Keraia
Zechariah 14

Zechariah 14:4

The Destroyers of Jerusalem Destroyed · Zechariah 14:1–15
Read Zechariah 14

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
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 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.
Literal
And His feet will stand on that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is upon the face of Jerusalem from the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split, from half of it on the east and on the west, a very great valley; and half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Latin
Et stabunt pedes ejus in die illa super montem Olivarum, qui est contra Jerusalem ad orientem: et scindetur mons Olivarum ex media parte sui ad orientem et ad occidentem, prærupto grandi valde: et separabitur medium montis ad aquilonem, et medium ejus ad meridiem.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

Zechariah 14:4

  • Jesus went up into heaven from the Mount of Olives. After this, angels told the disciples of Jesus that he would return in the same way they had seen him go (Acts 1:11–12).

  • The prophet Zechariah describes an earthquake that will split the Mount of Olives in two. This will create a valley running east and west. The valley will give the Hebrews an escape route when the nations attack Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:5). Many Christians connect this event with the return of Jesus at the end of the age (see Matthew 24; Revelation 6:12; 11:13; 16:18).

Zechariah 14:1–21

Zechariah ends with visions of judgment, salvation, and God's universal kingdom. In the future, Israel will face a siege and near destruction, but the Lord will intervene to save his people (Zechariah 14:3–4) and punish their enemies with a severe plague (14:12). Israel will be restored as God's people, and Jerusalem will become the center of civilization (Zechariah 14:16–17). God's rule will extend over the entire earth (Zechariah 14:9), and the natural world will change (14:6–10). God's holiness will be the defining feature of his rule over the earth (Zechariah 14:20–21).

Zechariah’s message calls God’s people to hope in the King of Israel, who has full power and authority.

Zechariah 12:1–14:21

The theme of Jerusalem versus the nations connects the four messages in Zechariah's second oracle. The nations gather against Jerusalem at both the start (Zechariah 12:1–9) and the end (14:1–15) of the oracle. The repeated phrase on that day points to the future day of the Lord.

This oracle shows both judgment and blessing for Jerusalem. The main focus is the cleansing of the people of Israel (Zechariah 13:1), ending with God's universal kingdom (14:16–21). These future visions encouraged the Judeans of Zechariah's time to stay faithful despite feeling unimportant and helpless.

Events

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions Mount of Olives: A mountain ridge east of Jerusalem

Glossary

Earthquake Gog Holy War Holy War Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven Mount of Olives Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Earthquakes: At Christ's Second Coming, Predicted Earthquakes: Frequently Accompanied by Overturning of Mountains Earthquakes: Prophecies of Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of Blessing and Restoration The Jews: Promises Respecting: That Christ Shall Appear Amongst