Zechariah 14:15 kjv
And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
Zechariah 14:15 nkjv
Such also shall be the plague On the horse and the mule, On the camel and the donkey, And on all the cattle that will be in those camps. So shall this plague be.
Zechariah 14:15 niv
A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.
Zechariah 14:15 esv
And a plague like this plague shall fall on the horses, the mules, the camels, the donkeys, and whatever beasts may be in those camps.
Zechariah 14:15 nlt
This same plague will strike the horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all the other animals in the enemy camps.
Zechariah 14 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 9:3-6 | Behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your livestock... there will be a very severe plague... And the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the people of Israel, not one died. | God's judgment affecting animals specifically. |
| Rev 19:17-18 | Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great. | Divine judgment upon armies and their mounts (eschatological). |
| Joel 1:18 | How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are bewildered because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep suffer. | Animals suffer as part of judgment/famine. |
| Zep 1:2-3 | “I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord... “I will sweep away man and beast..." | Comprehensive judgment encompassing both humans and animals. |
| Jer 21:6 | And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast, and they shall die of a great pestilence. | Judgment including both man and beast by pestilence. |
| Hos 4:3 | Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea are taken away. | Broad ecological impact of judgment due to human sin. |
| Isa 13:14-15 | And like a hunted gazelle... everyone who is found will be thrust through, and everyone who is captured will fall by the sword. All who are found will be slain... | Utter destruction of enemies in a day of the Lord context. |
| Rev 6:8 | And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts. | Death and pestilence impacting creation. |
| Zec 14:12 | 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... | Immediate context: the plague on humans to which Zec 14:15 refers. |
| Gen 6:7 | So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” | Judgment (Flood) on all living creatures, including animals. |
| Jon 3:7-8 | And he issued a proclamation and published it through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything... let them cover themselves with sackcloth, both man and beast. | Animals involved in human repentance. |
| 2 Sam 18:9 | And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule... | Mules used for riding in significant historical contexts. |
| 1 Kin 10:25 | Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year. | Horses and mules as valuable resources/tributes. |
| Job 39:19-25 | Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? ... He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword... | The might and role of the horse in battle. |
| Deut 28:15-19 | But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God... cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl... cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. | General curses affecting all aspects of life, including livestock. |
| Mal 4:1 | “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble... so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” | Day of the Lord judgment, comprehensive and complete. |
| Isa 34:10-15 | It shall not be quenched night or day; its smoke shall go up forever... But the owl and the hedgehog will possess it; the owl and the raven will dwell in it. | Desolation and animals inhabiting ruins as part of judgment. |
| Eze 39:17-20 | “As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God: Speak to the birds of every sort and to all beasts of the field: Assemble and come... that you may eat flesh and drink blood.” | The Lord’s invitation to scavengers to feast on defeated armies. |
| Zec 9:10 | I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations. His rule shall be from sea to sea... | Messiah's reign ending reliance on war animals/instruments. |
| Ps 33:17 | The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. | Reliance on military strength (including horses) is vain. |
| Isa 66:16 | For by fire will the Lord enter into judgment, and by his sword, with all flesh; and those slain by the Lord shall be many. | Divine judgment on "all flesh." |
Zechariah 14 verses
Zechariah 14 15 Meaning
Zechariah 14:15 declares that the same catastrophic plague, described as dissolving flesh and features, that strikes the human enemies of God will also inflict their vital livestock and beasts of burden. This signifies a comprehensive and absolute divine judgment, ensuring the total incapacitation and destruction of the invading forces by removing their mobility, logistical support, and military capability through a supernatural affliction upon their animals.
Zechariah 14 15 Context
Zechariah 14 describes a climactic future event known as "the Day of the Lord." It begins with Jerusalem facing a global invasion (v.1-2), leading to immense suffering and partial capture of the city. However, in a dramatic turning point, the Lord himself intervenes (v.3), fighting against the invading nations and causing topographical changes to the land around Jerusalem (v.4-5). This divine intervention ushers in a new era marked by unique light, living waters flowing from Jerusalem, and the Lord being acknowledged as King over all the earth (v.6-9).
Against this backdrop of deliverance for Jerusalem, Zechariah 14:12-15 detail the devastating judgment upon the nations that fought against God's people. Verse 12 describes a gruesome, unprecedented plague on the humans of the invading armies, causing their flesh, eyes, and tongues to rot away while they stand. Verse 13 outlines panic and infighting among them. Verse 15 directly follows and extends this horrifying judgment. It clarifies that the same type of plague, with its complete and debilitating effects, will also be unleashed upon the enemy's vital animals—horses, mules, camels, and donkeys—as well as "all the beasts" found in their encampments. This comprehensive destruction targets every aspect of the enemy's military and logistical support, ensuring their utter incapacitation and reflecting the total sovereignty of God over creation and the destinies of nations.
Word Analysis
- And so shall be (וְכֵן֙ יִֽהְיֶ֞ה - wəḵên yihye): This connective phrase literally means "and thus it shall be." It strongly links the impending judgment on the animals directly to the previously described plague on humans in verse 12. It emphasizes continuity, certainty, and the consistent nature of God's destructive judgment, indicating it's the same manner of affliction.
