And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

ZECHARIAH 14:18KJV
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Zechariah 14:18 (KJV)

What does Zechariah 14:18 mean?

Zechariah 14:18 says that Egypt would face the LORD’s punishment if its people refused to go to Jerusalem for the feast of tabernacles. Egypt is named as a particular example among the nations expected to take part in that feast.

After the warning about lack of rain in verse 17, Egypt receives special mention as a land that “have no rain.” Ancient Egypt depended heavily on the Nile River for its water, making the earlier warning about rain a distinctive question in Egypt’s case.

The Hebrew behind Zechariah 14:18

  • “family” — מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah): This word can mean a family or a larger group of related people. Here, “the family of Egypt” speaks of Egypt’s people together, rather than one household.
  • “heathen” — גּוֹיִם (goyim): This word means “nations” or “peoples.” In the KJV, “heathen” refers here to the nations expected to come to the feast.

Why Zechariah 14:18 matters

  • Egypt’s place in the warning is specific, but the requirement is wider. The verse names Egypt and then refers to the nations that do not come to keep the feast.
  • The feast of tabernacles gives the journey its purpose. In verse 16, the surviving people from the nations come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD, and to keep the feast.

Where else these words appear

“keep” Hebrew H2287 · used in 14 verses

  • Exodus 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
  • Leviticus 23:41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
  • Psalms 42:4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

“plague” Hebrew H4046 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 9:14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
  • Numbers 26:1 And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
  • 1 Chronicles 21:17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

“tabernacles” Hebrew H5521 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 33:17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
  • 1 Kings 20:12 And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.
  • Job 36:29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

“smite” Hebrew H5062 · used in 46 verses

  • Exodus 8:2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:
  • Judges 20:39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.
  • 1 Chronicles 19:19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.