Zephaniah 1
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah - Though this prophet has given us so large a list of his ancestors, yet little concerning him is known, because we know nothing certain relative to the persons of the family whose names are here introduced. We have one chronological note which is of more value for the correct understanding of his prophecy than the other could have been, how circumstantially soever it had been delivered; viz., that he prophesied in the days of Josiah, son of Amon, king of Judah; and from the description which he gives of the disorders which prevailed in Judea in his time, it is evident that he must have prophesied before the reformation made by Josiah, which was in the eighteenth year of his reign. And as he predicts the destruction of Nineveh, Zep 2:13, which, as Calmet remarks, could not have taken place before the sixteenth of Josiah, allowing with Berosus twenty-one years for the reign of Nabopolassar over the Chaldeans; we must, therefore, place this prophecy about the beginning of the reign of Josiah, or from b.c. 640 to b.c. 609. But see the chronological notes.
Open source ↗GOD'S SEVERE JUDGMENT ON JUDAH FOR ITS IDOLATRY AND NEGLECT OF HIM: THE RAPID APPROACH OF THE JUDGMENT, AND THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ESCAPE. (Zep. 1:1-18) days of Josiah--Had their idolatries been under former kings, they might have said, Our kings have forced us to this and that. But under Josiah, who did all in his power to reform them, they have no such excuse. son of Amon--the idolater, whose bad practices the Jews clung to, rather than the good example of Josiah, his son; so incorrigible were they in sin. Judah--Israel's ten tribes had gone into captivity before this.
Open source ↗The word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi This is the title of the book, which expresses the subject matter of it, the word of the Lord; the word of prophecy from the Lord, as the Targum; and shows the divine authority of it; that it was not of himself, nor from any man, but was of God; as well as describes the penman of it by his descent: who or what this his father was; whether a prophet, according to the rule the Jews give, that, when the name of a prophet and his father's name are mentioned, he is a prophet, the son of a prophet; or, whether a prince, a person of some great family, and even of the blood royal, as some have thought, is not certain; or who those after mentioned: the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah; which last name, consisting of the same letters with Hezekiah, king of Judah, some have thought, as Aben Ezra, that he is intended; and that Zephaniah was a great-grandson of his; and which some think is confirmed by his style and diction, and by the freedom he used with the king's family, ( Zephaniah 1:8 ) but it is objected, that, if so it was, Hizkiah, or Hezekiah, would have been called king of Judah; that it does not appear that Hezekiah had any other son besides Manasseh; and that there was not a sufficient distance of time from Hezekiah for four descents; and that, in fact, there were but three generations from him to Josiah, in whose days Zephaniah prophesied, as follows; though it is very probable that these progenitors of the prophet were men of note and character, and therefore mentioned, as well as to distinguish him from others of the same name, who lived in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah: not Amos, as the Arabic version: Amon and Manasseh, who reigned between Hezekiah and Josiah,…
Open source ↗Zep 1:1 contains the heading, which has been explained in the introduction. Zep 1:2 and Zep 1:3 form the preface. - Zep 1:2. "I will sweep, sweep away everything from the face of the earth, is the saying of Jehovah. Zep 1:3. I will sweep away man and cattle, sweep away the fowls of heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the offences with the sinners, and I cut off men from the face of the earth, is the saying of Jehovah." The announcement of the judgment upon the whole earth not only serves to sharpen the following threat of judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem in this sense, "Because Jehovah judges the whole world, He will punish the apostasy of Judah all the more;" but the judgment upon the whole world forms an integral part of his prophecy, which treats more fully of the execution of the judgment in and upon Judah, simply because Judah forms the kingdom of God, which is to be purified from its dross by judgment, and led on towards the end of its divine calling. As Zephaniah here opens the judgment awaiting Judah with an announcement of a judgment upon the whole world, so does he assign the reason for his exhortation to repentance in Zep 2:1-15, by showing that all nations will succumb to the judgment; and then announces in Zep 3:9., as the fruit of the judgment, the conversion of the nations to Jehovah, and the glorification of the kingdom of God. The way to salvation leads through judgment, not only for the world with its enmity against God, but for the degenerate theocracy also. It is only through judgment that the sinful world can be renewed and glorified. The verb אסף, the hiphil of sūph, is strengthened by the inf. abs. אסף, which is formed from the verb אסף, a verb of kindred meaning. Sūph and 'âsaph signify to take away, to sweep away, hiph. to put an end, to…
