Zechariah 14 12

Zechariah 14:12 kjv

And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Zechariah 14:12 nkjv

And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.

Zechariah 14:12 niv

This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

Zechariah 14:12 esv

And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

Zechariah 14:12 nlt

And the LORD will send a plague on all the nations that fought against Jerusalem. Their people will become like walking corpses, their flesh rotting away. Their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.

Zechariah 14 verses

Zechariah 14 12 Meaning

Zechariah 14:12 describes a terrifying and supernatural divine plague that will befall all nations and peoples who have fought against Jerusalem. This judgment will cause their flesh, eyes, and tongue to rapidly and horribly decay and disintegrate while they are still alive and standing. It signifies a swift, undeniable, and utterly destructive act of God against those who oppose His chosen city and people, marking the culmination of the Day of the Lord.

Zechariah 14 12 Context

Zechariah 14 belongs to a section of "burdens" or prophetic oracles (chapters 9-14), specifically the latter part focused on eschatological events, often called the "Apocalypse of Zechariah." Chapter 14 describes the climatic "Day of the Lord," an apocalyptic confrontation where all nations gather against Jerusalem for a final battle. The chapter details Jerusalem's initial defeat, the Lord's sudden intervention on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4), the subsequent flight of Jerusalem's inhabitants, and then the devastating judgment upon the attacking armies, followed by the establishment of God's universal reign and the purification of Jerusalem. Verse 12 immediately follows the description of Jerusalem's dire situation and directly precedes the panic among the remaining enemies, highlighting the instantaneous and direct divine judgment as the turning point of the conflict. Historically, Zechariah was a post-exilic prophet, speaking to a disheartened remnant. His visions offered hope of a future glorious kingdom and warned of divine judgment against all who oppose God's purposes for His people.

Zechariah 14 12 Word analysis

• And this shall be the plague (וְזֹאת תִּהְיֶה הַמַּגֵּפָה - vəzōʾt tihyeh hammaggēp̱â):
  • "Plague" (maggēp̱â): This Hebrew term specifically denotes a divinely sent stroke or epidemic, a widespread and severe affliction, often a pestilence (Exod 9:14, Num 14:37, 1 Sam 6:4). Its use here signals that the destruction is not conventional warfare but a direct supernatural intervention by God.
• wherewith the LORD will smite (אֲשֶׁר יִגֹּף יהוה - ʾăšer yiggop̱ YHWH):
  • "smite" (nāg̱ap̄): To strike, inflict, defeat. It strongly links to the concept of plague when used with maggēp̱â. It emphasizes God's active role as the executor of this judgment. "LORD" (יהוה - YHWH) identifies the sovereign God of Israel as the one bringing this calamity.
• all the people (כָּל־הָעַמִּים - kāl hāʿammîm):
  • "all the people": This stresses the universal scope of the judgment. It's not a localized skirmish but a global alliance of God's enemies.
• that have fought against Jerusalem (אֲשֶׁר צָבְאוּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם - ʾăšer ṣāḇəʾû ʿal-Yərûšālaim):
  • "fought against Jerusalem" (ṣāḇəʾû - literally "gathered to make war" or "marshaled armies against"): Clearly identifies the targets as those actively engaged in hostilities against God's city. It implies not just military action but opposition to God's chosen place.
• Their flesh shall consume away (הַמַּק יִמַּק בְּשָׂרוֹ - hammaq yimmaq bəśārô):
  • "flesh" (bəśārô): Refers to the physical body.
  • "consume away" (māqqaq in the Hiphil, "cause to decay," followed by Qal, "decay"): The repetition and combination of verbs (maq yimmaq) powerfully intensify the idea of continuous, irreversible, and horrifying disintegration or decomposition. It's a progressive, wasting process.
• while they stand upon their feet (וְהוּא עֹמֵד עַל־רַגְלָיו - wəhûʾ ʿōmēḏ ʿal-raglāyw):
  • "while they stand upon their feet": This is crucial. It describes the state of being alive and active. The decay is instantaneous and occurs while the individuals are fully conscious and in an upright position, magnifying the horror and pain of the judgment. It’s a literal melting or wasting while animate.
• and their eyes shall consume away in their holes (וְעֵינָיו תִּמַּק בְּחֹרֵיהֶם - wəʿêyāw timmaq bəḥōrêhem):
  • "eyes" (ʿêyāw): Sensory organs, vital for perception. Their consumption renders them blind and heightens the sense of helplessness and disorientation during the torment.
  • "in their holes" (bəḥōrêhem): In their sockets, indicating complete bodily degradation.
• and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth (וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ תִּמַּק בְּפִיהֶם - ûləšônô timmaq bəfîhem):
  • "tongue" (ləšônô): An organ of speech, taste, and a critical component of life. Its decay signifies the inability to blaspheme, cry out, or even swallow, ensuring a gruesome and agonizing end. It might also be a symbolic judgment against their boasts, curses, or plots against God and His people.
  • "in their mouth" (bəfîhem): Still inside, intensifying the internal, horrific decomposition.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem": This establishes the direct divine authorship of the judgment and specifies its target: all who rise against God's city. It clarifies that this is not human warfare, but God's specific vengeance, distinct from a conventional battle.
• "Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet": This describes the horrific nature of the immediate, public, and conscious bodily dissolution. It is a judgment of visible, undeniable decay that occurs in living, upright individuals. This suggests an utterly unique and terrifying act of God's power.
• "and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth": This segment elaborates on the specific organs affected, emphasizing total sensory deprivation and incapacity. The targeting of eyes (sight) and tongue (speech, taste) removes their ability to perceive their surroundings or communicate their suffering, making the punishment particularly gruesome and humiliating. It also symbolically silences blasphemy and aggressive declarations.

Zechariah 14 12 Bonus section

• The nature of the judgment being a "plague" (מַגֵּפָה - maggēp̱â) rather than merely defeat by weapon implies an inescapable, internal devastation, directly from God. It bypasses any human defense.
• The extreme nature of the curse (decay while alive) provides a stark contrast to the blessing of new life and restored bodies promised to the righteous at the same "Day of the Lord." It showcases the dichotomous end for the just and the wicked.
• Some scholars note a possible 'measure for measure' judgment, where nations whose eyes coveted Jerusalem and whose tongues blasphemed God's people find those very organs consumed.
• The instantaneous and grotesque nature of this decay emphasizes the absolute power of God, surpassing any known biological process or military action, reinforcing the theme of divine intervention. It would instill extreme fear, fulfilling the purpose of judgment to show God's terrifying might.

Zechariah 14 12 Commentary

Zechariah 14:12 vividly describes a literal, divinely orchestrated plague of unprecedented horror. This is God's response to the nations that dared to assault Jerusalem, signifying the "Day of the Lord's" wrath. The instantaneous and physical disintegration of living bodies—flesh, eyes, and tongue—is not a mere poetic hyperbole but an apocalyptic depiction of God's absolute sovereignty and devastating judgment. The chosen targets (eyes for perception, tongue for speech/blasphemy) suggest a judgment that not only annihilates the body but also incapacitates the means of defiance and communication, leaving enemies in a state of unimaginable terror and helplessness. This swift, supernatural end highlights that God requires no conventional weaponry to defeat His adversaries; His direct power is sufficient to utterly dissolve His foes, securing final victory for His people and the establishment of His unchallenged reign. It warns of the terrifying reality of opposing the Living God.