Zechariah 14:17 And should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, then the rain will not fall on them.

Bible > Zechariah > Chapter 14 > Verse 17

◄ Zechariah 14:17 ►

New International Version
If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.

New Living Translation
Any nation in the world that refuses to come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, will have no rain.

English Standard Version
And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them.

Berean Standard Bible
And should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, then the rain will not fall on them.

King James Bible
And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

New King James Version
And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain.

New American Standard Bible
And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of armies, there will be no rain on them.

NASB 1995
And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them.

NASB 1977
And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them.

Legacy Standard Bible
And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, there will be no rain on them.

Amplified Bible
And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them.

Christian Standard Bible
Should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Armies, rain will not fall on them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, rain will not fall on them.

American Standard Version
And it shall be, that whoso of all the families of the earth goeth not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain.

Contemporary English Version
No rain will fall on the land of anyone in any country who refuses to go to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD All-Powerful.

English Revised Version
And it shall be, that whoso of all the families of the earth goeth not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If any of the families on the earth won't go to Jerusalem to worship the king, the LORD of Armies, then rain won't fall on them.

Good News Translation
If any nation refuses to go and worship the LORD Almighty as king, then rain will not fall on their land.

International Standard Version
If anyone from the families of the earth will not come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, there will be no rain for them.

Majority Standard Bible
And should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, then the rain will not fall on them.

NET Bible
But if any of the nations anywhere on earth refuse to go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD who rules over all, they will get no rain.

New Heart English Bible
It will be, that whoever of all the families of the earth doesn't go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall be, that whoever will not come up of all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

World English Bible
It will be that whoever of all the families of the earth doesn’t go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of Armies, on them there will be no rain.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And it has come to pass, "" That he who does not go up of the families of the land to Jerusalem, "" To bow himself to the King, YHWH of Hosts, "" Even on them there is no shower.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass, That he who doth not go up of the families of the land unto Jerusalem, To bow himself to the King, Jehovah of Hosts, Even on them there is no shower.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was who will not come up of the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship to the king, Jehovah of armies, and upon them shall not be rain.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it shall come to pass, that he that shall not go up of the families of the land to Jerusalem, to adore the King, the Lord of hosts, there shall be no rain upon them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And this shall be: whoever will not go up, from the families of the earth to Jerusalem, so as to adore the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no showers upon them.

New American Bible
Should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to bow down to the King, the LORD of hosts, then there will be no rain for them.

New Revised Standard Version
If any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain upon them.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And it shall be, whosoever will not come up of all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there shall be no rain upon them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And it will be whoever does not go up from all the families of the Earth to Jerusalem to worship The King LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts, rain shall not descend upon them

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall be, that whoso of the families of the earth goeth not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever of all the families of the earth shall not come up to Jerusalem to worship the king, the Lord Almighty, even these shall be added to the others.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

All Nations will Worship the King
16Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17And should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, then the rain will not fall on them. 18And if the people of Egypt will not go up and enter in, then the rain will not fall on them; this will be the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 60:12
For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed.

Revelation 21:24
By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.

Psalm 72:11
May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

Revelation 11:6
These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.

Isaiah 2:2-3
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. / And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Micah 4:1-2
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. / And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Revelation 19:15
And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Psalm 2:8-9
Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession. / You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”

Isaiah 45:23
By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Philippians 2:10-11
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 22:3
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.

Isaiah 66:23
From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.

Jeremiah 10:25
Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, and on the families that do not call on Your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have consumed him and finished him off; they have devastated his homeland.

Revelation 16:9
And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues. Yet they did not repent and give Him glory.

Psalm 110:5-6
The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings in the day of His wrath. / He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead; He will crush the leaders far and wide.

Treasury of Scripture

And it shall be, that whoever will not come up of all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even on them shall be no rain.

that.

Psalm 2:8-12
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession…

Psalm 110:5,6
The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath…

Isaiah 45:23
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

all.

Genesis 10:32
These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Genesis 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 28:14
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

even.

Deuteronomy 11:17
And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.

Deuteronomy 28:23,24
And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron…

1 Kings 8:35
When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:

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Zechariah 14

1. The destroyers of Jerusalem destroyed.
3. The coming of Christ, and the graces of his kingdom.
12. The plague of Jerusalem's enemies.
16. The remnant shall turn to the Lord;
20. and their spoils shall be holy.

Berean Study Bible

And should any of the families of the earth
This phrase emphasizes the universal scope of God's dominion and the inclusivity of His call to worship. The Hebrew word for "families" (מִשְׁפָּחוֹת, mishpachot) suggests not just individual households but entire clans or nations. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of collective identity, where families and tribes were seen as integral units. The phrase underscores the prophetic vision of a time when all nations will recognize the sovereignty of God, aligning with the biblical theme of God's plan for all humanity.

not go up to Jerusalem
The act of "going up" to Jerusalem is significant both geographically and spiritually. Jerusalem, situated on a hill, required a physical ascent, symbolizing a spiritual journey towards God. In the Hebrew context, "going up" (עָלָה, alah) often denotes pilgrimage, a recurring theme in the Old Testament where the faithful travel to sacred sites to encounter God. This pilgrimage to Jerusalem signifies a future time when all nations will acknowledge Jerusalem as the spiritual center of the world, fulfilling prophecies of peace and divine rule.

to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts
"Worship" (לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת, lehishtachavot) involves bowing down or prostrating oneself, indicating deep reverence and submission. The "King" here is identified as "the LORD of Hosts" (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, Yahweh Tsevaot), a title that conveys God's supreme authority over all heavenly and earthly armies. This dual title emphasizes God's ultimate kingship and power, inviting all nations to recognize His authority. Historically, this reflects the monotheistic belief in Yahweh's supremacy over all other deities and powers.

then the rain will not fall on them
Rain, in the ancient Near Eastern context, was a vital blessing from God, essential for agriculture and survival. The withholding of rain (מָטָר, matar) is a form of divine judgment, a concept familiar in the Old Testament where obedience to God results in blessings, and disobedience leads to curses (Deuteronomy 28). This phrase serves as a warning and a reminder of the dependence of all creation on God's provision. It underscores the covenant relationship between God and humanity, where faithfulness leads to life-sustaining blessings.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - Will not come up; goeth not up. Those who neglected this yearly worship shall be punished according to the threat in Deuteronomy 11:16, 17. No rain. The failure of periodic rain in Eastern countries meant drought, famine, and widespread distress. In a spiritual sense, rain represents the grace and blessing of God; these are withholden from those who refuse to worship him and wilfully cut themselves off from the Church. The LXX. has, Καὶ οῦτοι ἐκείνοις προστεθήσονται, "These shall be associated with those," i.e. shall be reckoned among those enemies whose punishment has been mentioned above.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And should any of the families
מִשְׁפְּח֤וֹת (miš·pə·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4940: A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people

of the earth
הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

go up
יַעֲלֶ֜ה (ya·‘ă·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Jerusalem
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

to worship
לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֔ת (lə·hiš·ta·ḥă·wōṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

the King,
לְמֶ֖לֶךְ (lə·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

of Hosts,
צְבָא֑וֹת (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

the rain
הַגָּֽשֶׁם׃ (hag·gā·šem)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1653: Rain, shower

will not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

fall
וְ֠הָיָה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on them.
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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OT Prophets: Zechariah 14:17 It will be that whoever of all (Zech. Zec Zc)