Open source ↗Here is, I. The title-page of this book (Zep 1:1), in which we observe, 1. What authority it has, and who gave it that authority; it is from heaven, and not of men: It is the word of the Lord. 2. Who was the instrument of conveying it to the church. His name was Zephaniah, which signifies the servant of the Lord, for God revealed his secrets to his servants the prophets. The pedigree of other prophets, whose extraction we have an account of, goes no further back than their father, except Zecharias, whose grandfather also is named. But this of Zephaniah goes back four generations, and the highest mentioned is Hizkiah; it is the very same name in the original with that of Hezekiah king of Judah (Kg2 18:1), and refers probably to him; if so, our prophet, being lineally descended from that pious prince, and being of the royal family, could with the better grace reprove the folly of the king's children as he does, Zep 1:8. 3. When this prophet prophesied - in the days of Josiah king of Judah, who reigned well, and in the twelfth year of his reign began vigorously, and carried on a work of reformation, in which he destroyed idols and idolatry. Now it does not appear whether Zephaniah prophesied in the beginning of his reign; if so, we may suppose his prophesying had a great and good influence on that reformation. When he, as God's messenger, reproved the idolatries of Jerusalem, Josiah, as God's vice-regent, removed them; and reformation is likely to go on and prosper when both magistrates and ministers do their part towards it. If it were towards the latter end of his reign that he prophesied, we sadly see how a corrupt people relapse into their former distempers. The idolatries Josiah had abolished, it should seem, returned in his own time, when the heat of the reformation…
Open source ↗1:1–2:3 Zephaniah’s message from the Lord warns about worldwide judgment (1:1-6) and exhorts his readers to repent (1:7-13) before the devastation overtakes them (1:14-18) and to seek the Lord and live righteously and humbly before him in the hope that they may be spared his judgment (2:1-3). 1:1 The Lord gave this message: Zephaniah was a prophet, God’s spokesman. • Hezekiah probably indicates the king of that name (see 2 Kgs 18:1–20:20).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צְפַנְיָה (Tsᵉphanyâh, H6846) — Tsephanjah, the name of four Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… כּוּשִׁי (Kûwshîy, H3570) — Cushi, the name of two Israelites גְּדַּלְיָה (Gᵉdalyâh, H1436) — Gedaljah, the name of five Israelites אֲמַרְיָה (ʼĂmaryâh, H568) — Amarjah, the name of nine Israelites חִזְקִיָּה (Chizqîyâh, H2396) — Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… יֹאשִׁיָּה (Yôʼshîyâh, H2977) — Joshijah, the name of two Israelites אָמוֹן (ʼÂmôwn, H526) — Amon, the name of three Israelites מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the…
Open source ↗אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622) — to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave… סוּף (çûwph, H5486) — to snatch away, i.e. terminate פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אֲדָמָה (ʼădâmâh, H127) — soil (from its general redness) נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗סוּף (çûwph, H5486) — to snatch away, i.e. terminate אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) עוֹף (ʻôwph, H5775) — a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… דָּג (dâg, H1709) — a fish (often used collectively) יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… מַכְשֵׁלָה (makshêlâh, H4384) — a stumbling-block, but only figuratively (fall, enticement (idol)) רָשָׁע (râshâʻ, H7563) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אֲדָמָה (ʼădâmâh, H127) — soil (from its general redness) נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… שְׁאָר (shᵉʼâr, H7605) — a remainder בַּעַל (Baʻal, H1168) — Baal, a Phoenician deity מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… כָּמָר (kâmâr, H3649) — properly, an ascetic (as if shrunk with self-maceration), i.e. an idolatrous priest (only… כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a…
Open source ↗שָׁחָה (shâchâh, H7812) — to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God) צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… גָּג (gâg, H1406) — a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king
