What Does Zechariah 14:6 Mean in the King James?

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:

Zechariah 14:6 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The light here refuses the binary: what is not clear is not thereby dark.

THE MEANING

This verse speaks into the moment when what you see is neither plainly bright nor wholly dark. The light remains, though it will not settle into a familiar category; the next verse says that even at evening, it is light.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the assumption that anything short of clear illumination is darkness.

THE ROOT

יְקָרוֹת

yeqarot

GROWS FROM

יקר

To be precious, costly, or rare.

Under “clear” is a Hebrew word from the family of ⁨יקר⁩, which speaks of what is precious or rare. The light is presented as unusual in quality, making the verse’s in-between state more than a simple loss of brightness.

ALSO GROWS

yaqar: Precious, costly, or rare.

יָקָר

This branch gives the light a quality of exceptionality, not just visibility.

hoqir: To regard as precious or esteem.

הוֹקִיר

This branch links the unusual light with something valued, even when it cannot be plainly classified.

THE PATTERN

Light can remain present in conditions that blur the boundary between day and darkness.

They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

Exodus 10:23 · KJVLight remains present within a setting otherwise defined by darkness.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Psalm 139:12 · KJVNight and light lose their ordinary opposition in the presence of God.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:5 · KJVLight is still shining where darkness has not given way.

THE THREAD

But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.

Zechariah 14:7 · KJV

The Hebrew word ⁨אוֹר⁩ (or), meaning “light,” appears in both verses. Verse 7 names the strange interval as a day beyond the usual division of day and night, where light still comes at evening.

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