Zechariah 14:17 kjv
And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
Zechariah 14:17 nkjv
And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain.
Zechariah 14:17 niv
If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.
Zechariah 14:17 esv
And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them.
Zechariah 14:17 nlt
Any nation in the world that refuses to come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, will have no rain.
Zechariah 14 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 2:2-3 | ...all the nations shall stream to it... Let us go up to the mountain of the LORD... | Nations flow to Jerusalem to learn God's ways. |
| Ps 86:9 | All the nations You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord... | Universal worship of the Lord. |
| Mic 4:1-2 | ...peoples shall stream to it... and come to Zion... | Similar prophecy to Isaiah 2, global worship. |
| Rev 15:4 | Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You... | All nations worship God in the end times. |
| Ps 22:27 | All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD... | Global turning and worship of God. |
| Zech 14:9 | And the LORD will be King over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. | The Lord's universal kingship established. |
| Dt 11:13-17 | If you will obey... then I will give the rain... But if you turn away... He will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain... | Direct connection between obedience, rain, and judgment. |
| Lev 26:3-4, 19 | If you walk in my statutes... I will give you your rains in their season... I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. | Rain as blessing for obedience, lack as curse. |
| 1 Kgs 8:35-36 | When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned... hear in heaven and forgive their sin and give them rain... | No rain as a punishment for sin, prayer for rain. |
| Amos 4:7 | "I also withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest..." | God's sovereignty over rain as judgment. |
| Jer 14:4 | For the ground is parched because there is no rain on the land... | Drought due to divine displeasure. |
| Hag 1:10 | Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. | God withholds blessings, including rain, for neglect. |
| Isa 60:12 | For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish... | Nations that do not serve God will face ruin. |
| Mal 2:2 | If you will not listen... I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. | Divine curse for disobedience. |
| Rom 1:21-25 | For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God... and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images... | Consequences of refusing to worship God. |
| 2 Th 1:8-9 | ...inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel... | Judgment on those who do not know/obey God. |
| Ps 9:17 | The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. | Nations that forget God face destruction. |
| Zech 14:16 | Then everyone who survives... shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. | All survivors will observe the Feast of Booths annually. |
| Zech 14:18 | If the family of Egypt does not go up... there will be no rain for them... | Specific nation mentioned for the same consequence. |
| Dan 7:27 | His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him. | Universal submission and obedience to God's kingdom. |
Zechariah 14 verses
Zechariah 14 17 Meaning
Zechariah 14:17 declares that in the coming age, after the Lord's return, all people groups worldwide will be required to ascend to Jerusalem annually to worship God, who is revealed as the supreme King and LORD of hosts. Any family or nation that disobeys this universal command will face a severe, direct, and tangible divine judgment: they will receive no rain. This signifies a universal standard of worship and accountability under God's ultimate rule, where physical blessings and sustenance are directly tied to obedience and reverence towards Him.
Zechariah 14 17 Context
Zechariah 14 presents a vivid, apocalyptic vision of the Day of the Lord, marking the climax of human history and the establishment of God's universal reign. The chapter opens with a final siege on Jerusalem, God's intervention, and the transformation of the city and its surrounding landscape into a holy place. Following God's victory, He becomes "King over all the earth" (Zech 14:9). Verses 16-19 describe the universal worship that will ensue, with all surviving nations obligated to come to Jerusalem annually to observe the Feast of Tabernacles and worship the King, the LORD of hosts. Verse 17 specifically articulates the consequences for any "families of the earth" who fail to adhere to this mandate, thereby emphasizing the strict enforcement and divine authority over this new global order of worship and governance.
Zechariah 14 17 Word analysis
- And it shall be: The Hebrew ve-haya (וְהָיָה) often signals a prophetic pronouncement, indicating a definite future event or a divinely ordained consequence. It carries a sense of certainty.
- that whoso will not come up: The phrase "whoso will not come up" uses the Hebrew asher lo ya'aleh (אֲשֶׁר לֹא יַעֲלֶה), derived from alah (עָלָה) meaning "to ascend" or "to go up." This refers to the physical pilgrimage to Jerusalem, which sits at a higher elevation. It implies an active refusal of a clear directive.