- the plague (מַכָּה - makkâ): A noun signifying a "stroke," "blow," or "wound," specifically referring to a divinely inflicted disease, judgment, or devastation. It denotes a direct and forceful action by God, not merely a natural event. The repeated use here and in verse 12 underscores that this is a direct, supernatural judgment from God, specifically chosen for its severity.
- of the horse (הַסּוּס֙ - hassûs): sûs. The horse was paramount for military might in ancient warfare, used for cavalry, chariots, and speed. Its destruction represents the crippling of military offensive and mobility. Historically, powerful empires (e.g., Egypt, Assyria) were renowned for their chariots and horse-mounted units. Symbolically, horses often represent worldly strength and pride (e.g., Ps 20:7).
- of the mule (הַפֶּ֣רֶד - happereḏ): pered. A strong, sterile hybrid animal (offspring of a donkey and horse). Highly valued for carrying heavy loads, riding, and general transport in rough terrain. Its destruction targets the army's logistical capacity and endurance.
- of the camel (הַגָּמָ֜ל - hāggāmāl): gāmāl. Essential desert animal for long-distance travel and carrying substantial cargo, particularly across arid landscapes. Their demise paralyzes an army's ability to sustain operations, especially in extended campaigns. This animal speaks to the range and scale of the enemy's logistical operations.
- and of the donkey (וְהַחֲמוֹר֙ - wəhaḥămôr): ḥămôr. A common and versatile beast of burden used for carrying, pulling, and riding, vital for armies for carrying smaller loads and personal effects. Its inclusion shows the thoroughness of the plague, not sparing even the humblest yet essential animals.
- and of all the beasts (וְכָל־הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה - wəḵāl-habbəhēmâ): bəhēmâ. This phrase encompasses all other domesticated land animals or general livestock found with the army. This broad inclusion stresses the utter completeness and all-encompassing nature of the divine judgment, extending beyond just the primary military mounts and transport animals. No animal supporting the enemy will be spared.
- that shall be in these tents (אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִהְיֶ֔ה בַּֽמַּחֲנ֖וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה - ’ăšer yihyeh bammaḥănôt hā’ēlleh): Literally "that shall be in these camps." This specifically targets the animals within the enemy encampments. The judgment is precise, directed at the military and logistical assets of the invading forces, wherever they are situated. It distinguishes between the enemy's animals and general wild animals or those of the locals.
- as this plague (כַּמַּכָּה הַזֹּֽאת - kammakkâ hazzō’ṯ): Literally "like this plague." This crucial comparative phrase refers back to the plague described for humans in Zec 14:12. It indicates the nature of the plague on animals will be the same horrifying, flesh-rotting, eye-dissolving affliction as that on the humans. It means a sudden, ghastly, and inescapable physical degeneration leading to death.
Words-group Analysis
- "the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the donkey, and of all the beasts": This extensive list meticulously identifies various categories of animals vital to an invading army. It signifies a divine judgment designed to totally cripple the enemy's military and logistical backbone, affecting everything from rapid assault (horse) to enduring transport (camel, mule, donkey). The final inclusion "all the beasts" confirms the comprehensive and indiscriminate nature of the plague against anything that might aid the enemy.
- "that shall be in these tents, as this plague": These phrases combined delineate both the precise target and the severe nature of the judgment. The "tents" or "camps" clarify that the animals belonging specifically to the invading army are in view. The phrase "as this plague" draws an explicit parallel to the previously described, horrific human plague, conveying that the animals will suffer a similarly swift, disfiguring, and lethal fate. This total incapacitation of their animals is integral to the comprehensive defeat of God's enemies.
Zechariah 14 15 Bonus section
- The Day of the Lord in Zechariah 14 is a unique blend of historical and eschatological elements, portraying a future, definitive intervention of God into human history. The severity of the plague against both humans and animals underscores the radical finality of this judgment.
- Ancient cultures, particularly in the Near East, viewed livestock not only as property but also as fundamental to military strength, economic well-being, and social status. Destroying them meant a complete collapse of an enemy's infrastructure.
- The Hebrew text’s repeated use of the definite article "the" before each animal (e.g., hassûs "the horse") makes the list precise and exhaustive, indicating that these particular, crucial types of animals are individually targeted by the plague.
- The nature of the plague – causing flesh to rot while alive – implies an instantaneous and deeply humiliating judgment, demonstrating the complete subjugation of creation to God's will. This speaks to a supernatural act rather than a typical disease.
Zechariah 14 15 Commentary
Zechariah 14:15 solidifies the unparalleled and all-encompassing nature of God's judgment during the climactic "Day of the Lord." Following the chilling depiction of human adversaries decaying alive, this verse extends the same specific and devastating plague to every animal vital to the enemy's operations. By specifically listing warhorses, transport mules, long-haul camels, common donkeys, and broadly "all the beasts" found in their encampments, the prophet underscores that God's retribution leaves no part of the enemy's military or logistical apparatus intact. This is not a secondary effect but a direct, supernatural blow, demonstrating Yahweh's absolute power over creation and His enemies. The destruction of their livestock would utterly cripple their ability to move, sustain themselves, or fight, guaranteeing total and inescapable defeat. It reflects a divine decree that dismantles the enemy from the individual soldier to their very means of waging war, affirming God's ultimate sovereignty and the surety of His final triumph over all who oppose Him and His people.