Zephaniah 1:5

Verse

those 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,

American Standard Version (1901)

and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship, that swear to Jehovah and swear by Malcam;

Bible in Basic English

And the worshippers of the army of heaven on the house-tops, and the Lord's worshippers who take oaths by Milcom,

Douay-Rheims 1899

And them that worship the host of heaven upon the tops of houses, and them that adore, and swear by the Lord, and swear by Melchom.

Free Bible Version

I will destroy those who go up to the rooftops to bow down before the sun, moon, and stars. They also bow down and swear allegiance to the Lord, but then they do the same to Milcom.

Geneva Bible 1599

And them that worship the hoste of heauen vpon the house tops, and them that worship and sweare by the Lord, and sweare by Malcham,

King James (Authorized) Version

And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

Translation for Translators

I will get rid of those who go up on the roofs of their houses and worship the sun and moon and stars, those who claim that they worship me but also worship their god Molech.

Unlocked Literal Bible

the people who on the housetops worship the heavenly bodies, and the people who worship and swear to Yahweh but who also swear by their king.

Noah Webster Bible

And them that worship the host of heaven upon the house-tops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

World English Bible

those who worship the army of the sky on the housetops, those who worship and swear by Yahweh and also swear by Malcam,

Young's Literal Translation

And those bowing themselves On the roofs to the host of the heavens, And those bowing themselves, Swearing to Jehovah, and swearing by Malcham,

Context

Zephaniah Prophesies Judgment on Judah

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, ⁶and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”

Summary

Zephaniah 1:5 warns of the judgment that will come upon those who worship the stars and swear by the Lord but also swear by false gods. This verse highlights the seriousness of syncretism and idolatry, emphasizing that true worship of the Lord cannot be mixed with worship of other gods. It serves as a reminder of the importance of wholehearted devotion to God and the consequences of divided loyalty. Ultimately, Zephaniah 1:5 calls for repentance and a return to genuine faith in the one true God.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

The host of heaven - Sun, moon, planets, and stars. This worship was one of the most ancient and the most common of all species of idolatry; and it had a greater semblance of reason to recommend it. See Kg2 23:6, Kg2 23:12; Jer 19:13; Jer 32:29. That swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham - Associating the name of an idol with that of the Most High. For Malcham, see on Hos 4:15 (note), and Amo 5:26 (note).

Zephaniah 1:5

Zephaniah Prophesies Judgment on Judah

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

those 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,

American Standard Version (1901)

and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship, that swear to Jehovah and swear by Malcam;

Bible in Basic English

And the worshippers of the army of heaven on the house-tops, and the Lord's worshippers who take oaths by Milcom,

Douay-Rheims 1899

And them that worship the host of heaven upon the tops of houses, and them that adore, and swear by the Lord, and swear by Melchom.

Free Bible Version

I will destroy those who go up to the rooftops to bow down before the sun, moon, and stars. They also bow down and swear allegiance to the Lord, but then they do the same to Milcom.

Geneva Bible 1599

And them that worship the hoste of heauen vpon the house tops, and them that worship and sweare by the Lord, and sweare by Malcham,

King James (Authorized) Version

And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

Translation for Translators

I will get rid of those who go up on the roofs of their houses and worship the sun and moon and stars, those who claim that they worship me but also worship their god Molech.

Unlocked Literal Bible

the people who on the housetops worship the heavenly bodies, and the people who worship and swear to Yahweh but who also swear by their king.

Noah Webster Bible

And them that worship the host of heaven upon the house-tops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

World English Bible

those who worship the army of the sky on the housetops, those who worship and swear by Yahweh and also swear by Malcam,

Young's Literal Translation

And those bowing themselves On the roofs to the host of the heavens, And those bowing themselves, Swearing to Jehovah, and swearing by Malcham,

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Zephaniah 1:5

Verse

Context

Zephaniah Prophesies Judgment on Judah

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Zephaniah 1:5

Zephaniah Prophesies Judgment on Judah

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes