Zechariah 14:21
Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.
Original Language Analysis
וְ֠הָיָה
H1961
וְ֠הָיָה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 24
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
סִ֨יר
Yea every pot
H5518
סִ֨יר
Yea every pot
Strong's:
H5518
Word #:
3 of 24
a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication, a hook
בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֜ם
in Jerusalem
H3389
בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֜ם
in Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
4 of 24
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
וּבִֽיהוּדָ֗ה
and in Judah
H3063
וּבִֽיהוּדָ֗ה
and in Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
5 of 24
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
קֹ֚דֶשׁ
shall be holiness
H6944
קֹ֚דֶשׁ
shall be holiness
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
6 of 24
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
יְהוָ֥ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֖וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֖וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
8 of 24
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
וּבָ֙אוּ֙
shall come
H935
וּבָ֙אוּ֙
shall come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
9 of 24
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַזֹּ֣בְחִ֔ים
and all they that sacrifice
H2076
הַזֹּ֣בְחִ֔ים
and all they that sacrifice
Strong's:
H2076
Word #:
11 of 24
to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)
וְלָקְח֥וּ
and take
H3947
וְלָקְח֥וּ
and take
Strong's:
H3947
Word #:
12 of 24
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
וּבִשְּׁל֣וּ
of them and seethe
H1310
וּבִשְּׁל֣וּ
of them and seethe
Strong's:
H1310
Word #:
14 of 24
properly, to boil up; hence, to be done in cooking; figuratively to ripen
וְלֹא
H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
16 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִהְיֶ֨ה
H1961
יִהְיֶ֨ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
17 of 24
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כְנַעֲנִ֥י
there shall be no more the Canaanite
H3669
כְנַעֲנִ֥י
there shall be no more the Canaanite
Strong's:
H3669
Word #:
18 of 24
a kenaanite or inhabitant of kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the canaanites standing for their neighbors the ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile c
ע֛וֹד
H5750
ע֛וֹד
Strong's:
H5750
Word #:
19 of 24
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
בְּבֵית
in the house
H1004
בְּבֵית
in the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
20 of 24
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יְהוָ֥ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
21 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֖וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֖וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
22 of 24
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
Cross References
Ezekiel 44:9Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.1 Corinthians 10:31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.Joel 3:17So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.Revelation 21:27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.Revelation 22:15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.Nehemiah 8:10Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.Hebrews 3:6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.Isaiah 4:3And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:Isaiah 35:8And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.Zechariah 14:20In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
Historical Context
Zechariah's prophecy began with call to return and rebuild temple (chapters 1-8), progressed through Messiah's rejection and future sufferings (chapters 9-13), and culminates here with purified worship in Messiah's kingdom (chapter 14). The final verse encapsulates the goal: holiness permeating all life, worship free from corruption, Yahweh reigning from Jerusalem. This awaits Christ's return and millennial kingdom, ultimately fulfilled in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22).
Questions for Reflection
- What does universal holiness (every pot sacred) teach about God's goal to consecrate all creation to His glory?
- How does 'no more Canaanite/merchant' challenge commercialization and exploitation in modern worship contexts?
- In what way does this final verse summarize Zechariah's entire prophetic vision and God's redemptive purposes?
Analysis & Commentary
Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts—extends beyond temple to every household pot. All cooking vessels throughout Jerusalem and Judah are holy, available for sacrificial use. And all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein—worshipers can use any pot for boiling sacrificial meat; all vessels are equally sanctified. And in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts (וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה כְנַעֲנִי עוֹד בְּבֵית־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא).
Kena'ani (Canaanite) can mean ethnic Canaanite or 'merchant/trader' (word overlap in Hebrew). Either reading works:
Likely both meanings intended: no unbelievers defiling worship, no mercenary attitudes corrupting devotion. This is worship purity achieved—the consummation Zechariah's prophecy aimed toward throughout 14 chapters.