Zechariah 9:14
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. | Then the LORD will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will sound the ram’s horn and advance in the whirlwinds of the south. | And Jehovah shall be seen over them; and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning; and the Lord Jehovah will blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedGod has just promised to use Judah and Ephraim like a bow and a sword against the sons of Greece. In this verse the LORD himself appears over his people as a warrior: his arrow flashes like lightning, he sounds the ram's horn, and he marches in southern storm winds. The next verses say he will defend and save them as his flock. Zechariah 9:13Zechariah 9:14Zechariah 9:15Zechariah 9:16
SpeakingThe verse is part of "the burden of the word of the LORD." Traditional: the prophet Zechariah, named as the book's author, delivered it. Scholarly: many scholars assign chapters 9-14 to a later writer or writers, while others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah 9:1Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylon. In the chapter they are addressed as the daughter of Zion and the "prisoners of hope." Zechariah overviewZechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:12
Also involved"Them" are God's people, Judah and Ephraim, the sons of Zion. They are set against the sons of Greece, whom the LORD fights. Zechariah 9:13Zechariah 9:15
The verse pictures God going into battle for his people. Lightning is his arrow, a ram's horn signals the attack, and storm winds go with him. Other Scripture uses the same pictures of God fighting: he "shot out lightnings" and sent his arrows, and he comes "with his chariots like a whirlwind." Zechariah 9:14Psalms 18:14Psalms 144:6Isaiah 66:15
The battle centers on Zion, Judah and Ephraim, after an oracle against the nations around them, such as Damascus, Tyre and the Philistine cities. The storm comes from the south, the same image used in Isaiah 21:1, "as whirlwinds in the south pass through." Zechariah 9:13Zechariah 9:1Zechariah 9:2Zechariah 9:5Isaiah 21:1
The eventsThe passage looks ahead to a coming deliverance "in that day." The verse itself gives no date for it. Zechariah 9:16Zechariah 9:14
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many scholars assign them to a later writer or writers; others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse assures the returned exiles that their victory will come from the LORD, not from their own strength. It fits the book's theme: "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." Zechariah 9:15Zechariah overview
In the whole of ScriptureZechariah repeatedly shows the LORD as his people's defender. He is a wall of fire around Jerusalem, and later he will "go forth, and fight against those nations." The trumpet also recalls Isaiah's "great trumpet" that gathers God's scattered people to worship at Jerusalem. Zechariah 2:5Zechariah 14:3Isaiah 27:13
For readersGod's people are not left to fight alone. The LORD himself goes out over them, defends them, and saves them "as the flock of his people." Zechariah 9:14Zechariah 9:15Zechariah 9:16
- shall be seenרָאָה
In this form the word means "to appear, present oneself, be visible." The LORD does not stay hidden but shows himself over his people. Strong's H7200G
- lightningבָּרָק
The lexicon notes a figurative use of this word for a flashing arrow-head. That fits the picture of God's arrow going out like lightning, as in Psalm 18:14. Strong's H1300BPsalms 18:14
- trumpetשֹׁפָר
The word is shofar, a horn or ram's horn. Here "the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet" himself. Strong's H7782Zechariah 9:14
- southתֵּימָן
The word can mean the south, the southern part of the sky, or the south wind. So it pictures storms rushing up from the south, as in Isaiah 21:1. Strong's H8486Isaiah 21:1
Takeaway
Zechariah 9:14 shows the LORD going to war for his people with lightning, trumpet and storm. Their deliverance rests on him: "The LORD of hosts shall defend them." Zechariah 9:14Zechariah 9:15
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 Yahweh | וַֽיהוָה֙ | va-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) |
| over them | עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם | 'a-lei-HEM | 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) … |
| he will appear | יֵֽרָאֶ֔ה | ye-ra-'EH | H7200G | to see: seeרָאָה (ra.ah) : see/show 1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to see 1a2) to see, perceive 1a3) to see, have vision 1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out 1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish 1a6) to look at, gaze at 1a7) to provide, choose 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to appear, present oneself 1b2) to be seen 1b3) to be visible 1c) (Pual) to be seen 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to see, show 1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at 1e) (Hophal) … |
| and it will go forth | וְיָצָ֥א | ve-ya-TZA' | H3318G | to come out: comeיָצָא (ya.tsa) : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth |
| like the lightning | כַבָּרָ֖ק | kha-ba-RAK | H1300B | lightningבָּרָק (ba.raq) 1) lightning 1a) lightnings, lightning flashes 1b) of flashing arrow-head (fig.) |
| arrow his | חִצּ֑וֹ | chi-TZO | H2671 | arrowחֵץ (chets) arrow |
| and [the] Lord | וַֽאדֹנָ֤י | va-do-NAI | H0136 | 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) |
| Yahweh | יְהֹוִה֙ | YAH-weh | H3069 | YHWH/Godיְהֹוִה (ye.ho.vih) 1) Jehovah-used primarily in the combination 'Lord Jehovah' 1a) equal to ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068) but pointed with the vowels of e.lo.him (אֱלֹהִים "God" H0430) |
| on the ram's horn | בַּשּׁוֹפָ֣ר | ba-sho-FAR | H7782 | trumpetשֹׁפָר (sho.phar) horn, ram's horn |
| he will give a blast | יִתְקָ֔ע | yit-KA' | H8628 | to blowתָּקַע (ta.qa) 1) to blow, clap, strike, sound, thrust, give a blow, blast 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to thrust, drive (of weapon) 1a2) to give a blast, give a blow 1a3) to strike or clap hands 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be blown, blast (of horn) 1b2) to strike or pledge oneself |
| and he will go | וְהָלַ֖ךְ | ve-ha-LAKH | H1980I | to goהוּךְ (hukh) (P'al) to go, come, walk, be brought Aramaic of ha.lakh (הָלַךְ ": walk" H1980) |
| in [the] storm winds of | בְּסַעֲר֥וֹת | be-sa-'a-ROT | H5591B | tempestסַ֫עַר (sa.ar) tempest Another spelling of se.a.rah (סְעָרָה "tempest" H5591B) |
| [the] south | תֵּימָֽן׃ | tei-MAN | H8486 | southתֵּימָן (te.man) 1) south, southward, whatever is on the right (so the southern quarter), south wind 1a) south (of territory) 1b) southern quarter (of the sky) 1c) toward the south, southward (of direction) 1d) south wind |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.