God’s Word Translation
Zechariah 14:8
8On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it to the Dead Sea and the other half to the Mediterranean Sea. It will continue in summer and in winter.
Zechariah 14:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.
- English Standard Version (ESV)On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And in that day it shall be That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half of them toward the eastern sea And half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur.
Context of Zechariah 14:8
6On that day there will be neither heat nor freezing cold. 7There will be one day—a day known to the Lord—with no difference between day and night. It will be light even in the evening. On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it to the Dead Sea and the other half to the Mediterranean Sea. It will continue in summer and in winter. 9The Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be the only Lord and his name the only name. 10The whole earth will become like the plains from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem will rise and remain on its site, from Benjamin Gate to the place of First Gate, Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses.
Read all of Zechariah 14Zechariah 14:8 word by word
וְהָיָ֣ה׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יֵצְא֤וּ מַֽיִם־חַיִּים֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם חֶצְיָ֗ם אֶל־הַיָּם֙ הַקַּדְמוֹנִ֔י וְחֶצְיָ֖ם אֶל־הַיָּ֣ם הָאַחֲר֑וֹן בַּקַּ֥יִץ וּבָחֹ֖רֶף יִֽהְיֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it shall be in that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- livingחַיchay · aliveH2416
- watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- shall go outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: issueH3318
- from Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- halfחֲצִיchêtsîy · halfH2677
- of them toward the formerקַדְמֹנִיqadmônîy qadmônîy · easternH6931
- seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
- of them toward the hinderאַחֲרוֹן'achăryôn 'achărôn · lastH314
- in summerקַ֫יִץqayits · summerH7019
- and in winterחֹ֫רֶףchôreph · autumnH2779
Cross-references for Zechariah 14:8
- Ezekiel 47:1Then the man took me back to the door of the temple. I saw water flowing from under the entrance of the temple toward the east. (The temple faced east.) The water was flowing under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.
- Joel 3:18On that day new wine will cover the mountains. Milk will flow on the hills. Water will flow in all the brooks of Judah. A spring will flow from the Lord’s temple. It will water the valley of Shittim.
- Luke 24:47Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.
- John 4:10Jesus replied to her, “If you only knew what God’s gift is and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked him for a drink. He would have given you living water.”
- John 7:38As Scripture says, ‘Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.’ ”
- Revelation 22:1The angel showed me a river filled with the water of life, as clear as crystal. It was flowing from the throne of God and the lamb.
- Joel 2:20“I will keep the northern ⌞army⌟ far from you, and I will force it into a dry and barren land. The soldiers in front will be forced into the eastern sea. The soldiers in back will be forced into the western sea. A foul odor will rise from the dead bodies. They will stink.” He has done great things!
- Isaiah 35:7Then the hot sand will become a pool, and dry ground will have springs. Grass will become cattails and rushes in the home of jackals.
- Isaiah 41:17“The poor and needy are looking for water, but there is none. Their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.
- Isaiah 49:10They will never be hungry or thirsty, nor will the sun or the burning, hot wind strike them. The one who has compassion on them will lead them and guide them to springs.
- Isaiah 58:11The Lord will continually guide you and satisfy you even in sun-baked places. He will strengthen your bones. You will become like a watered garden and like a spring whose water does not stop flowing.
- Revelation 7:16They will never be hungry or thirsty again. Neither the sun nor any burning heat will ever overcome them.
Commentaries on Zechariah 14:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Living waters shall go out - There shall be a wide diffusion of Divine knowledge, and of the plan of human salvation, which shall go out by apostles and preachers, first from Jerusalem, then to Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, the isles of the sea, Britain, etc. The former sea, and - the hinder sea - The Dead Sea and the Mediterranean; see on Joel 2:20; (note). These are metaphors. In summer - In time of drought; or in the countries where there was no…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8And it shall be, that living waters - Kimchi: “This is what is said in the prophecy of Joel, A fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord‘ Joel 3:18; and in that of Ezekiel, And behold there ran out waters.‘ Ezekiel 47:2.” Zechariah leaves to the mind to supply what the former prophets had said of the fertilizing life-giving character of those waters. He adds that they should pervade the whole land, west as well as east; “to the former,” rather…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-15Verses 8-15 Some consider that the progress of the gospel, beginning from Jerusalem, is referred to by the living waters flowing from that city. Neither shall the gospel and means of grace, nor the graces of the Spirit wrought in the hearts of believers by those means, ever fail, by reason either of the heat of persecution, or storms of temptation, or the blasts of any other affliction. Tremendous judgments appear to be foretold, to be sent upon those who…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8The living waters from Jerusalem represent God's presence among his people (see Ezekiel 47:1–12; Joel 3:18; John 7:37–39; Revelation 22:1–2). half of it toward the Eastern Sea and the other half toward the Western Sea: These divine blessings will reach both east and west, flowing continuously. They will always bring healing (see Isaiah 30:23–26).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. living waters--(Eze 47:1; Joe 3:18). former sea--that is, the front, or east, which Orientalists face in taking the points of the compass; the Dead Sea. hinder sea--the west or Mediterranean. summer ... winter--neither dried up by heat, nor frozen by cold; ever flowing.Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 14:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Zechariah 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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