Zechariah 14:2

Authorized King James Version

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For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Original Language Analysis

וְאָסַפְתִּ֨י For I will gather H622
וְאָסַפְתִּ֨י For I will gather
Strong's: H622
Word #: 1 of 23
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 2 of 23
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 #: 3 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגּוֹיִ֥ם׀ all nations H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֥ם׀ all nations
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 4 of 23
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
אֶֽל H413
אֶֽל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 5 of 23
near, with or among; often in general, to
יְרוּשָׁלִַם֮ against Jerusalem H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִַם֮ against Jerusalem
Strong's: H3389
Word #: 6 of 23
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
לַמִּלְחָמָה֒ to battle H4421
לַמִּלְחָמָה֒ to battle
Strong's: H4421
Word #: 7 of 23
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
וְנִלְכְּדָ֣ה shall be taken H3920
וְנִלְכְּדָ֣ה shall be taken
Strong's: H3920
Word #: 8 of 23
to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere
הָעִֽיר׃ and the city H5892
הָעִֽיר׃ and the city
Strong's: H5892
Word #: 9 of 23
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
וְנָשַׁ֙סּוּ֙ rifled H8155
וְנָשַׁ֙סּוּ֙ rifled
Strong's: H8155
Word #: 10 of 23
to plunder
הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים and the houses H1004
הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים and the houses
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 11 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים and the women H802
וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים and the women
Strong's: H802
Word #: 12 of 23
a woman
תִּשָּׁגַ֑לְנָה H7693
תִּשָּׁגַ֑לְנָה
Strong's: H7693
Word #: 13 of 23
to copulate with
וְיָצָ֞א shall go forth H3318
וְיָצָ֞א shall go forth
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 14 of 23
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
חֲצִ֤י and half H2677
חֲצִ֤י and half
Strong's: H2677
Word #: 15 of 23
the half or middle
הָעִֽיר׃ and the city H5892
הָעִֽיר׃ and the city
Strong's: H5892
Word #: 16 of 23
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
בַּגּוֹלָ֔ה into captivity H1473
בַּגּוֹלָ֔ה into captivity
Strong's: H1473
Word #: 17 of 23
exile; concretely and collectively exiles
וְיֶ֣תֶר and the residue H3499
וְיֶ֣תֶר and the residue
Strong's: H3499
Word #: 18 of 23
properly, an overhanging, i.e., (by implication) a small rope (as hanging free)
הָעָ֔ם of the people H5971
הָעָ֔ם of the people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 19 of 23
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
לֹ֥א H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 20 of 23
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִכָּרֵ֖ת shall not be cut off H3772
יִכָּרֵ֖ת shall not be cut off
Strong's: H3772
Word #: 21 of 23
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 22 of 23
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הָעִֽיר׃ and the city H5892
הָעִֽיר׃ and the city
Strong's: H5892
Word #: 23 of 23
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

Analysis & Commentary

For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle—God Himself (asaphti, אָסַפְתִּי, "I will gather") orchestrates this climactic conflict. The phrase "all nations" (kol-goyim, כָּל־גּוֹיִם) indicates universal opposition to God's holy city, fulfilling patterns seen in Psalms 2:1-3 where nations rage against the LORD and His anointed. This isn't random geopolitics but divinely appointed confrontation forcing final resolution between God's kingdom and rebellious humanity.

The horror intensifies: "the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished"—graphic depiction of conquest's brutality using standard ancient Near Eastern warfare terminology. The Hebrew ve-nishsheqah (וְנִשְּׁגָּלוּ, ravished) describes sexual violence accompanying military defeat. "Half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city"—precise division showing measured judgment. God permits devastation but preserves a remnant, echoing Isaiah's stump theology (Isaiah 6:13) and Paul's remnant doctrine (Romans 11:5).

This darkest-before-dawn scenario sets up verses 3-4's divine intervention. God allows His enemies their moment of seeming victory to magnify His deliverance and demonstrate that salvation comes solely through His intervention, not human strength. The remnant preserved through tribulation becomes the saved community welcoming Messiah's return.

Historical Context

This prophecy has seen partial fulfillments throughout history. Babylon's 586 BC conquest, Antiochus Epiphanes' 168 BC defilement, Rome's 70 AD destruction, and Bar Kokhba revolt's 135 AD aftermath all witnessed nations attacking Jerusalem, houses plundered, populations deported. Yet none exhausted the prophecy's scope—"all nations" indicates more comprehensive gathering than any historical event. Zechariah 12:3 and 14:2 together describe Jerusalem as "burdensome stone" provoking all nations, fulfilled partially in Israel's modern conflicts but ultimately awaiting eschatological culmination. Revelation 16:16 and 19:19 describe this final gathering at Armageddon, while Revelation 11:2 specifies Jerusalem trampled by Gentiles before deliverance.

Questions for Reflection