Zechariah 14:8 Meaning and Explanation
“And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →From Jerusalem flow living waters, running both east and west, never failing through summer or winter.
What Does Zechariah 14:8 Mean?
"In that day" a river appears: "living waters shall go out from Jerusalem," flowing toward the former sea (the Dead Sea, east) and the hinder sea (the Mediterranean, west). "Living waters" means fresh, flowing, life-giving water, not stagnant. Remarkably, these waters run "in summer and in winter," never drying in drought, a marvel in a land where streams fail in the dry season.
From the city of God comes an inexhaustible flow that brings life in every direction and every season. This stream of living water flowing out from God's dwelling echoes through Scripture to the promise of rivers of living water and the river of life that proceeds from the throne. The believer hears in this an unfailing supply: the life God gives does not run dry when the seasons turn hard, but flows on, summer and winter alike.
Zechariah 14:8 in the Original Language
chay (חַי), 'living' -- alive, fresh, flowing; water that gives and sustains life rather than standing still.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 14:8
What does Zechariah 14:8 mean?
From Jerusalem flow living waters, running both east and west, never failing through summer or winter.