Zechariah 14 7

Zechariah 14:7 kjv

But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.

Zechariah 14:7 nkjv

It shall be one day Which is known to the LORD? Neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen That it will be light.

Zechariah 14:7 niv

It will be a unique day?a day known only to the LORD?with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.

Zechariah 14:7 esv

And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.

Zechariah 14:7 nlt

yet there will be continuous day! Only the LORD knows how this could happen. There will be no normal day and night, for at evening time it will still be light.

Zechariah 14 verses

Zechariah 14 7 Meaning

Zechariah 14:7 describes a singularly unique, eschatological day, fully known and controlled by the LORD. This day will deviate from the established cosmic order, exhibiting an anomalous condition that is "neither day nor night" in a conventional sense. Strikingly, it culminates in a display of divine light occurring precisely "at evening time," a moment when natural light typically fades. This signifies God's complete dominion over creation, a radical reversal of the expected order, and the advent of a glorious, divinely provided light when all hope of natural light might be gone.

Zechariah 14 7 Context

Zechariah 14 details the ultimate "Day of the Lord," an eschatological period described in prophetic literature as a time of climactic divine intervention in world history. This chapter portrays Jerusalem besieged by all nations, a divine earthquake, and then the LORD's direct appearance for battle and establishing His kingship. Following the judgment upon the nations, the land undergoes a profound physical and spiritual transformation. Verse 7 specifically addresses a unique characteristic of this period, immediately following the description of the Lord's coming and the transformation of the earth in the preceding verses. It sets the scene for a new cosmic order that defies the natural cycles, leading into descriptions of living waters flowing from Jerusalem and universal worship. Historically, the audience would have been post-exilic Jews, eager for restoration, yet wrestling with delayed promises. This prophecy offered a vision of ultimate, divine fulfillment far exceeding any immediate political or physical restoration.

Zechariah 14 7 Word analysis

• It will be a unique day (וְהָיָה֙ י֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד - vehayah yom echad):
  • וְהָיָה (vehayah): "And it shall be," indicating a future event with certainty and often emphasizing the divine agent of change.
  • יוֹם (yom): "Day." In prophetic contexts, "day" can refer to a literal 24-hour period, an era, or a significant, defined time (e.g., "Day of the Lord"). Its specific nature here is defined by subsequent phrases.
  • אֶחָ֔ד (echad): "One," "a single," or "unique." It signifies an unparalleled, distinct day unlike any other in history, highlighting its singular nature as divinely ordained and set apart from the regular continuum of time.
• known to the LORD (הוּא יִוָּדַ֤ע לַֽיהוָה֙ - hu yivwada l'YHWH):
  • הוּא (hu): "It" (the day).
  • יִוָּדַ֤ע (yivwada): "It shall be known," from the root יָדַע (yada), "to know." This is a Niphal (passive) form, meaning "it will become known," but idiomatically in Hebrew, "known to the LORD" implies it is from the LORD, assigned by the LORD, or under His exclusive cognizance and control. It highlights divine omniscience and sovereignty over its timing and nature, contrasting human ignorance of "that day and hour."
  • לַֽיהוָה֙ (l'YHWH): "To the LORD," referring to Yahweh, the covenant name of God, emphasizing the personal involvement and unique relationship of God with this event.
• neither day nor night (לֹא־י֥וֹם וְלֹא־לַ֖יְלָה - lo-yom w'lo-laylah):
  • לֹא־ (lo-): "Not," a negation.
  • This phrase literally means "not day and not night," describing an abnormal, indeterminate state. It's a departure from the Creator's original established order of a distinct cycle of light and darkness (Gen 1:3-5). It could signify a prolonged, peculiar twilight, or a period where conditions fluctuate paradoxically, or perhaps an era defined by spiritual uncertainty and absence of clear natural distinctions. This points to a temporary suspension of normal cosmic laws.
• but at evening time there will be light (וְהָיָ֥ה לָעֶ֖ת עֶ֥רֶב יִֽהְיֶה־אֽוֹר - v'hayah la'et erev yihyeh-or):
  • וְהָיָ֥ה (v'hayah): "And it will be."
  • לָעֶ֖ת (la'et): "At the time of."
  • עֶ֖רֶב (erev): "Evening." This is the usual time for light to diminish and darkness to set in.
  • יִֽהְיֶה־ (yihyeh-): "There will be."
  • אֽוֹר (or): "Light." This is a stark paradox, light appearing when darkness is expected. It signifies an unexpected, divine, and miraculous provision of illumination, representing divine favor, clarity, and salvation precisely when human expectations predict the onset of gloom or ending. This reversal powerfully emphasizes God's sovereign ability to bring light out of darkness and hope out of despair, marking the glorious end of this unique day/period.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "It will be a unique day, known to the LORD": This opening establishes the eschatological and divinely authored nature of the event. It's not an ordinary day; it's sui generis and exclusively in God's domain. The phrase underscores divine prerogative and ultimate control over end-time events.
• "neither day nor night": This depicts a period of profound abnormality in creation, where the normal rhythm of time, created by God Himself (Gen 1), is suspended or altered. It's a liminal space, neither clear light nor full darkness, suggesting perhaps an intermediate state of judgment and purification, or a time of cosmic confusion before ultimate clarity. This can also be interpreted as a period of prolonged hardship where usual comforts of clear day or restful night are absent.
• "but at evening time there will be light": This forms a powerful anti-climax or a miraculous twist. When human expectation is for increasing darkness, God supernaturally provides light. This points to the divine power to reverse circumstances, bring unexpected hope, and signify a complete reversal of judgment into salvation. This light signifies divine presence, blessing, and revelation in the age to come, culminating in the eternal state where God Himself is the everlasting light.

Zechariah 14 7 Bonus section

The concept of "neither day nor night" finds echoes in Jewish apocalyptic literature, where the end times are often portrayed with significant alterations to cosmic and temporal norms, underscoring the radical transformation wrought by divine intervention. Rabbinic tradition has often deliberated on this "unique day," some suggesting it signifies a duration beyond normal time, where the intensity of God's presence will negate the need for solar or lunar cycles. Others see it as an interim period of God's wrath, before His final redemption. The idea of light breaking forth at "evening time" can also be linked to the messianic expectation of a sudden, glorious manifestation of salvation and justice after prolonged periods of distress or darkness for Israel and the world. This specific imagery is a polemic against the naturalistic views of the surrounding pagan cultures, affirming YHWH's absolute control over creation and time, far beyond the capacities of any idol or human design. The entire chapter, and this verse within it, paints a picture of an immediate, tangible, and physical transformation of the world concurrent with profound spiritual restoration under the Messiah's rule.

Zechariah 14 7 Commentary

Zechariah 14:7 is a profound declaration about the unprecedented nature of the Day of the Lord, where the usual cosmic order is set aside for a divine agenda. The "unique day" stresses its singularity, wholly under God's discerning gaze and sovereign will. The paradoxical description of "neither day nor night" indicates a period defying natural cycles, possibly implying a prolonged twilight of trial and uncertainty, where traditional boundaries blur, perhaps both physically and spiritually. Yet, the culminating phrase "at evening time there will be light" delivers an incredible message of hope. This is a divine intervention, an unexpected manifestation of glory and clarity when one would anticipate complete darkness. It signals the LORD's final triumph and the dawn of a new era marked by His radiant presence, making this verse a powerful testament to God's ultimate victory, unexpected restoration, and His nature as the source of all light, dispelling all shadows, even when all human expectation suggests otherwise. This foreshadows the eternal state where God's glory replaces all natural light sources.