And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

ZECHARIAH 14:4KJV
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Zechariah 14:4 (KJV)

What does Zechariah 14:4 mean?

Zechariah 14:4 describes a dramatic event where the Lord’s feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, causing the mountain to split in two from east to west and form a large valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. This verse paints a vivid picture of a supernatural event that changes the landscape around Jerusalem.

The prophet Zechariah is speaking to the people of Judah about a future day of the Lord, a time of God’s direct intervention in history. The verse uses concrete geography—naming the Mount of Olives and its position relative to Jerusalem—to show that this is a real, physical event, not just a symbol. The splitting of the mountain signals a moment of great upheaval and transformation, setting the stage for the rest of the chapter’s description of God’s actions.

The Hebrew behind Zechariah 14:4

  • The word for “stand” (עָמַד, ʿamad, H5975) means to take a firm position or remain in place. In this context, it emphasizes the Lord’s personal presence and authority as He arrives at the Mount of Olives.
  • “Cleave” (בָּקַע, baqaʿ, H1234) means to split or break open. This word highlights the dramatic, forceful nature of the event, showing that the mountain is not just moved but torn apart.
  • “Valley” (גַּיְא, gay, H1516) refers to a deep, wide space created by the splitting of the mountain. This new valley is described as “very great,” stressing the scale of the change.
  • The repeated use of “half” (חֵצִי, ḥetzi, H2677) and the directions “north” (צָפוֹן, tsafon, H6828) and “south” (נֶגֶב, negev, H5045) gives a precise sense of the physical transformation, making it clear that the mountain is divided completely.

Why Zechariah 14:4 matters

  • Zechariah 14:4 clears up that the prophecy is describing a real, physical event tied to a specific location, not just a metaphorical or spiritual idea.
  • The verse connects directly to the wider theme of Zechariah 14, where God intervenes in Jerusalem’s future, showing His power over creation itself.
  • The mention of the Mount of Olives is significant in later biblical history, making this verse an important link between Old Testament prophecy and later events associated with this location.

Where else these words appear

“remove” Hebrew H4185 · used in 19 verses

  • Exodus 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
  • Psalms 55:11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
  • Jeremiah 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

“Olives” Hebrew H2132 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 8:11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
  • Judges 9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
  • Psalms 128:3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

“cleave” Hebrew H1234 · used in 50 verses

  • Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
  • 1 Chronicles 11:18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
  • Isaiah 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

“valley” Hebrew H1516 · used in 54 verses

  • Numbers 21:20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.
  • 1 Chronicles 4:39 And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
  • Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: