Zechariah 14 10

Zechariah 14:10 kjv

All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.

Zechariah 14:10 nkjv

All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin's Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses.

Zechariah 14:10 niv

The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up high from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place.

Zechariah 14:10 esv

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.

Zechariah 14:10 nlt

All the land from Geba, north of Judah, to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become one vast plain. But Jerusalem will be raised up in its original place and will be inhabited all the way from the Benjamin Gate over to the site of the old gate, then to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses.

Zechariah 14 verses

Zechariah 14 10 Meaning

Zechariah 14:10 prophesies a radical topographical transformation of the land of Judah surrounding Jerusalem and a simultaneous divine exaltation and expansion of Jerusalem during the eschatological Day of the Lord. The entire region around Jerusalem, specifically from its northern boundary at Geba to its southern boundary at Rimmon, will be flattened into a plain. In contrast, Jerusalem itself will remain uniquely elevated, divinely stable, and continuously inhabited in its specific location, expanded to new, generous borders. These new boundaries will stretch from the Gate of Benjamin in the north to the location of the First Gate, then extending to the Corner Gate, and further from the prominent Tower of Hananel to the King's Winepresses. This vision underscores God's complete sovereignty over creation, His faithfulness in restoring and exalting His holy city, and Jerusalem's designated central role in the ultimate Messianic kingdom.

Zechariah 14 10 Context

Zechariah 14 is the climactic and apocalyptic chapter of Zechariah's final major prophecy (chapters 9-14), centered on "the Day of the Lord." This day ushers in God's decisive intervention in human history. The chapter opens with Jerusalem besieged by all nations, subjected to conquest and plunder (Zech 14:1-2), a stark image of judgment. This is immediately followed by the dramatic appearance of the Lord Himself, standing on the Mount of Olives, which splits into a vast valley, indicating divine power (Zech 14:3-5). After this cataclysm, Zechariah describes miraculous changes in the natural world, including continuous light and life-giving waters flowing from Jerusalem, alongside the complete defeat and judgment of the nations that fought against it (Zech 14:6-9). Verse 10, therefore, describes the ensuing and fundamental geopolitical and topographical transformation that redefines Jerusalem and its surrounding region. This transformation prepares Jerusalem to become the central, universally accessible, and perpetually exalted capital of God's global kingdom, fulfilling its destined role as the place from which the Lord of hosts reigns universally (Zech 14:16-17).

Zechariah 14 10 Word analysis

• "All the land" (כָּל־הָאָ֖רֶץ - kol-ha'aretz):

  • Word-level: While ha'aretz can refer to "the whole earth," in the immediate context of specific geographical markers (Geba, Rimmon), it distinctly refers to the land of Judah or Israel.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the sweeping and comprehensive nature of the topographical change that will engulf the entire region directly around Jerusalem. It underscores divine control over the entire designated territory, preparing it for a new purpose.

• "shall be turned into a plain" (הָפַךְ לְמִישׁוֹר - hafakh lemeshvor):

  • Word-level: Hafakh implies a drastic and active "turning" or "overturning," denoting a fundamental change. Mishor refers to "level ground" or a "plateau."
  • Significance: This describes a radical, supernaturally engineered geographical change. It eliminates the challenging mountainous terrain typical of Judah, symbolically making Jerusalem accessible to "all nations" who will stream to it (Isa 2:2, Mic 4:1) for worship without physical impediment.

• "from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem":

  • Word-level: Geba (modern Jaba') was a town of Benjamin, situated approximately six miles north of Jerusalem (cf. 1 Sam 13:3, 1 Kgs 15:22). Rimmon is likely En-Rimmon, a town in southern Judah (Neh 11:29). "South of Jerusalem" specifies the relative direction for Rimmon.
  • Significance: These geographical markers define the full northern-to-southern axis and extent of the flattening operation in Judah. It encompasses a vast portion of the ancient territory, highlighting the extent of God's transformative work.

