Zechariah 14:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Egypt, which depends on no rain, is named specifically: if she will not come up, the same plague of judgment will fall upon her.
What Does Zechariah 14:18 Mean?
Egypt is singled out because her land was watered chiefly by the flooding Nile rather than by rain; the threat of "no rain" might seem to pass her by. So the prophet makes plain that no people can escape on a technicality: "there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up." If withholding rain would not reach Egypt, the plague would.
The point is that worship of the true King is required of every nation without exception, and no special circumstance exempts anyone from honoring him. God's claim is universal. Whatever a people relies on instead of him, that very thing comes under his hand. The verse presses home that there is no standing outside the kingship of the LORD, and that the invitation to come and worship is addressed to all the earth alike.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 14:18
What does Zechariah 14:18 mean?
Egypt, which depends on no rain, is named specifically: if she will not come up, the same plague of judgment will fall upon her.