Zechariah 14:7
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | But 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. | It will be a day known only to the LORD, without day or night; but when evening comes, there will be light. | but it shall be one day which is known unto Jehovah; not day, and not night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening time there shall be light. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedZechariah 14 describes the day of the LORD, when nations attack Jerusalem and the LORD goes out to fight them and stands on the mount of Olives. On that day the light will be neither clear nor dark, a single day known to the LORD that is neither normal day nor night. Yet at evening, when darkness should come, there will be light. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:6Zechariah 14:7
Commonly taken out of context
How it’s often used"At evening time it shall be light" is often quoted as a general promise that old age, or any dark season of life, will end in brightness.
In contextIn context the line describes one particular day, the day of the LORD. On that day he fights the nations and stands on the mount of Olives, and the normal order of day and night is changed. It is a prophecy about that event, not a saying about the stages of a person's life. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:6Zechariah 14:7
SpeakingThe prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah, gives the LORD's message. In this chapter the LORD speaks in the first person ("I will gather all nations"). Zechariah overviewZechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:5
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon and were living in and around Jerusalem. Zechariah overview
Also involvedJerusalem and its people on the day of the LORD, and the nations who come against the city. Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:11
The verse describes a one-of-a-kind day that does not follow the usual pattern of day and night. It is known to the LORD. Where evening would normally bring darkness, it brings light instead. That same day also brings living waters from Jerusalem and the LORD reigning as king over all the earth. Zechariah 14:6Zechariah 14:7Zechariah 14:8Zechariah 14:9
The scene centers on Jerusalem and the mount of Olives to its east, which splits to form a great valley. Living waters flow out from Jerusalem toward the former and hinder seas. Zechariah 14:4Zechariah 14:8
The eventsThe verse points ahead to "that day," the day of the LORD, when he fights the nations and becomes king over all the earth. The text does not give a date, and the verse itself says the day is known to the LORD. Zechariah 14:1Zechariah 14:3Zechariah 14:7Zechariah 14:9
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, but chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many assign them to a later writer or writers; others hold Zechariah wrote it all. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse shows that the day of the LORD is his own work. It overturns even the order of day and night, and the darkness of evening gives way to light. Zechariah 14:6Zechariah 14:7
In the whole of ScriptureThe book looks ahead to the day when "the LORD shall be king over all the earth." Other Scriptures speak of a time when the LORD himself is the light of his people. Isaiah 60:19 says "the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light," and Revelation 22:5 says "there shall be no night there." Zechariah overviewZechariah 14:9Isaiah 60:19Isaiah 30:26Revelation 21:23Revelation 22:5
For readersReaders are not given the timing of this day. It is "known to the LORD," just as Jesus said of that day that "knoweth no man... but the Father." What readers are given is the certainty that God will bring light where darkness is expected. Zechariah 14:7Mark 13:32Acts 1:7
Christians read this differently
The chapter does not say whether the changed light is a literal change in the sky or a picture of God's presence. Some read it as a literal future event at the LORD's coming. Others read it as an image of God himself becoming his people's light, as in Isaiah 60:19 and Revelation 21:23. Zechariah 14:6Zechariah 14:7Isaiah 60:19Revelation 21:23Revelation 22:5
- oneאֶחָד
The word means "one," and its range also includes "a certain" and "only, once, once for all." "One day" therefore marks this as a single, distinct day rather than an ordinary one. Strong's H0259Zechariah 14:7
- knownיָדַע
Here the word is passive, "it will be known." Its range includes "to be made known, be revealed." The day is known to the LORD, which fits Jesus' words that only the Father knows that day. Strong's H3045Zechariah 14:7Mark 13:32
- lightאוֹר
The word covers daylight, the light of the sun and moon, and dawn. It is also used of the LORD as Israel's light. The surprise in the verse is that this light comes at evening. Strong's H0216Strong's H6153Zechariah 14:7
Takeaway
Zechariah 14:7 is not a general proverb. It describes the day of the LORD as a unique day known to the LORD, when he reverses the coming of darkness and brings light. It looks ahead to the time when the LORD is king over all the earth and is himself his people's light. Zechariah 14:7Zechariah 14:9Isaiah 60:19Revelation 22:5
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.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and it will be | וְהָיָ֣ה | 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) … |
| a day | יוֹם־ | 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 |
| one | אֶחָ֗ד | 'e-CHAD | H0259 | oneאֶחָד (e.chad) 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal) |
| it | ה֛וּא | 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) |
| it will be known | יִוָּדַ֥ע | yi-va-DA' | H3045 | to knowיָדַע (ya.da) 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) … |
| to Yahweh | לַֽיהוָ֖ה | 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) |
| not | לֹא־ | 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) |
| day | י֣וֹם | 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 |
| 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) |
| night | לָ֑יְלָה | LA-ye-lah | H3915 | nightלַ֫יְלָה (lay.lah) 1) night 1a) night (as opposed to day) 1b) of gloom, protective shadow (fig.) |
| and it will be | וְהָיָ֥ה | 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) … |
| to [the] time of | לְעֵֽת־ | le-'et- | H6256 | timeעֵת (et) 1) time 1a) time (of an event) 1b) time (usual) 1c) experiences, fortunes 1d) occurrence, occasion |
| evening | עֶ֖רֶב | 'E-rev | H6153 | eveningעֶ֫רֶב (e.rev) 1) evening, night, sunset 1a) evening, sunset 1b) night |
| it will be | יִֽהְיֶה־ | 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) … |
| light | אֽוֹר׃ | 'or | H0216 | lightאוֹר (or) 1) light 1a) light of day 1b) light of heavenly luminaries (moon, sun, stars) 1c) day-break, dawn, morning light 1d) daylight 1e) lightning 1f) light of lamp 1g) light of life 1h) light of prosperity 1i) light of instruction 1j) light of face (fig.) 1k) Jehovah as Israel's light |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.