And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.

ZECHARIAH 14:13KJV
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Zechariah 14:13 (KJV)

What does Zechariah 14:13 mean?

Zechariah 14:13 describes a moment when the LORD sends a great panic among people, causing them to turn against each other in confusion and fear, each person grabbing the hand of their neighbor and fighting one another. This verse shows chaos and mutual distrust breaking out as a direct result of divine intervention.

The prophet Zechariah is speaking to the people of Judah about a future time of upheaval connected to the "day of the LORD." In this scene, God is pictured as sending a supernatural disturbance among the enemies gathered against Jerusalem, leading them to attack each other rather than the city. The verse emphasizes the power of God to disrupt human plans and alliances in dramatic ways.

The Hebrew behind Zechariah 14:13

  • "tumult" (הָמוֹן, hamon): This word often means a loud noise, confusion, or panic. Here, it highlights the overwhelming sense of chaos that God brings upon the people.
  • "hold" (חָזַק, chazaq): This verb means to seize or grasp strongly. The image is of people desperately grabbing onto each other, not in friendship, but in fear or aggression.
  • "neighbor" (רֵעַ, re'a): This word refers to a companion or fellow person, showing that the violence erupts even among those who should be allies or friends.

Why Zechariah 14:13 matters

  • Zechariah 14:13 clarifies that the confusion and violence are not just natural events but are sent "from the LORD," underlining God's control over even the most chaotic situations.
  • The verse connects to the larger theme of Zechariah 14, where God defends Jerusalem in unexpected ways, sometimes turning enemies against each other.
  • This verse helps correct the idea that God's deliverance always comes through peaceful means; sometimes, it involves dramatic upheaval and the unraveling of human alliances.

Where else these words appear

“tumult” Hebrew H4103 · used in 12 verses

  • Deuteronomy 7:23 But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.
  • 1 Samuel 5:11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
  • Isaiah 22:5 For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.