The Meaning of Zechariah 14:3 Explained

Zechariah 14:3

KJV: Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

YLT: And gone forth hath Jehovah, And He hath fought against those nations, As in the day of His fighting in a day of conflict.

Darby: And Jehovah will go forth and fight with those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

ASV: Then shall Jehovah go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then shall the LORD  go forth,  and fight  against those nations,  as when  he fought  in the day  of battle. 

What does Zechariah 14:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh would then take the role of the divine warrior and fight for His people Israel (cf. Zechariah 1:3; Zechariah 9; Zechariah 10:4-5; Zechariah 12:1-9). He had done this previously in the Exodus and on numerous other occasions (cf. Exodus 14:13-14; Joshua 10:14; Joshua 23:3; Judges 4:15; 2 Chronicles 20:15).
"In their quest for world peace, some denominations have removed the "militant songs" from their hymnals, so that a new generation is growing up knowing nothing about "fighting the good fight of faith" or worshiping a Savior who will one day meet the nations of the world in battle ( Revelation 19:11-21)." [1]
"The actual order of events in this day peculiarly the Lord"s is: (1) the nations assembled to war against Jerusalem ( Zechariah 14:2); (2) the city captured and plundered, etc. ( Zechariah 14:2); (3) the spoil of the city divided within its walls ( Zechariah 14:1); (4) the Lord"s intervention ( Zechariah 14:3)." [2]

Context Summary

Zechariah 14:1-21 - "at Evening Time It Shall Be Light"
We can hardly doubt that in Zechariah 14:1-21, Zechariah is anticipating the same events as Ezekiel describes in Ezekiel 38:1-23; Ezekiel 39:1-29 of his remarkable book. At first the attack of the enemies of God's people will be entirely successful, then Jesus will appear to them and for them. There will be a literal fulfillment of Acts 1:11 and Isaiah 25:9-10. It was when his brethren were in their greatest straits that Joseph made himself known to them, and when the Jews are in dire extremity, they will hear Him say, "I am Jesus your Brother." See Genesis 45:1-15. Finally the long stormy days of Israel's history will be over forever, and "at evening time it shall be light." It is clear that Paul's vision in Romans 11:1-36 is to be gloriously realized [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Zechariah 14:3 mean?

And will go forth Yahweh and fight against nations those as He fights in the day of battle
וְיָצָ֣א יְהוָ֔ה וְנִלְחַ֖ם בַּגּוֹיִ֣ם הָהֵ֑ם כְּי֥וֹם הִֽלָּחֲמ֖ו‪‬‪‬‪‬ בְּי֥וֹם קְרָֽב

וְיָצָ֣א  And  will  go  forth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
וְנִלְחַ֖ם  and  fight 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.
בַּגּוֹיִ֣ם  against  nations 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
הָהֵ֑ם  those 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
הִֽלָּחֲמ֖ו‪‬‪‬‪‬  He  fights 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.
בְּי֥וֹם  in  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
קְרָֽב  of  battle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קְרָב  
Sense: battle, war.