
Christians read this differently
The verse does not say who the "holy ones" (KJV "saints") are, and the cited Scriptures point both ways. Some read them as angels, matching "all the holy angels" (Matthew 25:31) and "his mighty angels" (2 Thessalonians 1:7). Others read them as God's people, or both, matching "ten thousands of his saints" (Jude 1:14) and "glorified in his saints" (2 Thessalonians 1:10). Zechariah 14:5Strong's H6918GMatthew 25:312 Thessalonians 1:72 Thessalonians 1:10Jude 1:14
- saintsקָדוֹשׁ
The word is glossed holy, sacred, set apart, Holy One, or saint. Here it is plural, "holy ones," who come with the LORD. Strong's H6918GZechariah 14:5
- earthquakeרַ֫עַשׁ
The word means quaking or shaking, including an earthquake. Here it names a remembered event, the earthquake Amos 1:1 dates in Uzziah's reign. Strong's H7494Amos 1:1
- valleyגַּיְא
The word means a valley, a steep valley or narrow gorge. It is the very great valley opened when the Mount of Olives splits, and the people flee to it. Strong's H1516RZechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:5
Takeaway
Zechariah 14:5 pictures God opening a way of escape for his people and then coming himself, with all his holy ones, to fight for Jerusalem. The New Testament takes up the same hope of the Lord coming with his saints and angels to judge and to sit on his throne. Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:5Jude 1:14Matthew 25:31
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
- Azal riverMapAbout 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 you will flee | וְנַסְתֶּ֣ם | ve-nas-TEM | H5127 | to fleeנוּד (nud) (P'al) to flee Aramaic of nus (נוּס "to flee" H5127) |
| [the] valley of | גֵּֽיא־ | gei'- | H1516R | valleyגַּיְא (gay) valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge |
| mountains my | הָרַ֗י | ha-RAI | H2022G | mountain: mountהַר (har) : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount |
| for | כִּֽי־ | ki- | H3588A | forכִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore |
| it will reach | יַגִּ֣יעַ | ya-GI-a' | H5060 | to touchנָגַע (na.ga) 1) to touch, reach, strike 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to touch 1a2) to strike 1a3) to reach, extend to 1a4) to be stricken 1a4a) stricken (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be stricken, be defeated 1c) (Piel) to strike 1d) (Pual) to be stricken (by disease) 1e) (Hiphil) to cause to touch, reach, approach, arrive 1e1) to cause to touch, apply 1e2) to reach, extend, attain, arrive, come 1e3) to approach (of time) 1e4) to befall (of fate) |
| [the] valley of | גֵּי־ | gei- | H1516R | valleyגַּיְא (gay) valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge |
| mountains | הָרִים֮ | ha-RIM | H2022G | mountain: mountהַר (har) : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount |
| to | אֶל־ | '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) |
| Azal | אָצַל֒ | 'a-TZAL | H0682B | Azalאָצֵל (a.tsel) § Azal = "proximity: he has reserved" a place near Jerusalem, site presently unknown |
| and you will flee | וְנַסְתֶּ֗ם | ve-nas-TEM | H5127 | to fleeנוּד (nud) (P'al) to flee Aramaic of nus (נוּס "to flee" H5127) |
| just as | כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר | ka-'a-SHER | H0834D | as whichכַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) conj 1) 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 |
| you fled | נַסְתֶּם֙ | nas-TEM | H5127 | to fleeנוּד (nud) (P'al) to flee Aramaic of nus (נוּס "to flee" H5127) |
| from before | מִפְּנֵ֣י | mi-pe-NEI | H6440G | face: beforeפָּנֶה (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 |
| the earthquake | הָרַ֔עַשׁ | ha-RA-'ash | H7494 | quakingרַ֫עַשׁ (ra.ash) 1) quaking, rattling, shaking 1a) earthquake 1b) quaking, trembling (of person) 1c) shaking, quivering (of dart) |
| in [the] days of | בִּימֵ֖י | bi-MEI | 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 |
| Uzziah | עֻזִּיָּ֣ה | 'u-zi-YAH | H5818G | Uzziahעֻזִּיָּהוּ (uz.ziy.yah) A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.14.21; son of: Amaziah (H0558) and Jecoliah (H3203); married to Jerusha (H3388); father of: Jotham (H3147H); also called Azariah at 2Ki.14.21; 15.1,6,7,8,17,23,27; 1xKJV: Ozias at Mat.1.8,9; § Uzziah = "my strength is Jehovah" 1) son of king Amaziah of Judah and king of Judah himself for 52 years; also 'Azariah' 2) a Kohathite Levite and ancestor of Samuel 3) a priest of the sons of Harim who took a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 4) a Judaite, father of Athaiah or Uthai … |
| [the] king of | מֶֽלֶךְ־ | ME-lekh- | H4428G | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) 1) king Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430) |
| Judah | יְהוּדָ֑ה | ye-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 |
| and he will come | וּבָא֙ | u-VA' | 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 |
| Yahweh | יְהוָ֣ה | 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) |
| God my | אֱלֹהַ֔י | 'e-lo-HAI | H0430G | Godאֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" 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) |
| holy [ones] | קְדֹשִׁ֖ים | ke-do-SHIM | H6918G | holyקָדוֹשׁ (qa.dosh) : holy sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart |
| [will be] with you | עִמָּֽךְ׃ | 'i-MAKH | H5973A | withעִם (im) 1) with 1a) with 1b) against 1c) toward 1d) as long as |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.