Zechariah 14:2 Meaning and Explanation
“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God himself gathers the nations against Jerusalem; the city is captured and half its people taken, yet a remnant is preserved within her.
What Does Zechariah 14:2 Mean?
Here the LORD reveals that the assault on Jerusalem is not outside his hand: "I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle." The catalogue of suffering is unflinching: houses plundered, women violated, half the city carried into captivity. Zechariah does not soften the cost of the day he describes; the affliction is real and severe.
Yet the verse turns on a single phrase: "the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city." A remnant remains. Even when judgment falls and the worst befalls God's people, he keeps a portion alive for himself. This thread of the preserved remnant runs through all the prophets and finds its fullness in the One who saves to the uttermost. God's people may be brought low, but they are never abandoned.
Zechariah 14:2 in the Original Language
asaph (אָסַף), 'gather' -- to collect or assemble, here the LORD drawing the nations together for his own purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 14:2
What does Zechariah 14:2 mean?
God himself gathers the nations against Jerusalem; the city is captured and half its people taken, yet a remnant is preserved within her.