Zechariah 14:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The prophet announces the coming day of the LORD, a decisive day when Jerusalem's plundered goods will be divided within her very walls.
What Does Zechariah 14:1 Mean?
The final chapter of Zechariah opens with a thunderclap: "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh." The word "behold" summons the reader to attention, for what follows is the climactic vision of the whole book. The prophet, speaking to Jerusalem and her people after the return from exile, looks ahead to a day appointed by God when the city will pass through deep distress before deliverance.
To say the spoil will be "divided in the midst of thee" is a grim picture: the plunderers are so secure that they parcel out their loot inside the captured city. Yet the very name "the day of the LORD" carries hope, for it is the LORD's day, not the enemy's. What looks like the hour of loss is the threshold of God's saving work. The believer learns to read dark beginnings as the opening of a story God himself will finish.
Zechariah 14:1 in the Original Language
yom (יוֹם), 'day' -- an appointed time of the LORD's decisive action, not merely a span of hours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 14:1
What does Zechariah 14:1 mean?
The prophet announces the coming day of the LORD, a decisive day when Jerusalem's plundered goods will be divided within her very walls.