In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.

ZECHARIAH 14:20KJV
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Zechariah 14:20 (KJV)

What does Zechariah 14:20 mean?

Zechariah 14:20 describes a future time when even ordinary things, like the bells on horses and cooking pots in the LORD’s house, will be marked as holy and dedicated to God. The verse uses the phrase “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD” to show that everything, not just special religious objects, will belong to God and be treated as sacred.

The prophet Zechariah is speaking to the people of Israel about a coming day when God’s presence will transform everyday life. In this vision, items that were once considered common or even unclean—like horse bells and kitchen pots—will be as holy as the sacred bowls used at the altar in the temple. This shows a dramatic change: God’s holiness will fill every part of life, not just the temple or its rituals.

The Hebrew behind Zechariah 14:20

  • “HOLINESS” (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh): This word means something set apart for God, dedicated or consecrated. Here, it is written on items that were never marked as holy before, showing a world where everything is devoted to God.
  • “bells” (מְצִלּוֹת, metzillot): These are small metal pieces attached to horses’ harnesses. Normally, these would be considered ordinary or even unclean, but in this vision, they are marked as holy.
  • “pots” (סִירוֹת, sirot): These are everyday cooking pots used in the temple. Zechariah says they will be like the “bowls” (מִזְרָקוֹת, mizrakot) used for sprinkling blood at the altar, showing that all service and objects in God’s house will be equally holy.
  • “LORD” (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible. The phrase “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD” (קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָה, qodesh laYHWH) was originally engraved on the high priest’s headband, but here it is extended to all things.

Why Zechariah 14:20 matters

  • Zechariah 14:20 clears up the idea that only certain places or objects can be holy; it shows that God’s holiness can reach into every part of life.
  • The verse emphasizes a future hope where God’s presence is so complete that even the most ordinary things are dedicated to Him.
  • This connects to the wider message of Zechariah 14, which describes a time of restoration and God’s reign over all the earth, making everything sacred.

Where else these words appear

“pots” Hebrew H5518 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
  • 2 Chronicles 4:16 The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house of the LORD of bright brass.
  • Jeremiah 52:19 And the basons, and the firepans, and the bowls, and the caldrons, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups; that which was of gold in gold, and that which was of silver in silver, took the captain of the guard away.

“bowls” Hebrew H4219 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 27:3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
  • Numbers 7:55 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • 2 Kings 12:13 Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD:

“horses” Hebrew H5483 · used in 131 verses

  • Genesis 47:17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
  • 2 Kings 14:20 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.
  • Jeremiah 8:16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.