Zephaniah

Zephaniah 1:12–18

12And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps

and punish the men settled in complacency,h

who say to themselves,

‘The LORD will do nothing,

either good or bad.’

13Their wealth will be plundered

and their houses laid waste.

They will build houses but not inhabit them,

and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

14The great Day of the LORD is near —

near and coming quickly.

Listen, the Day of the LORD!

Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.

15That day will be

a day of wrath,

a day of trouble and distress,

a day of destruction and desolation,

a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and blackness,

16a day of horn blast and battle cry

against the fortified cities,

and against the high corner towers.

17I will bring such distress on mankind

that they will walk like the blind,

because they have sinned against the LORD.

Their blood will be poured out like dust

and their flesh like dung.

18Neither their silver nor their gold

will be able to deliver them

on the Day of the LORD’s wrath.

The whole earth will be consumed

by the fire of His jealousy.”

For indeed, He will make a sudden end

of all who dwell on the earth.i

Footnotes

  • h 1:12 Or thickening on the dregs
  • i 1:18 Or of all the people living in the land

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 1:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Andוְהָיָה֙wə·hā·yāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
at thatהַהִ֔יאha·hîArticle; Pronoun - third person feminine singularH1931 he, she
timeבָּעֵ֣תbā·‘êṯPreposition-b, Article; Noun - common singularH6256 time
I will searchאֲחַפֵּ֥שׂ’ă·ḥap·pêśVerb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularH2664 search
Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םyə·rū·šā·limNoun - proper - feminine singularH3389 Jerusalem
with lampsבַּנֵּר֑וֹתban·nê·rō·wṯPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH5216 lamp
and punishוּפָקַדְתִּ֣יū·p̄ā·qaḏ·tîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularH6485 attend to, visit, muster, appoint
the menהָאֲנָשִׁ֗יםhā·’ă·nā·šîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH582 man, mankind
settledהַקֹּֽפְאִים֙haq·qō·p̄ə·’îmArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH7087 thicken, condense, congeal
inעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
complacencyשִׁמְרֵיהֶ֔םšim·rê·hemNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH8105 lees, dregs
who sayהָאֹֽמְרִים֙hā·’ō·mə·rîmArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH559 utter, say
to themselvesבִּלְבָבָ֔םbil·ḇā·ḇāmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3824 inner man, mind, will, heart
The LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
will do nothingלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
either goodיֵיטִ֥יבyê·ṭîḇVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
or badיָרֵֽעַ׃yā·rê·a‘Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7489 be evil, bad

Zephaniah 1:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Their wealthחֵילָם֙ḥê·lāmNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army
will beוְהָיָ֤הwə·hā·yāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
plunderedלִמְשִׁסָּ֔הlim·šis·sāhPreposition-l; Noun - feminine singularH4933 booty, plunder
and their housesוּבָתֵּיהֶ֖םū·ḇāt·tê·hemConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH1004 house
laid wasteלִשְׁמָמָ֑הliš·mā·māhPreposition-l; Noun - feminine singularH8077 a devastation, waste
They will buildוּבָנ֤וּū·ḇā·nūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralH1129 build
housesבָתִּים֙ḇāt·tîmNoun - masculine pluralH1004 house
but notוְלֹ֣אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
inhabitיֵשֵׁ֔בוּyê·šê·ḇūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH3427 sit, remain, dwell
and plantוְנָטְע֣וּwə·nā·ṭə·‘ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralH5193 strike, fix, plant
vineyardsכְרָמִ֔יםḵə·rā·mîmNoun - masculine pluralH3754 vineyard
but neverוְלֹ֥אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
drinkיִשְׁתּ֖וּyiš·tūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH8354 drink
their wineיֵינָֽם׃yê·nāmNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3196 wine

