Zephaniah 2:6
Zephaniah 2:6 in Multiple Translations
So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
And the sea-coast shall be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.
And the land by the sea will be grass-land, with houses for keepers of sheep and walled places for flocks.
Your seacoast will become pastures, with meadows for shepherds and sheep pens for flocks.
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cotages for shepheardes and sheepefoldes.
And the sea-coast hath been habitations, Cottages [for] shepherds, and folds [for] a flock.
The sea coast will be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
And the sea coast shall be the resting place of shepherds, and folds for cattle:
The land of Philistia near the sea will become a pasture, a place for shepherds and their sheep pens.
Berean Amplified Bible — Zephaniah 2:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Zephaniah 2:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְֽ/הָיְתָ֞ה
חֶ֣בֶל
הַ/יָּ֗ם
נְוֺ֛ת
כְּרֹ֥ת
רֹעִ֖ים
וְ/גִדְר֥וֹת
צֹֽאן
וְֽ/הָיְתָ֞ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3fs
חֶ֣בֶל
chebel
H2256
cord
N-cs
הַ/יָּ֗ם
yâm
H3220
West
Art | N-ms
נְוֺ֛ת
nâveh
H5116
pasture
N-cp
כְּרֹ֥ת
kârâh
H3741
hollow
N-fp
רֹעִ֖ים
râʻâh
H7462
House of Shepherds
V-Qal
וְ/גִדְר֥וֹת
gᵉdêrâh
H1448
wall
Conj | N-fp
צֹֽאן
tsôʼn
H6629
Sheep (Gate)
N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Zephaniah 2:6
וְֽ/הָיְתָ֞ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-3fs
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
חֶ֣בֶל
chebel
H2256
"cord"
N-cs
A cord or rope, also a measured area of land or a group of people tied together. In the Bible, it appears in books like Joshua and Psalms. It can also mean a company or region.
Definition: 1) a cord, rope, territory, band, company 1a) a rope, cord 1b) a measuring-cord or line 1c) a measured portion, lot, part, region 1d) a band or company § destruction
Usage: Occurs in 60 OT verses. KJV: band, coast, company, cord, country, destruction, line, lot, pain, pang, portion, region, rope, snare, sorrow, tackling. See also: Deuteronomy 3:4; Psalms 119:61; Psalms 16:6.
הַ/יָּ֗ם
yâm
H3220
"West"
Art | N-ms
Refers to a large body of water like the Mediterranean Sea or a sea in general, sometimes specifically the west or seaward direction.
Definition: This name means sea, seaward, westward Another name of eph.ron (עֶפְרוֹן "(Mount )Ephron" H6085H)
Usage: Occurs in 339 OT verses. KJV: sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). See also: Genesis 1:10; Joshua 17:10; Psalms 8:9.
נְוֺ֛ת
nâveh
H5116
"pasture"
N-cp
A dwelling is a home or a pleasant place, like a sheepfold or a temple. It can describe a place where people or animals live, and is used in many Bible books, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) abode, habitation, abode of shepherds or flocks, pasture 1a) abode (of sheep) 1b) abode (of shepherds) 1c) meadow 1d) habitation
Usage: Occurs in 34 OT verses. KJV: comely, dwelling (place), fold, habitation, pleasant place, sheepcote, stable, tarried. See also: Exodus 15:13; Isaiah 35:7; Psalms 68:13.
כְּרֹ֥ת
kârâh
H3741
"hollow"
N-fp
In the Bible, this word means a hollow place, like a meadow or cave, where shepherds could rest. It's also translated as a cottage in the KJV. This term appears in descriptions of natural scenery.
Definition: cistern, cave, water meadow or something else that is hollow where shepherds might rest
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: cottage. See also: Zephaniah 2:6.
רֹעִ֖ים
râʻâh
H7462
"House of Shepherds"
V-Qal
This verb means to care for or tend to someone or something, like a shepherd with his flock. It can also mean to rule over or associate with someone as a friend, and is sometimes used to describe a close relationship.
Definition: Ra'ah = "pasturing" perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"
Usage: Occurs in 139 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman, keep (sheep) (-er), pastor, [phrase] shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste. See also: Genesis 4:2; Isaiah 40:11; Psalms 23:1.
וְ/גִדְר֥וֹת
gᵉdêrâh
H1448
"wall"
Conj | N-fp
This word means a wall or enclosure, especially for flocks, and is translated as sheepfold or hedge in the Bible, often referring to a place where sheep are kept.
Definition: 1) wall, hedge 2) sheepfold (construct with 'sheep')
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: (sheep-) cote (fold) hedge, wall. See also: Numbers 32:16; Psalms 89:41; Jeremiah 49:3.
צֹֽאן
tsôʼn
H6629
"Sheep (Gate)"
N-cs
This word refers to a flock of sheep or goats, and is sometimes used to describe people in a figurative sense. It is also associated with the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, a significant location in biblical times.
Definition: This name means sheep and goats Also named: probatikos (προβατικός "Sheep Gate" G4262)
Usage: Occurs in 247 OT verses. KJV: (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds). See also: Genesis 4:2; Deuteronomy 28:31; Psalms 44:12.
Study Notes — Zephaniah 2:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Zephaniah 2:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Zephaniah 2:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Zephaniah 2:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Zephaniah 2:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Zephaniah 2:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Zephaniah 2:6
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Zephaniah 2:6
- Cambridge Bible on Zephaniah 2:6
- Barnes' Notes on Zephaniah 2:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Zephaniah 2:6
Context — Judgment on the Philistines
4For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.
5Woe to the dwellers of the seacoast, O nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you, and no one will be left.”
