Zechariah 14:5
And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
Original Language Analysis
נַסְתֶּם֙
And ye shall flee
H5127
נַסְתֶּם֙
And ye shall flee
Strong's:
H5127
Word #:
1 of 24
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
גֵּי
for the valley
H1516
גֵּי
for the valley
Strong's:
H1516
Word #:
2 of 24
a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)
הָרִים֮
of the mountains
H2022
הָרִים֮
of the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
3 of 24
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 24
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יַגִּ֣יעַ
shall reach
H5060
יַגִּ֣יעַ
shall reach
Strong's:
H5060
Word #:
5 of 24
properly, to touch, i.e., lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive
גֵּי
for the valley
H1516
גֵּי
for the valley
Strong's:
H1516
Word #:
6 of 24
a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)
הָרִים֮
of the mountains
H2022
הָרִים֮
of the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
7 of 24
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
נַסְתֶּם֙
And ye shall flee
H5127
נַסְתֶּם֙
And ye shall flee
Strong's:
H5127
Word #:
10 of 24
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נַסְתֶּם֙
And ye shall flee
H5127
נַסְתֶּם֙
And ye shall flee
Strong's:
H5127
Word #:
12 of 24
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
מִפְּנֵ֣י
from before
H6440
מִפְּנֵ֣י
from before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
13 of 24
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
בִּימֵ֖י
in the days
H3117
בִּימֵ֖י
in the days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
15 of 24
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
יְהוּדָ֑ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֑ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
18 of 24
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
יְהוָ֣ה
and the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
and the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
20 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהַ֔י
my God
H430
אֱלֹהַ֔י
my God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
21 of 24
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
22 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Amos 1:1The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.Matthew 25:31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:Matthew 16:27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.Isaiah 29:6Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.1 Thessalonians 3:13To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.Revelation 11:13And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.Revelation 20:4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.Psalms 96:13Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.2 Thessalonians 2:8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Historical Context
Uzziah (Azariah) ruled Judah 792-740 BC, a prosperous period ended by his prideful presumption in entering the temple to burn incense, reserved for priests alone (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). God struck him with leprosy. The earthquake evidently occurred around this time, becoming proverbial for divine judgment. Amos, prophesying during Uzziah's reign, dated his ministry by it (Amos 1:1), indicating its significance. Zechariah uses this historical memory to help his audience grasp the coming cataclysm's magnitude. The saints accompanying Christ fulfills Daniel 7:13-14 (Son of Man coming with clouds) and Matthew 24:30-31 (angels gathering elect). Church age believers will return with Christ (Revelation 19:14), having been raptured earlier (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's provision of an escape route (the valley) demonstrate His care for His people even in apocalyptic judgment?
- What does the historical earthquake in Uzziah's reign teach about God judging presumption and pride, even in otherwise successful leaders?
- How should the promise that saints accompany Christ at His return shape your understanding of your future participation in His kingdom?
Analysis & Commentary
And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal—the newly-created valley (from verse 4's splitting) provides escape route for the besieged. The destination Atsel (אָצֵל, "Azal") is unknown geographically, mentioned nowhere else in Scripture. Some identify it with a place near Jerusalem; others see it as symbolic. The verb ve-nastem (וְנַסְתֶּם, "you shall flee") indicates urgent escape, God providing deliverance through geographic miracle.
"Yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah"—historical reference to seismic event during Uzziah's reign (circa 760 BC), mentioned only here and Amos 1:1 ("two years before the earthquake"). This earthquake was so catastrophic it remained in collective memory for centuries. Josephus (Antiquities IX.10.4) claims it occurred when Uzziah usurped priestly prerogatives (2 Chronicles 26:16-21), splitting the temple mount. Whether historically verifiable or not, the comparison indicates the coming splitting will evoke the same terror and urgency as that legendary quake.
"And the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee"—climactic declaration of Messiah's parousia. The sudden shift to second person ("with thee") suggests Zechariah addresses the pre-incarnate Christ or shifts to direct address of God. Qedoshim (קְדֹשִׁים, "saints/holy ones") refers to either angels (Deuteronomy 33:2, Jude 14) or glorified believers (1 Thessalonians 3:13, Revelation 19:14), likely both—Christ returns with heavenly armies.