King James Version

What Does Zechariah 14:16 Mean?

Zechariah 14:16 in the King James Version says “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up ...” — study this verse from Zechariah chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”

Zechariah 14:16 · KJV

Context

14

And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. Judah: or, thou also, O Judah shalt at: or, against

15

And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.

16

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

17

And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

18

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. that have no: Heb. upon whom there is not

Read Zechariah 14 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem—survivors from enemy armies, spared from the plague (verses 12-15). Shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles (וְעָלוּ מִדֵּי שָׁנָה בְשָׁנָה לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת לְמֶלֶךְ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת וְלָחֹג אֶת־חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת)—annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for chag ha-sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles/Booths), one of three mandatory pilgrimage festivals (Leviticus 23:33-43).

Why Tabernacles? It celebrates harvest thanksgiving and commemorates wilderness wandering—appropriate for Gentiles newly entering covenant relationship, acknowledging dependence on God's provision. It also has eschatological significance: pointing to Messiah 'tabernacling' with humanity (John 1:14, Revelation 21:3). Isaiah 2:2-3 and Micah 4:1-2 prophesy similar Gentile pilgrimage: "Many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD." This is millennial kingdom worship where all nations acknowledge Yahweh as King, worshiping at Jerusalem.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Millennial kingdom theology: Christ reigns from Jerusalem for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6) with representatives from all nations coming annually to worship. This demonstrates that God's ultimate purpose includes Gentile salvation and incorporation into Israel's worship—fulfilling Abraham's promise that through his seed all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Gentile nations keeping Feast of Tabernacles teach about Israel's role in millennial worship?
  2. How does mandatory annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem demonstrate Christ's visible, centralized reign?
  3. In what sense does the church's worship now anticipate this universal, unified millennial worship?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וְהָיָ֗ה1 of 20
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

כָּל2 of 20
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַנּוֹתָר֙3 of 20

“And it shall come to pass that every one that is left”

H3498

to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve

מִכָּל4 of 20
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַגּוֹיִ֔ם5 of 20

“of all the nations”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

הַבָּאִ֖ים6 of 20

“which came”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

עַל7 of 20
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם8 of 20

“against Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

וְעָל֞וּ9 of 20

“shall even go up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

מִדֵּ֧י10 of 20

“from”

H1767

enough (as noun or adverb), used chiefly with preposition in phrases

בְשָׁנָ֗ה11 of 20

“to year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

בְשָׁנָ֗ה12 of 20

“to year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹת֙13 of 20

“to worship”

H7812

to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)

לְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙14 of 20

“the King”

H4428

a king

יְהוָ֣ה15 of 20

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

צְבָא֔וֹת16 of 20

“of hosts”

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

וְלָחֹ֖ג17 of 20

“and to keep”

H2287

properly, to move in a circle, i.e., (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication, to be giddy

אֶת18 of 20
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

חַ֥ג19 of 20

“the feast”

H2282

a festival, or a victim therefor

הַסֻּכּֽוֹת׃20 of 20

“of tabernacles”

H5521

a hut or lair

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Zechariah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Zechariah 14:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Zechariah 14:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 66:23Zechariah 14:17-19Isaiah 66:18-21Isaiah 60:6-9Zechariah 8:20-23Joel 2:32

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in Zechariah 14 →

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