Zechariah 14 16

Zechariah 14:16 kjv

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Zechariah 14:16 nkjv

And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

Zechariah 14:16 niv

Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.

Zechariah 14:16 esv

Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths.

Zechariah 14:16 nlt

In the end, the enemies of Jerusalem who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters.

Zechariah 14 verses

Zechariah 14 16 Meaning

Zechariah 14:16 describes a future era following a period of intense divine judgment on nations that opposed Jerusalem. In this time, survivors from all those previously hostile nations will pilgrimage annually to Jerusalem. Their purpose will be to worship Yahweh, "the King, the LORD of hosts," acknowledging His supreme sovereignty. A specific act of worship mentioned is the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles, signifying a worldwide recognition of God's dwelling among humanity and the ingathering of all peoples under His benevolent rule.

Zechariah 14 16 Context

Zechariah 14 culminates a section of Zechariah (chapters 12-14) focused on "the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel." Chapter 14 vividly portrays the Day of the LORD, an eschatological event characterized by intense judgment upon Jerusalem's enemies and the ultimate victory of God. It describes cosmic upheavals, a direct divine intervention for Jerusalem, and the establishment of God's global reign from the city. Amidst this cataclysm and divine reordering, verse 16 presents the ensuing peaceful outcome: a transformed world where all nations acknowledge Yahweh's sovereignty and participate in His worship, with Jerusalem as the central point. The historical context for the original audience, who had returned from exile and were rebuilding the Temple, offered a message of enduring hope that God's covenant promises for Israel's ultimate vindication and worldwide recognition would indeed be fulfilled, despite current struggles.

Zechariah 14 16 Word analysis

• And it shall come to pass (Vehayah - וְהָיָה): A common prophetic phrase introducing a future event or condition, often a divinely appointed one. It underscores the certainty of this prophecy's fulfillment.
• that every one that is left (kol ha'notar - כָּל־הַנּוֹתָר): Signifies the "remnant" or "survivors." This is a crucial prophetic concept: not all hostile nations are annihilated, but a portion, preserved by God's grace or purpose, will endure and convert. It emphasizes a divine selectivity even in judgment, pointing towards future inclusion.
• of all the nations (mikol ha'goyim - מִכֹּל הַגּוֹיִם): "Nations" refers to non-Israelite peoples. The phrase stresses the universal scope, including those very peoples who "came against Jerusalem" as mentioned previously in the chapter, highlighting a radical transformation from hostility to worship.
• which came against Jerusalem: Explicitly links these future worshipers to the past aggressors of Zion, underscoring the dramatic change of heart and allegiance after God's decisive victory (Zech 14:2, 12).
• shall even go up (ya'alu - יַעֲלוּ): The standard term for making a pilgrimage ascent to Jerusalem, the city located on a mountain. It implies physical journey and spiritual elevation, a seeking of God's presence in His chosen city.
• from year to year: Denotes a regular, annual observance. This is not a one-time event but an enduring practice, establishing a consistent rhythm of universal devotion.
• to worship (le'hishtachavot - לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת): From shachah, meaning to bow down or prostrate oneself. It signifies deep reverence, submission, and adoration—a posture of complete homage and servitude to a divine sovereign.
• the King, the LORD of hosts (lam'melech Yahweh Tzeva'ot - לַמֶּלֶךְ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת): This double title is significant. "The King" affirms Yahweh's supreme royal authority and reign over all creation. "LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Tzeva'ot) emphasizes His mastery over all armies and heavenly powers, signifying omnipotence and unquestioned dominion. The combination powerfully declares His universal and military sovereignty.
• and to keep the feast of tabernacles (v'lachog et-chag ha'Sukkot - וְלַחֹג אֶת־חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת): Also known as Sukkot, a joyous harvest festival originally commemorating God's provision and presence with Israel during their wilderness wanderings, when they lived in temporary shelters (sukkot). Its future observance by all nations carries immense symbolic weight: it implies God's "tabernacling" or dwelling universally among all peoples (foreshadowing Rev 21:3), global joy in His presence, the ingathering of nations as a spiritual harvest, and a common memory of God's providential care.

Words-group analysis

• every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem: This phrase emphasizes the radical transformation of global relations. Nations that were once hostile adversaries will now willingly and regularly journey to Jerusalem not for war, but for worship. This highlights divine power to turn enmity into adoration and demonstrates the breadth of God's redemptive plan beyond Israel alone.
• shall even go up from year to year to worship the King: This establishes an annual, mandated pilgrimage as a permanent feature of the future global order. It signifies a universal, ongoing submission and homage to God's ultimate authority, cementing Jerusalem as the spiritual capital of the world and God as its undisputed ruler.
• the King, the LORD of hosts: This definitive appellation for God underlines His complete and sovereign dominion. It rejects any competing claims of earthly kings or pagan deities. He is not just a king, but the King, possessed of divine, all-powerful authority, underscoring the scope of the universal worship.
• and to keep the feast of tabernacles: The specific inclusion of this uniquely Israelite festival in a universal context is profound. It symbolizes the ingathering of the "harvest" of all nations, celebrating God's provision and dwelling among all His people, blurring former distinctions and uniting them under the joyful celebration of God's presence, reminiscent of the wilderness sojourn when God provided for all.

Zechariah 14 16 Bonus section

The transformation depicted in Zechariah 14:16 implies a moral and spiritual change in the surviving nations, leading them to voluntary submission to God. This universal pilgrimage is not coerced in the sense of forced religious conversion, but rather an outcome of the undeniable demonstration of God's power and righteous judgment. It signifies the end of all rebellion against God and His people, Israel, marking a new age where true peace and righteousness reign globally. The universal observance of Sukkot suggests that the spiritual lessons embedded in Israel's history – dependence on God, His dwelling among His people, and the joyous ingathering of harvest – will become common truths for all humanity. This also aligns with the broader prophetic theme of a future Davidic king, a Messianic figure (Jesus Christ for Christians), reigning from Jerusalem and extending God's justice and peace to the ends of the earth.

Zechariah 14 16 Commentary

Zechariah 14:16 presents a vivid eschatological vision of universal peace and worship after the ultimate judgment of the nations. It is a striking picture of reversal: the very nations that gathered against Jerusalem in an act of war will, by God's decree, be the ones who subsequently gather to Jerusalem in acts of worship. This prophesied event underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His capacity to bring about conversion and obedience even from former adversaries. The annual pilgrimage and the specific celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles highlight a profound transformation. This festival, deeply rooted in Israel's history of divine provision and dwelling, expands to encompass all peoples. It symbolizes God's "tabernacling" or residing among a renewed, universal humanity, establishing a new global order centered on Jerusalem where all nations joyful celebrate His presence and kingship. This signifies a time of genuine reconciliation, the recognition of Yahweh's sole claim as "the King, the LORD of hosts," and the worldwide spread of the blessings once uniquely tied to Israel. It's a testament to the future culmination of God's redemptive plan, establishing a truly universal kingdom of peace, where every knee bows in humble adoration.