Zephaniah

Zephaniah 1:1–6

1This is the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:

2“I will completely sweep away

everything from the face of the earth,”

declares the LORD.

3“I will sweep away man and beast;

I will sweep away the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

and the idols with their wicked worshipers.a

I will cut off mankind

from the face of the earth,”

declares the LORD.

4“I will stretch out My hand against Judah

and against all who dwell in Jerusalem.

I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal,

the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests —

5those who bow on the rooftops

to worship the host of heaven,

those who bow down and swear by the LORD

but also swear by Milcom,b

6and those who turn back

from following the LORD,

neither seeking the LORD

nor inquiring of Him.”

Footnotes

  • a 1:3 Or and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble
  • b 1:5 Or by their king; Milcom is a variant of Molech; see Leviticus 18:21|LEV 18:21and 1 Kings 11:7.

Read all of Zephaniah 1

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Zephaniah 1:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
the wordדְּבַר־də·ḇar-Noun - masculine singular constructH1697 speech, word
of the LORDיְהוָ֣ה׀Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
cameהָיָ֗הhā·yāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Zephaniahצְפַנְיָה֙ṣə·p̄an·yāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH6846 Tsephanjah
sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Cushiכּוּשִׁ֣יkū·šîNoun - proper - masculine singularH3569 Cushite
the sonבֶן־ḇen-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Gedaliahגְּדַלְיָ֔הgə·ḏal·yāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH1436 Gedaljah
the sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Amariahאֲמַרְיָ֖ה’ă·mar·yāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH568 Amarjah
the sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Hezekiahחִזְקִיָּ֑הḥiz·qî·yāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH2396 Chizkijah
in the daysבִּימֵ֛יbî·mêPreposition-b; Noun - masculine plural constructH3117 day
of Josiahיֹאשִׁיָּ֥הוּyō·šî·yā·hūNoun - proper - masculine singularH2977 Joshijah
sonבֶן־ḇen-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Amonאָמ֖וֹן’ā·mō·wnNoun - proper - masculine singularH526 Amon
kingמֶ֥לֶךְme·leḵNoun - masculine singular constructH4428 king
of Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃yə·hū·ḏāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3063 Judah

Zephaniah 1:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
I will completely sweep awayאָסֹ֨ף’ā·sōp̄Verb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteH622 gather, remove
everythingכֹּ֗לkōlNoun - masculine singularH3605 the whole, all
fromמֵעַ֛לmê·‘alPreposition-mH5921 height
the faceפְּנֵ֥יpə·nêNoun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
of the earthהָאֲדָמָ֖הhā·’ă·ḏā·māhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH127 ground, land
declaresנְאֻם־nə·’um-Noun - masculine singular constructH5002 utterance
the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh

Zephaniah 1:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
I will sweep awayאָסֵ֨ף’ā·sêp̄Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - first person common singularH5486 come to an end, cease
manאָדָ֜ם’ā·ḏāmNoun - masculine singularH120 man, mankind
and beastוּבְהֵמָ֗הū·ḇə·hê·māhConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH929 beast, animal, cattle
I will sweep awayאָסֵ֤ף’ā·sêp̄Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - first person common singularH5486 come to an end, cease
the birdsעוֹף־‘ō·wp̄-Noun - masculine singular constructH5775 flying creatures, fowl, insects
of the airהַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙haš·šā·ma·yimArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH8064 sky, aloft
and the fishוּדְגֵ֣יū·ḏə·ḡêConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural constructH1709 fish
of the seaהַיָּ֔םhay·yāmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3220 sea
and the idolsוְהַמַּכְשֵׁל֖וֹתwə·ham·maḵ·šê·lō·wṯConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine pluralH4384 overthrown mass
withאֶת־’eṯ-PrepositionH854 with
their wickedהָרְשָׁעִ֑יםhā·rə·šā·‘îmArticle; Adjective - masculine pluralH7563 wicked, criminal
I will cut offוְהִכְרַתִּ֣יwə·hiḵ·rat·tîConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularH3772 cut off, cut down
mankindהָאָדָ֗םhā·’ā·ḏāmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH120 man, mankind
fromמֵעַ֛לmê·‘alPreposition-mH5921 height
the faceפְּנֵ֥יpə·nêNoun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
of the earthהָאֲדָמָ֖הhā·’ă·ḏā·māhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH127 ground, land
declaresנְאֻם־nə·’um-Noun - masculine singular constructH5002 utterance
the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh

