Zechariah 14 5

Zechariah 14:5 kjv

And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

Zechariah 14:5 nkjv

Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORD my God will come, And all the saints with You.

Zechariah 14:5 niv

You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

Zechariah 14:5 esv

And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

Zechariah 14:5 nlt

You will flee through this valley, for it will reach across to Azal. Yes, you will flee as you did from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.

Zechariah 14 verses

Zechariah 14 5 Meaning

Zechariah 14:5 describes a future dramatic event during the Day of the Lord, where a divine geological upheaval, specifically the splitting of the Mount of Olives (mentioned in Zech 14:4), will create a vast valley providing an escape route for the inhabitants. This flight is explicitly compared to a well-known, devastating earthquake during the reign of King Uzziah. The verse culminates with the glorious and powerful coming of the Lord God Himself, accompanied by all His heavenly host or redeemed saints, signaling the final act of judgment and salvation.

Zechariah 14 5 Context

Zechariah 14 is a critical eschatological chapter, focusing on the ultimate "Day of the Lord." The immediate context (verses 1-4) details Jerusalem's ultimate siege by all nations, its capture, and the subsequent divine intervention. Verse 4 vividly describes the Lord's return to the Mount of Olives, which dramatically splits to form a great valley. Verse 5 follows, describing the beneficiaries of this split mountain: God's people, who are provided an escape route. The historical context for the original audience, who lived post-exile, was one of looking for God's ultimate deliverance and restoration. The mention of Uzziah's earthquake grounds this prophetic vision in a known, historically devastating event, making the future prophecy relatable and profoundly impactful. It serves as an anchor, assuring the people that just as God acted with great power in the past through natural events, He would do so again.

Zechariah 14 5 Word analysis

• Then you will flee (וְנַסְתֶּם, wĕnastem): This imperative indicates an immediate and necessary act of flight, suggesting urgency. The verb "to flee" (nûs) here implies seeking refuge, not in panic from God, but from the encroaching enemies and the preceding cataclysmic events, through God's providentially created path.
• through My mountain valley (גֵּיא־הָרַי, ge’e-haray): The term gey refers to a narrow gorge or valley. The suffix "My" (-ay) highlights this valley as belonging to God, directly formed by His sovereign action in splitting the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4). It is a divine provision.
• for the mountain valley will reach to Azel (כִּֽי־יַגִּיעַ גֵּי־הָרִים עַד־אָצַל, kî-yaggîa‘ gê-hārîm ‘ad-’āṣal): Azel is a place name, possibly signifying a location east of Jerusalem, though its exact identification is debated. The phrase means the valley will extend a considerable distance, ensuring a comprehensive escape route. This emphasizes the magnitude and extent of the divinely formed passage.
• Yes, you will flee (וְנַסְתֶּם, wĕnastem): This repetition of "you will flee" serves as emphatic confirmation of the reality and certainty of this flight. It stresses the safety found in this God-ordained pathway.
• just as you fled from the earthquake (כַּאֲשֶׁר נַסְתֶּם מִפְּנֵי הָרָעַשׁ, ka’ašer nastem mippĕnê hārrā‘aš): Ra‘aš refers to an earthquake, trembling, or shaking. The comparison ties the future event to a remembered, historic, catastrophic earthquake during Uzziah's reign, emphasizing its destructive power and the need for immediate escape. This specific historical reference adds verifiability and gravity to the prophecy for the original audience.
• in the days of Uzziah king of Judah (בִּימֵי עֻזִּיָּה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה, bîmê ‘Uzziyyāh meleḵ-yəhûdâ): This specific historical marker identifies the notable earthquake referenced (Amos 1:1, Josephus). Uzziah's reign was a time of strength for Judah, yet marked by this significant natural disaster, showing that even in times of prosperity, divine judgments or natural calamities could occur.
• Then the Lord My God will come (וּבָא יהוה אֱלֹהַי, ûvā’ YHWH ’Elohay): This is the climax of the verse. YHWH ’Elohay, "the Lord My God," underscores the personal and sovereign arrival of God Himself. The verb "will come" (bō’) here denotes His physical manifestation and intervention, signifying the parousia or glorious advent.
• and all the holy ones with Him (כָּל־קְדֹשִׁים עִמּוֹ, kol-qəḏošîm ‘immô): The qəḏošim or "holy ones" can refer to celestial beings (angels, e.g., Deut 33:2, Ps 89:7) or redeemed human beings (saints, e.g., 1 Thes 3:13, Jude 1:14). In this context, it speaks of a magnificent, powerful entourage accompanying the divine warrior-king, symbolizing His ultimate authority and power in establishing His kingdom.

• "Then you will flee through My mountain valley... will reach to Azel.": This segment emphasizes God's direct and purposeful provision of a safe passage for His people during a time of extreme peril. The valley is not just an arbitrary crack but a divinely engineered escape route of considerable length.
• "Yes, you will flee just as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah.": This strong comparison grounds a future miraculous event in past historical reality, intensifying the prophecy. It suggests a cataclysm of similar, if not greater, magnitude to Uzziah's famous earthquake, validating the necessity of flight and assuring God's provision for it.
• "Then the Lord My God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.": This is the verse's crescendo. It confirms the active, personal, and majestic arrival of YHWH, surrounded by His glorious retinue. The preceding events—the split mountain and the flight—lead directly to and set the stage for this ultimate divine appearance, signaling the ultimate turn of events in human history.

Zechariah 14 5 Bonus section

The concept of the "mountain valley" and the escape route in Zechariah 14 has rich theological implications beyond mere physical escape. It signifies that in times of the greatest tribulation and divine judgment, God Himself orchestrates a path of deliverance for His faithful. This escape is not about hiding from God's wrath entirely but about being safely situated through His divine provision. The comparison to Uzziah's earthquake underscores the magnitude and physical reality of the prophetic event; ancient historians like Josephus record the Uzziah earthquake as so severe that it divided a mountain, supporting the literal interpretation of Zechariah's prophecy regarding the Mount of Olives. Furthermore, "all the holy ones" returning with the Lord has generated centuries of eschatological debate, linking this Old Testament prophecy deeply into New Testament understandings of the Parousia (the Second Coming of Christ), where saints (1 Thes 3:13) and angels (Mt 25:31) accompany Him in glory.

Zechariah 14 5 Commentary

Zechariah 14:5 is a dramatic vision of divine intervention during the ultimate "Day of the Lord." Following Jerusalem's siege and a literal, world-altering splitting of the Mount of Olives by God's return, this verse describes a unique opportunity for survival. A vast, new valley, stretching perhaps as far as Azel, will become a providential escape route for the people, harking back to a similar panicked flight during the historic Uzziah earthquake—a shared, powerful memory for the original audience. This provides not only a historical reference point but also highlights God's pattern of providing deliverance amid profound natural or geopolitical chaos. The climax, however, is the direct arrival of "the Lord My God," a personal declaration, attended by "all the holy ones." This arrival is not one of gentle grace, but of sovereign power, fulfilling Old Testament expectations of YHWH as a warrior coming to establish His kingdom and judge the nations. It assures that amidst unprecedented judgment, God ensures a pathway for His chosen, preceding His majestic and glorious return with heavenly hosts.