Zechariah 14:12
And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
Original Language Analysis
תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה
H1961
תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 25
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הַמַּגֵּפָ֗ה
And this shall be the plague
H4046
הַמַּגֵּפָ֗ה
And this shall be the plague
Strong's:
H4046
Word #:
3 of 25
a pestilence; by analogy, defeat
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִגֹּ֤ף
will smite
H5062
יִגֹּ֤ף
will smite
Strong's:
H5062
Word #:
5 of 25
to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease)
יְהוָה֙
wherewith the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
wherewith the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 25
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 25
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 25
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים
all the people
H5971
הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים
all the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
9 of 25
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
10 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
12 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
against Jerusalem
H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
against Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
13 of 25
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
תִּמַּ֥ק
shall consume away
H4743
תִּמַּ֥ק
shall consume away
Strong's:
H4743
Word #:
14 of 25
to melt; figuratively, to flow, dwindle, vanish
בְּשָׂר֗וֹ
Their flesh
H1320
בְּשָׂר֗וֹ
Their flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
15 of 25
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
וְהוּא֙
H1931
וְהוּא֙
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
16 of 25
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
עֹמֵ֣ד
while they stand
H5975
עֹמֵ֣ד
while they stand
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
17 of 25
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
18 of 25
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רַגְלָ֔יו
upon their feet
H7272
רַגְלָ֔יו
upon their feet
Strong's:
H7272
Word #:
19 of 25
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
וְעֵינָיו֙
and their eyes
H5869
וְעֵינָיו֙
and their eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
20 of 25
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
תִּמַּ֥ק
shall consume away
H4743
תִּמַּ֥ק
shall consume away
Strong's:
H4743
Word #:
21 of 25
to melt; figuratively, to flow, dwindle, vanish
וּלְשׁוֹנ֖וֹ
and their tongue
H3956
וּלְשׁוֹנ֖וֹ
and their tongue
Strong's:
H3956
Word #:
23 of 25
the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,
Cross References
Zechariah 12:9And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.Psalms 90:11Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.Zechariah 14:3Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.Deuteronomy 28:59Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.Deuteronomy 28:22The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.Leviticus 26:28Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.Leviticus 26:21And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.Leviticus 26:16I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.Leviticus 26:24Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.2 Chronicles 21:15And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
Historical Context
Zechariah 14:2-3 describes end-times siege when 'all nations' gather against Jerusalem. God intervenes supernaturally, destroying enemies with this plague while delivering Israel. This is parallel to Ezekiel 38-39 (Gog/Magog invasion) where God defends Israel with cosmic judgments. Fulfillment awaits the tribulation period before Christ's millennial reign.
Questions for Reflection
- What does this graphic judgment teach about God's fierce protection of His covenant people and purposes?
- How should understanding future divine wrath against God's enemies affect current evangelistic urgency?
- What does instant physical decay symbolize about the ultimate futility of opposing God?
Analysis & Commentary
And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem (וְזֹאת תִּהְיֶה הַמַּגֵּפָה אֲשֶׁר יִגֹּף יְהוָה אֶת־כָּל־הָעַמִּים אֲשֶׁר צָבְאוּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָם)—magephah (plague/stroke) is divine judgment against nations besieging Jerusalem (described in 14:2-3). This is supernatural destruction, not conventional warfare. Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet—instant decomposition while still standing, horrifying imagery of divine wrath.
And their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth (וְעֵינָיו תִּמַּקְנָה בְחֹרֵיהֶן וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ תִּמַּק בְּפִיהֶם)—maqaq (rot/waste away) affects eyes and tongue specifically—perhaps organs of pride and blasphemy. This recalls Uzziah's instant leprosy for presumption (2 Chronicles 26:19) and Herod's death eaten by worms (Acts 12:23). Some see nuclear warfare imagery; others, direct divine judgment. Either way, this is God's terrifying response to those who attack His city and people.