Zechariah 7:14
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate. | But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known, and the land was left desolate behind them so that no one could come or go. Thus they turned the pleasant land into a desolation.” | but I will scatter them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they have not known. Thus the land was desolate after them, so that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis verse closes chapter 7's part of the LORD's answer to a question about fasting; the answer goes on into chapter 8, in the same section of the book. Earlier generations refused to hear the former prophets' call to justice and mercy, so God scattered them among foreign nations and their land lay empty. By their sin they had turned the pleasant land into a waste. Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10Zechariah 7:11Zechariah 7:12Zechariah 7:13Zechariah 7:14Zechariah overview
SpeakingThe LORD of hosts speaks, giving his word through the prophet Zechariah. Zechariah 7:8Zechariah 7:13Zechariah overview
ToAll the people of the land and the priests. The message answers a question brought by Sherezer, Regemmelech and their men to the house of God. Zechariah 7:2Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe earlier generation who would not hear the law and the former prophets. God scattered them, and their land was left desolate. Zechariah 7:7Zechariah 7:11Zechariah 7:12Zechariah 7:14
God says he drove the people away like a storm into nations they did not know. The land was left so empty that no one passed through it or came back to it. The people themselves had laid the desirable land waste. Zechariah 7:14Strong's H5590Strong's H2532AStrong's H8047G
The message was given among the returned exiles in Jerusalem, in answer to men sent to the house of God. The desolate land is the land of Jerusalem and the cities around her, with the south and the plain. Zechariah 7:2Zechariah 7:7Zechariah overview
The eventsThe verse looks back on the exile and the years of mourning, the seventy years of fasting in the fifth and seventh months. Before that, Jerusalem had been inhabited and prosperous. Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:7Zechariah 7:14
WrittenThe word came in the fourth year of King Darius, ninth month, fourth day, about 518 BC. Traditional: Zechariah wrote the book. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, though many assign chapters 9-14 to later writers. Zechariah 7:1Zechariah overview
HereThe people asked whether they should keep weeping and fasting. God answers that their fasts were not really for him, and he points them to the former prophets' words. Refusing those words was what brought the scattering. Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6Zechariah 7:7Zechariah 7:11Zechariah 7:12Zechariah 7:14
In the whole of ScriptureThe scattering matches what the law warned: "the LORD shall scatter you among the nations" (Deuteronomy 4:27; see Deuteronomy 28:64). Zechariah 2:6 also says God "spread you abroad as the four winds." The book calls the returned people to turn to the LORD so he will turn to them. Deuteronomy 4:27Deuteronomy 28:64Zechariah 2:6Zechariah overview
For readersOutward religion such as fasting does not replace obedience. God's command stands: "Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother" and do not oppress the widow, fatherless, stranger or poor. Refusing to hear his word brought his wrath. Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10Zechariah 7:12Zechariah 7:13
The word means to storm or rage. In this form it means "to storm away," so God drove the people off like a storm. Jeremiah 23:19 likewise speaks of "a whirlwind of the LORD" falling on the wicked. Strong's H5590Jeremiah 23:19
- pleasantחֶמְדָּה
The word means desire, that which is desirable. The land was a land of desire, and the people's sin made it a waste. Daniel 8:9 also speaks of "the pleasant land." Strong's H2532AZechariah 7:14Daniel 8:9
- desolateשַׁמָּה
The word means a waste, and also horror or appalment. The land was left a waste. Strong's H8047GZechariah 7:14
Takeaway
Because the people would not hear God, God would not hear them, and their pleasant land was left desolate. The lesson to the returned people is to hear and obey the prophets' words, not merely to fast. Zechariah 7:13Zechariah 7:14Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:7
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
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 I will storm away them | וְאֵ֣סָעֲרֵ֗ם | ve-'E-sa-'a-REM | H5590 | to rageסָעַר (sa.ar) 1) to storm, rage 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to storm 1a2) stormy, growing storm (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be enraged 1c) (Piel) to storm away 1d) (Pual) to be driven by storm |
| to | עַ֤ל | 'al | H5921A | uponעַל (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) … |
| 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 | הַגּוֹיִם֙ | 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.) |
| which | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | 'a-SHER | H0834A | whichאֲשֶׁר (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 |
| not | לֹֽא־ | 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) |
| they have known them | יְדָע֔וּם | ye-da-'UM | 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) … |
| and the land | וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ | ve-ha-'A-retz | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
| it was desolate | נָשַׁ֣מָּה | na-SHA-mah | H8074G | be desolate: destroyedשָׁמֵם (sha.mem) : destroyed/deserted 1) to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be desolated, be deflowered, be deserted, be appalled 1a2) to be appalled, be awestruck 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be desolated, be made desolate 1b2) to be appalled 1c) (Polel) 1c1) to be stunned 1c2) appalling, causing horror (participle) 1c2a) horror-causer, appaller (subst) 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to devastate, ravage, make desolated 1d2) to appal, show horror 1e) (Hophal) to lay desolate, be desolated 1f) (Hithpolel) 1f1) to cause to be desolate 1f2) to be appalled, be astounded … |
| behind them | אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם | 'a-cha-rei-HEM | H0310A | afterאַחַר (a.char) 1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time) 1a) as an adverb 1a1) behind (of place) 1a2) afterwards (of time) 1b) as a preposition 1b1) behind, after (of place) 1b2) after (of time) 1b3) besides 1c) as a conjunction 1c) after that 1d) as a substantive 1d1) hinder part 1e) with other prepositions 1e1) from behind 1e2) from following after |
| from [one who] passes by | מֵֽעֹבֵ֖ר | me-'o-VER | H5674A | to passעָבַר (a.var) 1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over 1a2) to pass beyond 1a3) to pass through, traverse 1a3a) passers-through (participle) 1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant) 1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by 1a4a) passer-by (participle) 1a4b) to be past, be over 1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance 1a6) to pass away 1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory) 1a6b) to vanish … |
| and from [one who] returns | וּמִשָּׁ֑ב | u-mi-SHAV | H7725O | to return: returnשׁוּב (shuv) : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) … |
| and they made | וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ | vai-ya-SI-mu | H7760A | to set: makeשׂוּם (sum) : make/establish 1) to put, place, set, appoint, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on 1a2) to set, direct, direct toward 1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig) 1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix 1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix 1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give 1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign 1c) (Hophal) to be set |
| a land of | אֶֽרֶץ־ | 'e-retz- | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
| desire | חֶמְדָּ֖ה | chem-DAH | H2532A | desireחֶמְדָּה (chem.dah) desire, that which is desirable |
| into a waste | לְשַׁמָּֽה׃ פ | le-sha-MAH | H8047G | horror: destroyedשַׁמָּה (sham.mah) : destroyed/waste 1) waste, horror, appalment 1a) a waste (of land, city, etc) 1b) appalment, horror Also means: sham.mah (שַׁמָּה ": appalled" H8047H) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.