Zechariah 14:17
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.
Original Language Analysis
וְ֠הָיָה
H1961
וְ֠הָיָה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 17
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 17
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַעֲלֶ֜ה
And it shall be that whoso will not come up
H5927
יַעֲלֶ֜ה
And it shall be that whoso will not come up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
4 of 17
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
מֵאֵ֨ת
H853
מֵאֵ֨ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִשְׁפְּח֤וֹת
of all the families
H4940
מִשְׁפְּח֤וֹת
of all the families
Strong's:
H4940
Word #:
6 of 17
a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
unto Jerusalem
H3389
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
unto Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
9 of 17
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֔ת
to worship
H7812
לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֔ת
to worship
Strong's:
H7812
Word #:
10 of 17
to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
12 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֑וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֑וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
13 of 17
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
14 of 17
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם
H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
15 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Isaiah 60:12For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.Jeremiah 14:4Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.Revelation 11:6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.Deuteronomy 11:17And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.James 5:17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.Jeremiah 14:22Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.Zechariah 14:16And 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.Genesis 12:3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.Genesis 28:14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.Genesis 10:32These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
Historical Context
During Christ's millennial reign from Jerusalem, international worship at Feast of Tabernacles isn't optional—it's mandatory with enforced penalties. This demonstrates Christ's kingly authority over all nations and validates the gospel's call to submission. Even in glorified conditions, human will requires divine governance to maintain righteousness.
Questions for Reflection
- What does mandatory worship with consequences teach about God's rightful authority over all humanity?
- How does millennial kingdom involving 'stick' (withheld rain) and 'carrot' (blessing) parallel gospel invitation?
- Why is enforced righteousness necessary even in millennial kingdom before final rebellion (Revelation 20:7-9)?
Analysis & Commentary
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—universal requirement: all nations must send representatives annually. Even upon them shall be no rain (וְלֹא עֲלֵיהֶם יִהְיֶה הַגָּשֶׁם)—geshem (rain) withheld as covenant curse for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:23-24). This demonstrates that millennial kingdom, though characterized by peace and righteousness under Messiah's rule, still involves human responsibility and consequences for disobedience.
Rain represents God's blessing and agricultural prosperity. Withholding rain causes famine, economic collapse, suffering—motivating compliance. This isn't arbitrary tyranny but covenantal: obedience brings blessing, disobedience brings curse (Deuteronomy 11:13-17). The principle that governed Israel's land promises now extends globally under Messiah's reign. This challenges overly romanticized views of millennium as automatic utopia; it involves Christ's 'iron rod' rule (Revelation 19:15) enforcing righteousness.