Zephaniah 1:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The greatהַגָּד֔וֹלhag·gā·ḏō·wlArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH1419 great
Dayיוֹם־yō·wm-Noun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
of the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
is nearקָר֤וֹבqā·rō·wḇAdjective - masculine singularH7138 near
nearקָר֖וֹבqā·rō·wḇAdjective - masculine singularH7138 near
and comingוּמַהֵ֣רū·ma·hêrConjunctive waw; AdverbH4118 hurrying, in a hurry
quicklyמְאֹ֑דmə·’ōḏAdverbH3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
Listenק֚וֹלqō·wlNoun - masculine singular constructH6963 sound, voice
the Dayי֣וֹםyō·wmNoun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
Thenשָׁ֥םšāmAdverbH8033 there, thither
the cryצֹרֵ֖חַṣō·rê·aḥVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH6873 cry, roar
of the mightyגִּבּֽוֹר׃gib·bō·wrAdjective - masculine singularH1368 strong, mighty
will be bitterמַ֥רmarAdjective - masculine singularH4751 bitter, bitterness

Zephaniah 1:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thatהַה֑וּאha·hūArticle; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
day will beי֥וֹםyō·wmNoun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
a dayהַיּ֣וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
of wrathעֶבְרָ֖ה‘eḇ·rāhNoun - feminine singularH5678 overflow, arrogance, fury
a dayי֧וֹםyō·wmNoun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
of troubleצָרָ֣הṣā·rāhNoun - feminine singularH6869 id.
and distressוּמְצוּקָ֗הū·mə·ṣū·qāhConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH4691 id.
a dayי֤וֹםyō·wmNoun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
of destructionשֹׁאָה֙šō·’āhNoun - feminine singularH7722 ravage (?)
and desolationוּמְשׁוֹאָ֔הū·mə·šō·w·’āhConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH4875 desolation
a dayי֥וֹםyō·wmNoun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
of darknessחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ḥō·šeḵNoun - masculine singularH2822 darkness, obscurity
and gloomוַאֲפֵלָ֔הwa·’ă·p̄ê·lāhConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH653 darkness, gloominess, calamity
a dayי֥וֹםyō·wmNoun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
of cloudsעָנָ֖ן‘ā·nānNoun - masculine singularH6051 cloud-mass, cloud
and blacknessוַעֲרָפֶֽל׃wa·‘ă·rā·p̄elConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH6205 cloud, heavy cloud

Zephaniah 1:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
a dayי֥וֹםyō·wmNoun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
of hornשׁוֹפָ֖רšō·w·p̄ārNoun - masculine singularH7782 horn
and battle cryוּתְרוּעָ֑הū·ṯə·rū·‘āhConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH8643 shout or blast of war, alarm, or joy
againstעַ֚ל‘alPrepositionH5921 height
the fortifiedהַבְּצֻר֔וֹתhab·bə·ṣu·rō·wṯArticle; Adjective - feminine pluralH1219 cut off, make inaccessible
citiesהֶעָרִ֣יםhe·‘ā·rîmArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH5892 excitement
and againstוְעַ֖לwə·‘alConjunctive waw; PrepositionH5921 height
the highהַגְּבֹהֽוֹת׃hag·gə·ḇō·hō·wṯArticle; Adjective - feminine pluralH1364 high, exalted
corner towersהַפִּנּ֥וֹתhap·pin·nō·wṯArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH6438 corner

Zephaniah 1:17

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
I will bring such distressוַהֲצֵרֹ֣תִיwa·hă·ṣê·rō·ṯîConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularH6887 bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, cramped
on mankindלָאָדָ֗םlā·’ā·ḏāmPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH120 man, mankind
that they will walkוְהָֽלְכוּ֙wə·hā·lə·ḵūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralH1980 go, come, walk
like the blindכַּֽעִוְרִ֔יםka·‘iw·rîmPreposition-k, Article; Adjective - masculine pluralH5787 blind
becauseכִּ֥יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
they have sinnedחָטָ֑אוּḥā·ṭā·’ūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH2398 miss
against the LORDלַֽיהוָ֖הYah·wehPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
Their bloodדָּמָם֙dā·māmNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH1818 blood
will be poured outוְשֻׁפַּ֤ךְwə·šup·paḵConjunctive waw; Verb - QalPass - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH8210 pour out, pour
like dustכֶּֽעָפָ֔רke·‘ā·p̄ārPreposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singularH6083 dry earth, dust
and their fleshוּלְחֻמָ֖םū·lə·ḥu·māmConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3894 intestines, bowels
like dungכַּגְּלָלִֽים׃kag·gə·lā·lîmPreposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH1557 dung