• "but Jerusalem shall remain aloft" (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֧ם תִּישָׁ֥ב עַל־מְקוֹמָהּ רָמָֽה - Yerushalayim tishav al-meqomah ramah):

  • Word-level: The verb nasa' (embedded in v'nasa'ah, which implies "and she shall be lifted/exalted") combines with tishav ("shall be inhabited/dwell") and ramah ("high, elevated, exalted"). This means "Jerusalem shall dwell, exalted in her place."
  • Significance: This directly contrasts with the leveling of the surrounding land. Jerusalem alone is divinely preserved in its elevated state, emphasizing its singular, exalted status, spiritual preeminence, and permanent habitation as God's chosen city amidst a transformed world.

• "and be inhabited in her place":

  • Significance: Reinforces the idea of permanence and stability. Despite global upheavals, Jerusalem's divinely designated place is secure and perpetually occupied, ensuring its continuity and covenantal significance.

• "from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate":

  • Word-level: The Gate of Benjamin was on the north side of Jerusalem (Jer 37:13). The "First Gate" might be another name for the Old Gate (Neh 3:6), suggesting a point on the city's west. The Corner Gate typically refers to a strategic gate at a corner of the city walls (2 Kgs 14:13).
  • Significance: These are key reference points for Jerusalem's perimeter, indicating a significant and physical expansion of the city's boundaries. This suggests a flourishing, secure, and greatly enlarged metropolis that can accommodate all who come to worship.

• "and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses":

  • Word-level: The Tower of Hananel was a well-known defensive landmark in Jerusalem's northern wall (Neh 3:1). "King's winepresses" is a less certain location, but would have been outside the main city, possibly to the east or south in agricultural land.
  • Significance: These points further delineate the expansive new city, stretching to encompass areas formerly outside its walls. The inclusion of agricultural areas like "the king's winepresses" within the city suggests that the entire region under God's sovereignty becomes part of His holy dwelling, transforming the previously secular into the sanctified, representing an extensive and complete kingdom.

Zechariah 14 10 Bonus section

The profound changes prophesied in Zechariah 14:10, particularly the contrast between the flattened surrounding land and the exalted Jerusalem, can be understood as fulfilling ancient Hebrew poetic and prophetic tropes. Often, mountains and valleys were used to describe life's difficulties and the divine interventions that smooth them (Isa 40:4). Here, it shifts from personal spiritual metaphor to a literal-apocalyptic geographical alteration, underscoring God's ultimate power to re-create the world according to His perfect plan. Moreover, the specific, historic gates and towers mentioned serve as a connection point, reassuring the original audience (and subsequent readers) that despite the fantastical scale of the prophecy, it pertains to their city of Jerusalem, now under permanent, expanded divine care. This dual emphasis on radical transformation and foundational continuity speaks to the unchanging nature of God's covenantal promises despite the dramatic reshaping of the physical world.

Zechariah 14 10 Commentary

Zechariah 14:10 offers a visionary glimpse into Jerusalem's eschatological future, post-Day of the Lord. The flattening of the surrounding mountainous terrain from Geba to Rimmon is a monumental divine intervention, dramatically altering the geography of Judah. This transformative act is not just a geological curiosity but serves a profound theological purpose: to clear barriers and make the pathway to Jerusalem universally accessible, enabling all nations to approach the Lord (Zech 14:16). Crucially, this drastic leveling stands in direct contrast to Jerusalem's fate, for it is explicitly stated that "Jerusalem shall remain aloft." This signifies divine preservation and exaltation, confirming its unique, preeminent, and unchangeable status as the chosen city.

Furthermore, the detailed mention of its expanded boundaries, from the Gate of Benjamin and the Tower of Hananel in the north to the First Gate, Corner Gate, and the King's Winepresses elsewhere, confirms that this future Jerusalem will be far grander and more secure than any previous incarnation. These aren't merely architectural plans; they're symbolic declarations of comprehensive security, capacity for a multitude, and divine blessing upon a city whose territory now includes lands previously external. The inclusion of the "king's winepresses" is particularly telling, suggesting that even once-ordinary, productive lands become sanctified and integrated into the city of the divine King, demonstrating His sovereignty over every aspect of His renewed creation and His people.