Zechariah 14:4

Authorized King James Version

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And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Original Language Analysis

וְעָמְד֣וּ shall stand H5975
וְעָמְד֣וּ shall stand
Strong's: H5975
Word #: 1 of 27
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
רַגְלָ֣יו And his feet H7272
רַגְלָ֣יו And his feet
Strong's: H7272
Word #: 2 of 27
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
בַּיּוֹם in that day H3117
בַּיּוֹם in that day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 3 of 27
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַ֠הוּא H1931
הַ֠הוּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 4 of 27
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
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 5 of 27
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָהָ֛ר and the mount H2022
הָהָ֛ר and the mount
Strong's: H2022
Word #: 6 of 27
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
הַזֵּיתִ֤ים of Olives H2132
הַזֵּיתִ֤ים of Olives
Strong's: H2132
Word #: 7 of 27
an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry
אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 8 of 27
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 #: 9 of 27
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֥י which is before H6440
פְּנֵ֥י which is before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 10 of 27
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְרוּשָׁלִַם֮ Jerusalem H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִַם֮ Jerusalem
Strong's: H3389
Word #: 11 of 27
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
מִקֶּדֶם֒ on the east H6924
מִקֶּדֶם֒ on the east
Strong's: H6924
Word #: 12 of 27
the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the east) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)
וְנִבְקַע֩ shall cleave H1234
וְנִבְקַע֩ shall cleave
Strong's: H1234
Word #: 13 of 27
to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open
הָהָ֛ר and the mount H2022
הָהָ֛ר and the mount
Strong's: H2022
Word #: 14 of 27
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
הַזֵּיתִ֤ים of Olives H2132
הַזֵּיתִ֤ים of Olives
Strong's: H2132
Word #: 15 of 27
an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry
וְחֶצְיוֹ and half H2677
וְחֶצְיוֹ and half
Strong's: H2677
Word #: 16 of 27
the half or middle
מִזְרָ֣חָה thereof toward the east H4217
מִזְרָ֣חָה thereof toward the east
Strong's: H4217
Word #: 17 of 27
sunrise, i.e., the east
וָיָ֔מָּה and toward the west H3220
וָיָ֔מָּה and toward the west
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 18 of 27
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
גֵּ֖יא valley H1516
גֵּ֖יא valley
Strong's: H1516
Word #: 19 of 27
a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)
גְּדוֹלָ֣ה great H1419
גְּדוֹלָ֣ה great
Strong's: H1419
Word #: 20 of 27
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
מְאֹ֑ד and there shall be a very H3966
מְאֹ֑ד and there shall be a very
Strong's: H3966
Word #: 21 of 27
properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
וּמָ֨שׁ shall remove H4185
וּמָ֨שׁ shall remove
Strong's: H4185
Word #: 22 of 27
to withdraw (both literally and figuratively, whether intransitive or transitive)
וְחֶצְיוֹ and half H2677
וְחֶצְיוֹ and half
Strong's: H2677
Word #: 23 of 27
the half or middle
הָהָ֛ר and the mount H2022
הָהָ֛ר and the mount
Strong's: H2022
Word #: 24 of 27
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
צָפ֖וֹנָה toward the north H6828
צָפ֖וֹנָה toward the north
Strong's: H6828
Word #: 25 of 27
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)
וְחֶצְיוֹ and half H2677
וְחֶצְיוֹ and half
Strong's: H2677
Word #: 26 of 27
the half or middle
נֶֽגְבָּה׃ of it toward the south H5045
נֶֽגְבָּה׃ of it toward the south
Strong's: H5045
Word #: 27 of 27
the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)

Analysis & Commentary

And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east—this is Scripture's most geographically specific prophecy of Christ's return. The Hebrew ve-amdu raglav (וְעָמְדוּ רַגְלָיו, "his feet shall stand") indicates bodily, physical presence, not mere spiritual manifestation. The Mount of Olives was Jesus's frequent retreat during His earthly ministry (Luke 21:37), the site of His agony in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36), and the place of His ascension (Acts 1:9-12). Acts 1:11 promises He will return "in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven"—from the Mount of Olives He ascended; to the Mount of Olives He will return.

"The mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west"—unprecedented geological cataclysm at Messiah's touch. The verb niv-qe'ah (נִבְקְעָה, "shall split") describes violent tearing apart, creating "a very great valley" (gey gedolah me'od). Half the mountain moves north, half south, creating an east-west valley for escape (verse 5). This recalls Moses striking the rock for water (Exodus 17:6) and the Red Sea parting (Exodus 14:21-22)—God's power manifested through physical creation responding to His presence.

This cosmic upheaval signals new creation. When Christ first came, creation groaned (Romans 8:22); when He returns, creation is liberated (Romans 8:21). The splitting mountain demonstrates that Christ's kingdom isn't merely spiritual but encompasses physical reality—He makes all things new (Revelation 21:5).

Historical Context

The Mount of Olives rises east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley, approximately 2,700 feet elevation. It was historically significant: David fled over it weeping when Absalom rebelled (2 Samuel 15:30), Solomon built high places for foreign gods there (1 Kings 11:7), and Jesus delivered the Olivet Discourse there (Matthew 24). Jewish tradition expected Messiah to appear on the Mount of Olives, based on this Zechariah prophecy. The geographical specificity eliminates spiritualizing interpretations—this is literal, physical return to a specific location. Geologists note the Mount of Olives sits on a major fault line, making the prophecy geologically plausible as well as theologically certain.

Questions for Reflection