Zechariah 14:8

Authorized King James Version

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And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

Original Language Analysis

וְהָיָ֣ה׀ H1961
וְהָיָ֣ה׀
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בַּיּ֣וֹם And it shall be in that day H3117
בַּיּ֣וֹם And it shall be in that day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 2 of 18
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
הַה֗וּא H1931
הַה֗וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 3 of 18
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
יֵצְא֤וּ shall go out H3318
יֵצְא֤וּ shall go out
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 4 of 18
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
מַֽיִם waters H4325
מַֽיִם waters
Strong's: H4325
Word #: 5 of 18
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
חַיִּים֙ that living H2416
חַיִּים֙ that living
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 6 of 18
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם from Jerusalem H3389
מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם from Jerusalem
Strong's: H3389
Word #: 7 of 18
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
וְחֶצְיָ֖ם and half H2677
וְחֶצְיָ֖ם and half
Strong's: H2677
Word #: 8 of 18
the half or middle
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 9 of 18
near, with or among; often in general, to
הַיָּ֣ם sea H3220
הַיָּ֣ם sea
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 10 of 18
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
הַקַּדְמוֹנִ֔י of them toward the former H6931
הַקַּדְמוֹנִ֔י of them toward the former
Strong's: H6931
Word #: 11 of 18
(of time) anterior or (of place) oriental
וְחֶצְיָ֖ם and half H2677
וְחֶצְיָ֖ם and half
Strong's: H2677
Word #: 12 of 18
the half or middle
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 13 of 18
near, with or among; often in general, to
הַיָּ֣ם sea H3220
הַיָּ֣ם sea
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 14 of 18
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
הָאַחֲר֑וֹן of them toward the hinder H314
הָאַחֲר֑וֹן of them toward the hinder
Strong's: H314
Word #: 15 of 18
hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western
בַּקַּ֥יִץ in summer H7019
בַּקַּ֥יִץ in summer
Strong's: H7019
Word #: 16 of 18
harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain or fruit) or the (dry) season
וּבָחֹ֖רֶף and in winter H2779
וּבָחֹ֖רֶף and in winter
Strong's: H2779
Word #: 17 of 18
properly, the crop gathered, i.e., (by implication) the autumn (and winter) season; figuratively, ripeness of age
יִֽהְיֶֽה׃ H1961
יִֽהְיֶֽה׃
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 18 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

Cross References

John 7:38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.John 4:14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.John 4:10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.Joel 3:18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.Isaiah 49:10They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.Joel 2:20But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.Revelation 22:17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.Isaiah 35:7And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.Isaiah 58:11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.Luke 24:47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Analysis & Commentary

And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem—this stunning image depicts life-giving water flowing from God's holy city. The Hebrew mayim chayyim (מַיִם חַיִּים, "living waters") describes fresh, flowing spring water as opposed to stagnant cistern water. Jeremiah 2:13 contrasts God as "fountain of living waters" with broken cisterns that hold no water. Jesus appropriated this imagery in John 4:10-14 (offering living water to the Samaritan woman) and John 7:37-39 ("out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water," interpreted as the Holy Spirit).

"Half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea"—the waters flow both east to the Dead Sea (ha-yam ha-qadmoni, the "eastern/former sea") and west to the Mediterranean (ha-yam ha-acharon, the "western/hinder sea"). This bi-directional flow indicates Jerusalem as the source watering the entire land. Ezekiel 47:1-12 parallels this vision: water flowing from the temple's threshold, deepening as it flows, healing the Dead Sea and producing abundant fruit trees. Joel 3:18 similarly prophesies: "a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD."

"In summer and in winter shall it be"—perpetual flow regardless of season. Palestinian streams typically ran in winter rains but dried in summer drought. This supernatural river never fails, providing constant sustenance. Revelation 22:1-2 completes the image: "a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb," with the tree of life producing fruit monthly. What began in Eden with the river watering the garden (Genesis 2:10) culminates in the new Jerusalem with the river of life.

Historical Context

Jerusalem's geography made this prophecy remarkable—the city sits on a ridge with no significant water source. Ancient Jerusalem depended on the Gihon Spring, Hezekiah's tunnel, and cisterns. The prophecy of abundant water flowing from Jerusalem transforming the landscape demonstrates supernatural provision. Historically, this had no literal fulfillment—no physical river flows from Jerusalem to both seas. The prophecy demands eschatological or spiritual interpretation. Pentecost (Acts 2) saw the Spirit poured out from Jerusalem, spreading to all nations—the gospel flowing from Jerusalem as Jesus commanded (Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8). Ultimate fulfillment awaits the new creation when God's presence in the new Jerusalem provides eternal life.

Questions for Reflection