Zechariah 14:13 Meaning and Explanation
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD sends a great panic among the enemy, turning them against one another until their own ranks dissolve in confusion.
What Does Zechariah 14:13 Mean?
Alongside the plague comes a second judgment: "a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them." This is a panic, a confusion sent by God, that turns the enemy against itself; each man seizes his neighbor's hand and lifts his own hand against him. The army gathered against Jerusalem collapses into mutual destruction.
This echoes the ancient pattern in which the LORD threw enemy hosts into confusion so that they fell upon one another (as with Gideon and Jehoshaphat). When God fights for his people, he needs no human sword; he can simply withdraw the unity and clear thinking of the proud. The believer takes comfort that the schemes of those arrayed against God are fragile, undone by a single touch of his hand.
Zechariah 14:13 in the Original Language
mehumah (מְהוּמָה), 'tumult' -- a panic or confusion, a divinely sent turmoil that throws an army into disorder.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 14:13
What does Zechariah 14:13 mean?
The LORD sends a great panic among the enemy, turning them against one another until their own ranks dissolve in confusion.