Zechariah 14:10
All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.
Original Language Analysis
יִסּ֨וֹב
shall be turned
H5437
יִסּ֨וֹב
shall be turned
Strong's:
H5437
Word #:
1 of 25
to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 25
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
כָּעֲרָבָה֙
as a plain
H6160
כָּעֲרָבָה֙
as a plain
Strong's:
H6160
Word #:
4 of 25
a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the jordan and its continuation to the red sea
נֶ֖גֶב
south
H5045
נֶ֖גֶב
south
Strong's:
H5045
Word #:
7 of 25
the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)
יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
of Jerusalem
H3389
יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
of Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
8 of 25
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
וְיָשְׁבָ֨ה
and inhabited
H3427
וְיָשְׁבָ֨ה
and inhabited
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
10 of 25
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
תַחְתֶּ֜יהָ
H8478
תַחְתֶּ֜יהָ
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
11 of 25
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
בִּנְיָמִ֗ן
in her place from Benjamin's
H1144
בִּנְיָמִ֗ן
in her place from Benjamin's
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
13 of 25
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
14 of 25
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
מְק֞וֹם
unto the place
H4725
מְק֞וֹם
unto the place
Strong's:
H4725
Word #:
15 of 25
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
הָֽרִאשׁוֹן֙
of the first
H7223
הָֽרִאשׁוֹן֙
of the first
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
17 of 25
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
18 of 25
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
וּמִגְדַּ֣ל
and from the tower
H4026
וּמִגְדַּ֣ל
and from the tower
Strong's:
H4026
Word #:
21 of 25
a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers
חֲנַנְאֵ֔ל
of Hananeel
H2606
חֲנַנְאֵ֔ל
of Hananeel
Strong's:
H2606
Word #:
22 of 25
chananel, probably an israelite, from whom a tower of jerusalem was named
עַ֖ד
H5704
עַ֖ד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
23 of 25
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
Cross References
Zechariah 12:6In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.Joshua 15:32And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:Jeremiah 37:13And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.Jeremiah 30:18Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.1 Kings 15:22Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.Jeremiah 38:7Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;Nehemiah 3:1Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.Zechariah 2:4And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:Judges 20:47But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.Judges 20:45And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.
Historical Context
Written during humble post-exilic period when Jerusalem lay partially ruined, this prophecy assured future glory. Zechariah anticipates not just restoration to former status but unprecedented exaltation when Messiah establishes His throne in Jerusalem. This awaits fulfillment at Christ's second coming and millennial reign.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Jerusalem's physical exaltation teach about God's purposes for the city and nation of Israel?
- How does understanding future restoration affect your reading of current Middle East conflicts?
- In what sense is Christ's kingdom already 'exalted' spiritually while awaiting physical fulfillment?
Analysis & Commentary
All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem (יִסּוֹב כָּל־הָאָרֶץ כָּעֲרָבָה מִגֶּבַע לְרִמּוֹן נֶגֶב יְרוּשָׁלִָם)—savav (turn/change) and aravah (plain/desert flatland) indicate topographical transformation. Geba (northern Judah, 6 miles north of Jerusalem) to Rimmon (southern Judah, 35 miles south) marks Judah's extent. This entire region will become flat plain. And it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place—while surrounding land flattens, Jerusalem will be rum (elevated), physically and spiritually exalted as world's worship center.
This fulfills Isaiah 2:2: "The mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills." Micah 4:1 parallels this prophecy. The geographical language describes millennial kingdom conditions when Christ reigns from Jerusalem. Some see literal topographical changes at Christ's return (verse 4 describes Mount of Olives splitting); others see symbolic exaltation of Jerusalem as worship center. Either way, the prophecy emphasizes Jerusalem's centrality in Messiah's kingdom.