Zechariah 14:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD's feet stand on the Mount of Olives, which splits in two to form a vast valley, opening a way of escape for his people.
What Does Zechariah 14:4 Mean?
The vision now grows vivid and physical: "his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives." This is the ridge east of Jerusalem, the very place from which the city could be watched and besieged. At the LORD's coming the mountain itself is cleft in two, half moving north and half south, and a great valley opens through its midst.
The language is unmistakably bodily; the LORD comes and his feet stand upon the earth he made. What the mountain's splitting accomplishes is a way out, a path of rescue for a trapped people, as the next verse makes clear. The God who once parted the sea now parts a mountain. Creation bends to make room for the deliverance of his people, and the believer sees that no obstacle is too solid for the Lord who comes to save.
Zechariah 14:4 in the Original Language
baqa (בָּקַע), 'cleave' -- to split or break open, the same verb used of waters being divided.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 14:4
What does Zechariah 14:4 mean?
The LORD's feet stand on the Mount of Olives, which splits in two to form a vast valley, opening a way of escape for his people.