On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Zechariah 12:11
What does Zechariah 12:11 mean?
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Zechariah 12:11
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The verse doesn't just point to a past sorrow, but highlights that this "mourning" for Hadad-rimmon became a well-known, deeply ingrained national proverb for extreme grief. This suggests the intensity of their future sorrow will surpass even this legendary lament.
On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Zechariah is describing a future day of intense national repentance and sorrow for Israel. This verse compares the magnitude of that future grief to a specific, historic lamentation: the mourning for King Josiah, who was killed in battle at Megiddo. This historical event, deeply etched in the national memory and commemorated for generations, serves as the ultimate benchmark for the profound sorrow God's people will experience when they finally recognize and grieve over their rejection of the Messiah.
Imagine a sorrow so profound it becomes a benchmark for all future grief. Zechariah points to such a moment.
The verse compares the future mourning in Jerusalem to the mourning for Hadad-rimmon. This wasn't just any sadness; it was the national lament for King Josiah, who was killed in battle.
Josiah's Impact
Josiah was a beloved king, known for his faithfulness and efforts to restore true worship in Judah. His death, at the young age of 39, was a devastating blow to the nation. It marked the end of a brief period of hope and ushered in a period of decline.
A National Trauma
The mourning for Josiah was so intense and widespread that it became a national proverb. The prophet Jeremiah even composed dirges for him, and these laments continued to be sung for generations. This historical event serves as the ultimate example of grief in Jewish history, setting the standard for the profound sorrow described here.
This verse isn't just about past grief; it's a prophecy pointing to a future, even greater sorrow and a profound turning point.
The 'day' Zechariah speaks of is a future time when Israel will finally recognize and mourn their rejection of the Messiah. The intensity of this future mourning will surpass even the sorrow felt for the beloved King Josiah.
Recognizing the Cost
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Scholars widely interpret this future mourning as Israel's eventual repentance and recognition of Jesus Christ as their crucified Messiah. The grief will stem from understanding the immense spiritual cost of their ancestors' actions – the rejection and crucifixion of God's chosen one.
A Transformation of Grief
This isn't just a mournful occasion; it's a salvific event. This deep repentance and sorrow will lead to a new relationship with God, marked by faith and acceptance of Jesus as Lord. The grief, therefore, becomes the catalyst for national healing and restoration.
Understand the original words
mispēḏ · Hebrew Noun
A period of grief or sorrow, often expressed through weeping, lamentation, and fasting, in response to death, national calamity, or personal repentance for sin. In a prophetic context, it can signify the spiritual turning of hearts toward God.
Yərūšālayim · Hebrew Noun
A phrase referring to the holy city of Jerusalem, which holds covenantal significance as the dwelling place of God's presence and the center of Israel's worship. In prophetic literature, it often represents the people of God and the future site of divine restoration.
The profound sorrow for King Josiah at Megiddo, immortalized in dirges and national observance, serves as the benchmark for the even greater grief and repentance Zechariah prophesies for Jerusalem in the last days, particularly in response to recognizing their rejection of the Messiah.
c. 640 BC
Josiah becomes King of Judah
Josiah begins his reign as king of Judah, known for his significant religious reforms aimed at restoring pure worship.
c. 622 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
During renovations of the Temple, the Book of the Law is discovered, leading Josiah to implement widespread reforms based on its commands.
609 BC— this verse
Josiah killed at Megiddo
King Josiah is fatally wounded by Pharaoh-necho of Egypt at the Battle of Megiddo, a devastating loss for Judah. This event marks a turning point towards national decline.
c. 609 BC onwards
National Mourning for Josiah
A profound national mourning ensues for King Josiah, led by the prophet Jeremiah, with dirges composed and sung, becoming a lasting symbol of deep sorrow.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Jewish leaders and skilled individuals to Babylon, including figures like Daniel, marking the start of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and intensifying the exile for the remaining population.
This passage describes the actual mourning for King Josiah after he was killed in battle, which Zechariah uses as the benchmark for future grief. It highlights the deep national sorrow and the creation of dirges that became a lasting tradition.
Jeremiah 9:17-22This passage provides a prophetic vision of widespread mourning and lamentation across the land, emphasizing that no family will be spared. It mirrors the all-encompassing nature of the grief described in Zechariah.
Matthew 24:30This New Testament passage describes a future 'day of the Lord' when nations will mourn and see the Son of Man coming. It connects the concept of future, profound national grief with a climactic divine event, much like Zechariah's prophecy.
John 19:37This verse directly quotes Zechariah 12:10 (which precedes the verse in question) and applies it to the piercing of Christ on the cross. It fulfills Zechariah's prophecy of a future piercing and the subsequent mourning, linking it to Jesus' death.
Luke 23:27-31Here, Jesus speaks to the weeping women on his way to the cross, referencing a future time when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren!' and 'the trees will fall.' This echoes the idea of profound sorrow and impending disaster, connecting to the deep grief foretold by Zechariah.
bensonZechariah 12:11: "In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon."
Zechariah 12:11-14 . In that day — When the Jews shall mourn for their sins, and for that great sin, the crucifying the Lord of glory; there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem — A mourning expressed by the greatest the Jews ever experienced, the mourning for Josiah slain in Hadadrimmon, a town in the valley of Megiddon. There the lamentations for that good p…
cambridgeZechariah 12:11: "In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon."
11 . Hadadrimmon ] This is generally supposed, on the authority of Jerome, to have been a city near Jezreel, called in his day Maximinianopolis, in the valley of Megiddo, and the place where Josiah was fatally wounded by Pharaoh-Necho, king of Egypt. Both accounts of Josiah’s death state that it was “at,” or “in the valley of” Megiddo, that his wound was receive…
The verse doesn't just point to a past sorrow, but highlights that this "mourning" for Hadad-rimmon became a well-known, deeply ingrained national proverb for extreme grief. This suggests the intensity of their future sorrow will surpass even this legendary lament.
The prophet Zechariah is describing a future day of intense national repentance and sorrow for Israel. This verse compares the magnitude of that future grief to a specific, historic lamentation: the mourning for King Josiah, who was killed in battle at Megiddo. This historical event, deeply etched in the national memory and commemorated for generations, serves as the ultimate benchmark for the profound sorrow God's people will experience when they finally recognize and grieve over their rejection of the Messiah.
The prophet Zechariah is describing a future day of intense national repentance and sorrow for Israel. This verse compares the magnitude of that future grief to a specific, historic lamentation: the mourning for King Josiah, who was killed in battle at Megiddo. This historical event, deeply etched in the national memory and commemorated for generations, serves as the ultimate benchmark for the profound sorrow God's people will experience when they finally recognize and grieve over their rejection of the Messiah.
"On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo." — The verse doesn't just point to a past sorrow, but highlights that this "mourning" for Hadad-rimmon became a well-known, deeply ingrained national proverb for extreme grief. This suggests the intensi…
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Last reviewed October 2026