Zephaniah 1:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
I will stretch outוְנָטִ֤יתִיwə·nā·ṭî·ṯîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularH5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
My handיָדִי֙yā·ḏîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH3027 hand
againstעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
Judahיְהוּדָ֔הyə·hū·ḏāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3063 Judah
and againstוְעַ֖לwə·‘alConjunctive waw; PrepositionH5921 height
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
who dwellיוֹשְׁבֵ֣יyō·wō·šə·ḇêVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructH3427 sit, remain, dwell
in Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םyə·rū·šā·limNoun - proper - feminine singularH3389 Jerusalem
I will cut offוְהִכְרַתִּ֞יwə·hiḵ·rat·tîConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularH3772 cut off, cut down
fromמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
thisהַזֶּה֙haz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
placeהַמָּק֤וֹםham·mā·qō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4725 standing, spot, condition
every remnantשְׁאָ֣רšə·’ārNoun - masculine singular constructH7605 remain, be left over
of Baalהַבַּ֔עַלhab·ba·‘alArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1168 owner, lord
the namesשֵׁ֥םšêmNoun - masculine singular constructH8034 name
of the idolatrousהַכְּמָרִ֖יםhak·kə·mā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH3649 (idol-)priest
andעִם־‘im-PrepositionH5973 with
priestsהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃hak·kō·hă·nîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH3548 priest

Zephaniah 1:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
those who bowהַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוִ֥יםham·miš·ta·ḥă·wîmArticle; Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine pluralH7812 bow down
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the rooftopsהַגַּגּ֖וֹתhag·gag·gō·wṯArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH1406 roof, top
the hostלִצְבָ֣אliṣ·ḇāPreposition-l; Noun - common singular constructH6635 army, war, warfare
of heavenהַשָּׁמָ֑יִםhaš·šā·mā·yimArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH8064 sky, aloft
those who bow downהַמִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙ham·miš·ta·ḥă·wîmArticle; Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine pluralH7812 bow down
and swearהַנִּשְׁבָּעִ֣יםhan·niš·bā·‘îmArticle; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralH7650 swear
by the LORDלַֽיהוָ֔הYah·wehPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
but also swearוְהַנִּשְׁבָּעִ֖יםwə·han·niš·bā·‘îmConjunctive waw, Article; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralH7650 swear
by Milcomבְּמַלְכָּֽם׃bə·mal·kāmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH4428 king

Zephaniah 1:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
andוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-Conjunctive waw; Direct object markerH853 mark of the accusative
those who turn backהַנְּסוֹגִ֖יםhan·nə·sō·w·ḡîmArticle; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralH5472 move away, backslide
fromמֵאַחֲרֵ֣יmê·’a·ḥă·rêPreposition-mH310 behind
the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
neitherלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
seekingבִקְשׁ֥וּḇiq·šūVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralH1245 seek
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
norוְלֹ֥אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
inquiring of Himדְרָשֻֽׁהוּ׃ḏə·rā·šu·hūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural; third person masculine singularH1875 resort to, seek

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Zephaniah 1:1 Jeremiah 1:2 · 2 Chronicles 34:1–33 · 2 Peter 1:19 · Hosea 1:1 · 2 Kings 22:1–20 · Jeremiah 25:3 · Ezekiel 1:3

Zephaniah 1:2 2 Kings 22:16–17 · Micah 7:13 · Jeremiah 36:29 · Ezekiel 33:27–29 · Genesis 6:7 · Jeremiah 6:8–9 · Jeremiah 34:22 · Jeremiah 24:8–10 · 2 Chronicles 36:21 · Isaiah 6:11

Zephaniah 1:3 Hosea 4:3 · Ezekiel 7:19 · Matthew 23:39 · Isaiah 27:9 · Ezekiel 14:13–21 · Jeremiah 12:4

Zephaniah 1:4 Hosea 10:5 · 2 Kings 23:4–5 · Micah 5:13

Zephaniah 1:5 2 Kings 17:33 · Jeremiah 19:13 · 2 Kings 23:12 · 1 Kings 18:21 · 1 Kings 11:33 · 2 Kings 17:41 · Amos 5:26 · Joshua 23:7 · Jeremiah 4:2 · Jeremiah 5:7 · Isaiah 45:23 · Isaiah 44:5

Zephaniah 1:6 Jeremiah 2:13 · Isaiah 1:4 · Jeremiah 15:6 · Jeremiah 2:17 · Jeremiah 3:10 · Ezekiel 3:20 · Hebrews 10:38–39 · Isaiah 9:13 · Hosea 11:7 · Psalm 10:4 · Hosea 4:15–16 · 2 Peter 2:18–22

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.