Zephaniah 1:11

Verse

Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

American Standard Version (1901)

Wail, ye inhabitants of Maktesh; for all the people of Canaan are undone; all they that were laden with silver are cut off.

Bible in Basic English

Because of the downfall of all the people of Canaan: all those who were weighted down with silver have been cut off.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Howl, ye inhabitants of the Morter. All the people of Chanaan is hush, all are cut off that were wrapped up in silver.

Free Bible Version

Those who live in the Market District will wail in sorrow, for all the merchants are destroyed, along with those who trade in silver.

Geneva Bible 1599

Howle ye inhabitants of the lowe place: for the companie of the marchants is destroyed: all they that beare siluer, are cut off.

King James (Authorized) Version

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

Translation for Translators

So, all you people who live in the market area of Jerusalem should wail, because all those who sell goods and weigh out silver will be slaughtered.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Wail, inhabitants of the Market District, for all the merchants will be ruined; all those who weigh out silver will be cut off.

Noah Webster Bible

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

World English Bible

Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the people of Canaan are undone! All those who were loaded with silver are cut off.

Young's Literal Translation

Howl, ye inhabitants of the hollow place, For cut off hath been all the merchant people, Cut off have been all bearing silver.

Context

The Day of the LORD

¹⁰On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills. ¹¹Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

Summary

This verse in Zephaniah describes the judgment that will come upon those who are complacent and indifferent towards the Lord. It speaks of the wailing of the merchants and the destruction of those who weigh out silver with deceit. The passage serves as a warning against materialism, dishonesty, and spiritual apathy, highlighting the consequences of such behaviors. Ultimately, it underscores the importance of living with integrity, sincerity, and a genuine reverence for God to avoid facing His righteous judgment.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Maktesh - Calmet says this signifies a mortar, or a rock in form of a mortar, and was the name of a quarter of Jerusalem where they hulled rice, corn, etc., according to St. Jerome. Some think the city of Jerusalem is meant, where the inhabitants should be beat and pounded to death as grain is pounded in a mortar. Newcome translates it, the lower city, and considers it the valley in Jerusalem, which divided the upper from the lower city. They that bear silver - The merchants, moneychangers, usurers, rich men.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh The name of a street in Jerusalem, as Aben Ezra; perhaps it lay low in the hollow of the city, and in the form of a mortar, from whence it might have its name, as the word F17 signifies; which is used both for a hollow place and for a mortar, ( Judges 15:19 ) ( Proverbs 27:22 ) unless it might be so called from such persons dwelling in it, that used mortars for spice, and other things. The Targum is, ``howl, all ye that dwell in the valley of Kidron;'' and Jerom thinks the valley of Siloah is intended, which is the same; which, Adrichomius F18 says, was broad, deep, and dark, and surrounded the temple in manner of a foss, or ditch; and was disposed in the form of a mortar, called in Hebrew "machtes"; in Latin, "pila"; in which merchants and tradesmen of all kinds dwelt. It is thought by others to be the same which Josephus F19 calls "the valley of the cheese mongers", which lay between the two hills Zion and Acra. The reason of their howling is, for all the merchant people are cut down; either cut to pieces by the sword of the enemy, and become silent, as the word F20 sometimes signifies, and the Vulgate Latin version here renders it; become so by death, and laid in the silent grave, and no more concerned in merchandise; or else stripped of all their wealth and goods by the enemy, and so cut down, broke, and become bankrupt, and could trade no more. The word for merchant signifies a Canaanite; and the Targum paraphrases it thus, ``for all the people are broken, whose works are like the works of the people of the land of Canaan:'' all they that bear silver are cut off; that have large quantities of it, and carry it to market to buy goods with it as merchants; these shall be cut off, and so a great loss to trade, and a cause of howling and lamentation; or such that wear it in their garments, embroidered with it; or rather in their purses, who are loaded with this thick clay, abound with it. The Targum is, ``all that are rich in substance shall be destroyed.'' FOOTNOTES: F17 (vtkmh) "mortarii", Vatablus, Tigurine version; "cavi", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "loci concavi", Calvin. F18 Theatrum Terrae Sanctae, p. 163. F19 De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 1. F20 (hmdn) "conticuit", V. L. "in silentium redactus est", Drusius.

Zephaniah 1:11

The Day of the LORD

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

American Standard Version (1901)

Wail, ye inhabitants of Maktesh; for all the people of Canaan are undone; all they that were laden with silver are cut off.

Bible in Basic English

Because of the downfall of all the people of Canaan: all those who were weighted down with silver have been cut off.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Howl, ye inhabitants of the Morter. All the people of Chanaan is hush, all are cut off that were wrapped up in silver.

Free Bible Version

Those who live in the Market District will wail in sorrow, for all the merchants are destroyed, along with those who trade in silver.

Geneva Bible 1599

Howle ye inhabitants of the lowe place: for the companie of the marchants is destroyed: all they that beare siluer, are cut off.

King James (Authorized) Version

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

Translation for Translators

So, all you people who live in the market area of Jerusalem should wail, because all those who sell goods and weigh out silver will be slaughtered.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Wail, inhabitants of the Market District, for all the merchants will be ruined; all those who weigh out silver will be cut off.

Noah Webster Bible

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

World English Bible

Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the people of Canaan are undone! All those who were loaded with silver are cut off.

Young's Literal Translation

Howl, ye inhabitants of the hollow place, For cut off hath been all the merchant people, Cut off have been all bearing silver.

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Zephaniah 1:11

Verse

Context

The Day of the LORD

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Zephaniah 1:11

The Day of the LORD

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary