Keraia
Zechariah 14

Zechariah 14:5

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

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And you will flee by the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azal; and you will flee, as when you fled from the face of the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. And YHWH my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.
Latin
Et fugietis ad vallem montium eorum, quoniam conjungetur vallis montium usque ad proximum: et fugietis sicut fugistis a facie terræmotus in diebus Oziæ regis Juda: et veniet Dominus Deus meus, omnesque sancti cum eo.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

Zechariah 14:5

  • Some scholars believe Azal (Hebrew ’atsal) is a district on the northeast side of Jerusalem, where Azel's descendants lived (1 Chronicles 8:37–39; 9:43–44). Others suggest changing the Hebrew to ’etsel, meaning “alongside” or “the side of it.”

  • The date of the earthquake during King Uzziah's time is unknown, but Amos started his ministry two years before it (Amos 1:1).

  • The holy ones are likely the many angels who worship God and serve as his army (see Psalm 89:5, 7).

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

People

Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province Uzziah: King of Judah, reigned 52 years

Places

Azal: Unidentified place near Jerusalem mentioned in Zechariah's prophecy

Glossary

Azal Book of Amos Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Earthquake Gog Holy War Holy War Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven Mount of Olives Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Azal: A Place Near Jerusalem Earthquakes in Canaan, in the Days of Uzziah, King of Judah Earthquakes in Uzziah's Reign Earthquakes: Men Always Terrified By Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of Blessing and Restoration Uzziah: Called Azariah: An Earthquake Occurred During the Reign of