- of all the families: The Hebrew kol mishpachot (כֹּל מִשְׁפָּחֹת) denotes every tribe, clan, or national group, not just individuals. This signifies the universal scope of the command, impacting entire societies and not just specific people.
- of the earth: The Hebrew ha'aretz (הָאָרֶץ) reinforces the global dimension, indicating that no geographical or cultural entity is exempt from this universal expectation.
- unto Jerusalem: (יְרוּשָׁלַם) Jerusalem is divinely designated as the exclusive geographical center for this universal worship, asserting its unparalleled spiritual significance in the Messianic Age.
- to worship: The Hebrew lehishtachavot (לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת) means to prostrate oneself, indicating deep reverence, adoration, and submission. This is an act reserved solely for God, demanding exclusive devotion.
- the King, the LORD of hosts: (הַמֶּלֶךְ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) This dual title is exceptionally powerful. "The King" (haMelech) emphasizes God's supreme, sovereign, and universal rule. "The LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Tzeva'ot) highlights His ultimate authority and power over all armies, celestial and earthly, reinforcing His identity as the omnipotent God.
- even upon them shall be no rain: The Hebrew vegeshem lo yihyeh (וְגֶשֶׁם לֹא יִהְיֶה) means "and rain will not be." This is a direct, concrete, and severe physical judgment. In ancient Near Eastern agricultural societies, the absence of rain led to famine, destitution, and death, signifying a profound withdrawal of divine blessing and provision.
Words-group analysis
- "whoso will not come up... to worship the King, the LORD of hosts": This group of words defines the specific transgression—a willful refusal to make the required pilgrimage to worship God in His rightful place and form. It underscores that spiritual allegiance and physical demonstration of that allegiance are mandated, and a lack thereof constitutes an offense against divine authority.
- "of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem": This phrase emphasizes the universality of the command and the centrality of Jerusalem. It details that every group, from every corner of the globe, must acknowledge Jerusalem as the focal point of their worship, underscoring God's ultimate dominion over all peoples and places.
- "the King, the LORD of hosts": This title highlights God's absolute sovereignty, both in His royal authority ("King") and His overwhelming power ("LORD of hosts"). It identifies the object of worship as the supreme ruler, demanding total submission and honor from all.
- "even upon them shall be no rain": This concluding phrase outlines the specific and devastating consequence. The absence of rain is a stark physical manifestation of divine displeasure, signaling the immediate and dire impact of disobeying the universal command to worship. It illustrates God's control over creation as a tool for justice.
Zechariah 14 17 Bonus section
The reference to "families of the earth" marks a significant expansion from God's covenant with Israel to a global demand for worship, underscoring that His reign in the millennial kingdom will be universally applicable. This reflects a transition from an exclusive covenant with a single nation to an inclusive (yet equally demanding) expectation for all humanity. The specific threat of "no rain" serves not only as a physical punishment but also as a powerful polemic against any residual pagan beliefs where local deities might be thought to control local weather patterns; Zechariah clearly asserts YHWH's exclusive and global control over nature. Furthermore, the mandatory ascent to Jerusalem symbolizes the true pilgrimage all of humanity is called to make in acknowledgment of God's enthronement in His holy city, thereby confirming Jerusalem's eschatological role as the world's spiritual capital.
Zechariah 14 17 Commentary
Zechariah 14:17 delineates the unwavering standards of God's future kingdom, where universal worship of the "King, the LORD of hosts" in Jerusalem is not optional but mandatory for all nations. This prophetic statement establishes God's absolute sovereignty and the binding nature of His decree over all humankind. The Feast of Tabernacles, mentioned in the preceding and succeeding verses, provides the context for this annual pilgrimage, symbolizing the joy of God's presence and provision among His people. The divine penalty—the withholding of rain—is a potent, visible, and vital judgment, striking at the very foundation of natural life and sustenance. It’s a direct consequence that serves as a perpetual reminder of God’s complete authority and that the well-being of nations is intrinsically linked to their submission and obedience to Him. This reveals a future characterized by both God’s benevolent rule and His firm enforcement of justice.