Zephaniah 1:18

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
their silverכַּסְפָּ֨םkas·pāmNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3701 silver, money
norגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
their goldזְהָבָ֜םzə·hā·ḇāmNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH2091 gold
will be ableיוּכַ֣לyū·ḵalVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
to deliver themלְהַצִּילָ֗םlə·haṣ·ṣî·lāmPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person masculine pluralH5337 strip, plunder
on the Dayבְּיוֹם֙bə·yō·wmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
of the LORD’sיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
wrathעֶבְרַ֣ת‘eḇ·raṯNoun - feminine singular constructH5678 overflow, arrogance, fury
The wholeכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
earthהָאָ֑רֶץhā·’ā·reṣArticle; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land
will be consumedתֵּאָכֵ֖לtê·’ā·ḵêlVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH398 eat
by the fireוּבְאֵשׁ֙ū·ḇə·’êšConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - common singular constructH784 fire
of His jealousyקִנְאָת֔וֹqin·’ā·ṯōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7068 ardour, zeal, jealousy
Forכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
indeedאַךְ־’aḵ-AdverbH389 surely
He will makeיַֽעֲשֶׂ֔הya·‘ă·śehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH6213 do, make
a suddenנִבְהָלָה֙niḇ·hā·lāhVerb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularH926 alarm, dismay
endכָלָ֤הḵā·lāhNoun - feminine singularH3617 completion, complete destruction, consumption, annihilation
ofאֵ֥ת’êṯDirect object markerH854 with
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
who dwellיֹשְׁבֵ֖יyō·šə·ḇêVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructH3427 sit, remain, dwell
on the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃סhā·’ā·reṣArticle; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land

Cross-references

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

Zephaniah 1:12 Amos 6:1 · Jeremiah 48:11 · Ezekiel 8:12 · Ezekiel 9:9 · Malachi 3:14–15 · Amos 9:1–3 · 2 Peter 3:4 · Obadiah 1:6 · Jeremiah 10:5 · Psalm 14:1 · Psalm 94:7 · Jeremiah 16:16–17

Zephaniah 1:13 Amos 5:11 · Micah 6:15 · Deuteronomy 28:30 · Jeremiah 9:19 · Ezekiel 7:21 · Deuteronomy 28:39 · Jeremiah 15:13

Zephaniah 1:14 Malachi 4:5 · Ezekiel 30:3 · Zephaniah 1:7 · 1 Thessalonians 4:16 · Isaiah 15:4 · Ezekiel 7:12 · Isaiah 33:7 · Joel 2:11 · Acts 2:20 · James 5:9 · Isaiah 22:4–5 · Ezekiel 7:6–7

Zephaniah 1:15 Joel 2:2 · Isaiah 22:5 · Revelation 6:17

Zephaniah 1:16 Hosea 8:1 · Isaiah 2:12–15 · Isaiah 32:14 · Amos 3:6

Zephaniah 1:17 Psalm 83:10 · Revelation 3:17 · Jeremiah 2:17 · 2 Peter 1:9 · Matthew 15:14 · Micah 7:13 · Jeremiah 10:18

Zephaniah 1:18 Zephaniah 3:8 · Ezekiel 7:19 · Proverbs 11:4 · Zephaniah 1:2–3 · Zephaniah 1:15 · Zephaniah 1:11 · Matthew 16:26 · Jeremiah 9:11 · Proverbs 18:11 · Jeremiah 9:23–24 · Ezekiel 16:38 · Isaiah 1:24

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.