Open source ↗סוּג (çûwg, H5472) — properly, to flinch, i.e. (by implication) to go back, literally (to retreat) or… אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… דָּרַשׁ (dârash, H1875) — properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by…
Open source ↗הָסָה (hâçâh, H2013) — to hush פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God קָרוֹב (qârôwb, H7138) — near (in place, kindred or time) כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… זֶבַח (zebach, H2077) — properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the… קָדַשׁ (qâdash, H6942) — to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally) קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of…
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God זֶבַח (zebach, H2077) — properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the… פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… לָבַשׁ (lâbash, H3847) — properly, wrap around, i.e. (by implication) to put on agarment or clothe (oneself, or… נׇכְרִי (nokrîy, H5237) — strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous,… מַלְבּוּשׁ (malbûwsh, H4403) — a garment, or (collectively) clothing
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… דָּלַג (dâlag, H1801) — to spring מִפְתָּן (miphtân, H4670) — a stretcher, i.e. a sill מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) חָמָס (châmâç, H2555) — violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. unjust gain מִרְמָה (mirmâh, H4820) — fraud
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound צַעֲקָה (tsaʻăqâh, H6818) — a shriek דָּג (dâg, H1709) — a fish (often used collectively) שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate יְלָלָה (yᵉlâlâh, H3215) — {a howl} מִשְׁנֶה (mishneh, H4932) — properly, a repetition, i.e. a duplicate (copy of a document), or a double (in amount);… גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent שֶׁבֶר (sheber, H7667) — a fracture, figuratively, ruin; specifically, a solution (of a dream) גִּבְעָה (gibʻâh, H1389) — a hillock
Open source ↗יָלַל (yâlal, H3213) — to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one) יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… מַכְתֵּשׁ (Maktêsh, H4389) — dell; the Maktesh, a place in Jerusalem כְּנַעַן (Kᵉnaʻan, H3667) — Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… דָּמָה (dâmâh, H1820) — to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. to destroy נְטִיל (nᵉṭîyl, H5187) — laden כֶּסֶף (keçeph, H3701) — silver (from its pale color); by implication, money כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to…
Open source ↗עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. חָפַשׂ (châphas, H2664) — to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e. let be sought), or mask יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine נִיר (nîyr, H5216) — a lamp (i.e. the burner) or light (literally or figuratively) פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) קָפָא (qâphâʼ, H7087) — to shrink, i.e. thicken (as unracked wine, curdled milk, clouded sky, frozen water) שֶׁמֶר (shemer, H8105) — something preserved, i.e. the settlings (plural only) of wine אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ); יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יָטַב (yâṭab, H3190) — to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy,… רָעַע (râʻaʻ, H7489) — properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good…
Open source ↗חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue,… מְשִׁסָּה (mᵉshiççâh, H4933) — plunder בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh, H8077) — devastation; figuratively, astonishment בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… נָטַע (nâṭaʻ, H5193) — properly, to strike in, i.e. fix; specifically, to plant (literally or figuratively) כֶּרֶם (kerem, H3754) — a garden or vineyard שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively) יַיִן (yayin, H3196) — wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication
Open source ↗גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God קָרוֹב (qârôwb, H7138) — near (in place, kindred or time) מַהֵר (mahêr, H4118) — properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in ahurry מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound גִּבּוֹר (gibbôwr, H1368) — powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant צָרַח (tsârach, H6873) — to be clear (in tone, i.e. shrill), i.e. to whoop מַר (mar, H4751) — bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,
We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
“From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—twenty-three years—the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel.
the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,