Zechariah 14:1–11 (August 21, 2025)

The Coming Day of the Lord

14:1 Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. 5 And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall 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.[a]

6 On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost.[b] 7 And there shall be a unique[c] day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.

8 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea[d] and half of them to the western sea.[e] It shall continue in summer as in winter.

9 And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.

10 The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses. 11 And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction.[f] Jerusalem shall dwell in security.

Footnotes

Zechariah 14:5 Other Hebrew manuscripts you

Zechariah 14:6 Compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

Zechariah 14:7 Hebrew one

Zechariah 14:8 That is, the Dead Sea

Zechariah 14:8 That is, the Mediterranean Sea

Zechariah 14:11 The Hebrew term rendered decree of utter destruction refers to things devoted (or set apart) to the Lord (or by the Lord) for destruction

Zechariah 14Brian Lee

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Summary

Zechariah 14:1–11 describes the climactic “day of the LORD,” when the nations gather against Jerusalem for a final battle. At first, the city is overrun, its houses plundered, and its people taken into exile (vv. 1–2). Yet, the crisis becomes the stage for divine intervention. The LORD Himself will go out as a warrior, fighting against the nations (v. 3). His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will split in two, creating a great valley for His people’s deliverance (v. 4–5).

This cosmic upheaval signals a new creation. There will be a unique day known only to the LORD. It will be without the regular alternation of day and night, but with continuous light (v. 7). Living waters will flow out from Jerusalem, extending east and west, symbolizing God’s life-giving presence and blessing (v. 8).

Finally, the LORD will be King over all the earth. His name alone will be exalted (v. 9). Jerusalem will be lifted up, secure, and never again devoted to destruction (vv. 10–11).

Who is God?

God is the Judge who acts with His own hands.

He allows Jerusalem to face judgment and hardship (vv. 1–2), showing that He Himself is not indifferent to the sins of His people. God’s justice is not abstract but personal. He enters history to confront both His people’s failures and the rebellion of the nations.

Now, when all hope seems lost, the LORD goes out to fight (v. 3). He is not a distant God but one who comes down, standing on the Mount of Olives (v. 4). His presence shakes creation itself and opens a way of escape for His people (v. 5). Under His rule, Jerusalem is lifted up, secure, and holy, never again to be destroyed (vv. 10–11).

What is Our Guilt?

Our guilt is that we often live as if God were not King. Like Jerusalem, we can experience judgment because of sin, assuming that political strength or human defenses will save us when only God can.

Once again, our guilt is shown in our persistent underestimation of God’s holiness. We live in divided allegiance, giving glory to many “names” of this world, such as financial stability, political power, and earthly reputation. We do so rather than confessing the one true King whose name alone is exalted.

Finally, we fail to trust God’s promises in times of crisis. When trials come, we fear that destruction is final, forgetting that God’s purposes always move toward salvation and renewal.

How Does Grace Shine?

Grace shines in the LORD’s decisive intervention. Though Jerusalem suffers devastation, God Himself steps in as a warrior to save His people. His feet touch the earth, pointing us forward to the incarnation of Christ, who came not only to fight but to conquer sin and death.

Grace shines in the living waters. This points to Jesus, who declared, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38). By His Spirit, God refreshes and renews His people even now.

Grace shines in the promise of secure peace. What begins with upheaval ends with stability. In Christ, the New Jerusalem is our final home, lifted up, secure, and filled with the light of God’s presence.

Prayer

Sovereign LORD,

We confess that we often live as though You were not King, relying on our own defenses and fearing that trials will overwhelm us. Forgive us for our divided allegiance and for trusting in false securities.

We thank You that You are the Warrior who fights for us, the King whose reign brings peace, and the Redeemer who has come near in Jesus Christ. Refresh us with Your living waters. Lift us up and secure us in Your love, until the day when we see Your kingdom in its fullness and dwell safely in the New Jerusalem.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.