Zephaniah 1

1 This is the word [message from God, divine utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] that came to Zephaniah [God has treasured, a prophet] son of Cushi [an Israelite], the son of Gedaliah [a governor of Judea], the son of Amariah [a chief priest], the son of Hezekiah [a king of Judah who served Jehovah], in the days [period of time, era] of Josiah [whom Jehovah heals, a king of Judah] son of Amon [a king of Judah] king [ruler, monarch] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah]: word study 2 “I will completely [utterly, totally] sweep away [consume, destroy] everything [all things, every living thing] from the face [presence, surface] of the earth [land, ground],” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah]. word study 3 “I will sweep away [consume, destroy] man [humanity, the first human Adam] and beast [animals, livestock]; I will sweep away [gather, take away] the birds [fowl, creatures of the air] of the air [heaven, the sky], and the fish [sea creatures, aquatic life] of the sea [the ocean, a large body of water], and the idols [stumbling blocks, false gods] with their wicked [morally wrong, sinful] worshipers. I will cut off [destroy, remove] mankind [human beings, people] from the face [presence, surface] of the earth [the land, the ground],” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 4 “I will stretch out [extend, reach forth] My hand [power, authority] against Judah [the tribe, the southern kingdom] and against all [every single one] who dwell [reside, inhabit] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital]. I will cut off [destroy, eliminate] from this place [location, region] every remnant [remaining part, leftover] of Baal [the false god, idol], the names [identities, reputations] of the idolatrous [false worshiping, pagan] and pagan [heathen, unbelieving] priests [spiritual leaders, mediators]— word study 5 those who bow [worship, prostrate themselves] on the rooftops [housetops, upper rooms] to worship [pay homage, reverence] the host [army, celestial bodies] of heaven [the sky], those who bow down [prostrate themselves, humble themselves] and swear [make an oath, vow] by the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] but also swear [take an oath, pledge] by Milcom [Malcham, Molech, the Ammonite idol], word study 6 and those who turn back [remove themselves, apostatize] from following the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], neither seeking [searching for, inquiring about] the LORD [the supreme God, Elohim] nor inquiring [asking, seeking guidance] of Him [the divine Person].” word study 7 Be silent [hold thy peace, still] in the presence [face] of the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah], for the Day [a period of time] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] is near [at hand, close in time or space]. Indeed [for, because], the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of hosts] has prepared [established, set up] a sacrifice [an offering to God]; He has consecrated [set apart, made holy] His guests [those invited, called]. word study 8 “On the Day [of reckoning, when God intervenes] of the LORD’s [Yehovah, the covenant God] sacrifice [offering, act of worship] I will punish [visit, oversee] the princes [rulers, leaders], the sons [descendants, heirs] of the king [monarch, ruler], and all who are dressed [clothed, arrayed] in foreign [strange, unfamiliar] apparel [garments, clothing]. word study 9 On that day [in the same day, at that time] I will punish [visit, oversee] all who leap [jump, spring] over the threshold [sill, entrance], who fill [make full, complete] the house [dwelling place, temple] of their master [lord, leader] with violence [cruelty, injustice] and deceit [cheating, lying]. word study 10 On that day [of reckoning, the day of the Lord],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], “a cry [of distress, a wailing] will go up from the Fish Gate [the city entrance], a wail [a howling, lamentation] from the Second District [the newer part of the city], and a loud crashing [great destruction, shattering] from the hills [the higher elevations]. word study 11 Wail [howl, mourn], O dwellers [inhabitants, residents] of the Hollow [Maktesh, a deep valley], for all [every one of] your merchants [traders, business people] will be silenced [cut off, destroyed]; all [every one of] who weigh out [laden with, bearing] silver [money, wealth] will be cut off [destroyed, eliminated]. word study 12 And at that time [when the appointed moment arrives] I will search [thoroughly examine, visit] Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah] with lamps [candles, lights] and punish [reckon with, oversee] the men [individuals, people] settled [established, congealed] in complacency [on their lees, in a state of stagnation], who say [speak, declare] to themselves [in their heart, mind], ‘The LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] will do [accomplish, bring about] nothing [no good, no evil], either good [beneficial, pleasing] or bad [harmful, evil].’ word study 13 Their wealth [possessions, riches, strength] will be plundered [spoil, booty, violently taken away] and their houses [dwelling places, homes] laid waste [desolate, devastated, to become a desert]. They will build [construct, establish] houses [homes, dwelling places] but not inhabit [dwell, live in] them, and plant [establish, fix] vineyards [gardens for vines, plots of land] but never drink [not taste, refrain from] their wine [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage]. word study 14 The great [exceedingly important, of utmost significance] Day [period of time, era] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is near [close at hand, imminent]— near [approaching quickly] and coming [hastening, drawing near] quickly [with urgency, swiftly]. Listen, the Day [time of reckoning, judgment] of the LORD [the Lord’s appointed time]! Then the cry [voice, shout] of the mighty [strong, brave warrior] will be bitter [painful, distressing]. word study 15 That day [of divine judgment] will be a day [a time of reckoning] of wrath [fury, intense anger], a day [period of suffering] of trouble [distress, adversity] and distress [anguish, hardship], a day [time of devastation] of destruction [ravage, desolation] and desolation [wasteness, ruin], a day [time of spiritual darkness] of darkness [gloom, obscurity] and gloom [deep shade, thick darkness], a day [time of ominous clouds] of clouds [thick clouds, whirlwinds] and blackness [thick darkness], word study 16 a day [of reckoning, a time of judgment] of horn blast [trumpet, a ram’s horn] and battle cry [shout, a loud noise] against the fortified [strong, walled] cities, and against the high [elevated, lofty] corner towers [pinnacles, chief rulers]. word study 17 I will bring [great trouble, distress] such distress on mankind [humanity, people] that they will walk [stumble, go] like the [physically or spiritually] blind, because they have [committed, rebelled in] sinned [missed the mark, gone wrong] against the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God]. Their blood [life, vitality] will be poured out [shed, spilled] like [as worthless as] dust and their flesh [body, mortal body] like [as worthless as] dung [excrement, filth]. word study 18 Neither their silver [valuable possessions, wealth] nor their gold [precious treasures] will be able to deliver them [rescue, save] on the Day of the LORD’s [Yehovah’s, God’s] wrath [fury, anger]. The whole earth [land, world] will be consumed [devoured, destroyed] by the fire [flames, passionate anger] of His jealousy [zeal, protective passion].” For indeed, He will make [bring about, accomplish] a sudden [swift, speedy] end [consumption, destruction] of all who dwell [live, reside] on the earth [land, world]. word study