6So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.
7The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; there they will find pasture. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Ashkelon, for the LORD their God will attend to them and restore their captives. 8“I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted My people and threatened their borders.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 17:2 | The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 25:5 | I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ |
| 3 | Isaiah 5:17 | Lambs will graze as in their own pastures, and strangers will feed in the ruins of the wealthy. |
| 4 | Zephaniah 2:14–15 | Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar. This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist. |
Zephaniah 2:6 Summary
Zephaniah 2:6 describes a future time when the seacoast, once a bustling area, will become a peaceful land of pastures where shepherds can care for their sheep. This is a result of God's judgment on the nations, but it also hints at the restoration of His people, as seen in Zephaniah 2:7. Just as God provides for the shepherds and sheep, He also promises to care for us and provide for our needs, as we see in Psalm 23:1-4 and Matthew 6:33. This verse reminds us that God is sovereign and can transform any situation, and we can trust Him to care for us, just as He cares for His people, as described in Jeremiah 31:3-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the phrase 'land of pastures' mean in Zephaniah 2:6?
The phrase 'land of pastures' refers to a region that was once inhabited by people, but will now be used for grazing animals, indicating desolation and emptiness, as seen in Jeremiah 9:10-11 where God judges a nation for its sins.
Who are the shepherds and sheep mentioned in this verse?
The shepherds and sheep represent the new inhabitants of the seacoast, likely the remnant of the house of Judah, who will be restored and cared for by God, as mentioned in Zephaniah 2:7, similar to God's promise to Israel in Ezekiel 34:11-16.
Is this verse a promise of restoration or judgment?
This verse is a mix of both, as it describes the desolation of the seacoast, but also hints at the restoration of God's people, the remnant of Judah, who will find pasture and be cared for by God, as seen in Isaiah 40:11 where God gently leads His flock.
How does this verse relate to the surrounding context?
This verse is a continuation of God's judgment on the nations surrounding Judah, including the Philistines, as mentioned in Zephaniah 2:4-5, and it sets the stage for the restoration of Judah, as described in Zephaniah 2:7, which is a common theme in the Bible, such as in Deuteronomy 30:3-5.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for a place to be transformed from a bustling seacoast to a land of pastures, and what does this reveal about God's power and sovereignty?
- How can we apply the principle of God's judgment and restoration in our own lives, and what does this teach us about His character?
- What does the image of shepherds and sheep evoke in our understanding of God's relationship with His people, and how does this relate to Jesus' description of Himself as the Good Shepherd in John 10:11?
- In what ways can we trust God to care for us and provide for our needs, just as the shepherds and sheep are provided for in this verse, and what does Psalm 23:1-4 teach us about God's provision?
Gill's Exposition on Zephaniah 2:6
And the sea coast shall be dwellings [and] cottages for shepherds,.... That tract of land which lay on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, inhabited by the Philistines, should now become so desolate,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Zephaniah 2:6
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Zephaniah 2:6
This confirms the former, tells us what shall be in those parts; instead of cities full of rich citizens, there shall be cottages for shepherds watching over their flocks.
Trapp's Commentary on Zephaniah 2:6
Zephaniah 2:6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings [and] cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.Ver. 6. And the sea coasts shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds] It shall be waste and untilled, and therefore unfrequented by any but shepherds, who pitch their tents up and down, where they may best feed their flocks, in desert places. And folds for flocks] God may do thus in his just judgment upon his enemies, that live in his good land, and not by his good laws; but woe be to our depopulators, that drive out men and put in cattle; that betray towns, as Rome did Carthage, with a distinction, We will save the city, but destroy the town. How dangerous it is to prove Abaddons appeareth by God’ s punishing hand upon William the Conqueror’ s issue in New Forest, wherein thirty-six parish churches had been demolished by him, with the removing of all the inhabitants, to make room for beasts, or dogs’ game. There his second son, Richard, was gored in hunting by a deer; Rufus, his other son, mistaken for a deer, was by chance shot through with an arrow; Henry likewise, his nephew, while he hotly pursued the chase was struck by a bough into the jaws, and, as Absalom, left hanging until he died.
Ellicott's Commentary on Zephaniah 2:6
(6) Dwellings and cottages for shepherds.—Better, places for shepherds’ pastures. In c’rôth (best taken as plural of car, “a pasture”) there is a paronomasia on c’rêthîm of Zep 2:5. The term “sea coast” (literally, line of the sea) here, as in Zephaniah 2:5, designates maritime Philistia. This tract of country is represented as ravaged and depopulated, so as to be serviceable only as a mere sheep-walk. Afterwards (Zephaniah 2:7) the restored exiles of Judah make it their pasture-ground. That this predominance of the Jewish over the Philistine race actually took place is manifest. The allusion to the captivity of Judah and its termination is remarkable. “Who save He in whose hand are human wills could now foresee that Judah should, like the ten tribes, rebel, be carried captive, and yet, though like and worse than Israel in its sin, should, unlike Israel, be restored” (Pusey). In the opening words of Zep 2:7 there is perhaps another paronomasia, for chebel (“sea coast” in Zephaniah 2:6), may also mean “an apportioned inheritance;” and the words here may be rendered, “and it shall be for an inheritance for the remnant of the house of Judah.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Zephaniah 2:6
Verse 6. And the sea-coasts shall be dwellings] Newcome considers כרת keroth as a proper name, not cottages or folds. The Septuagint have κρητη, Crete, and so has the Syriac. Abp. Secker notes, Alibi non extat כרת, et forte notat patriam των כרתים. "The word כרת is not found elsewhere, and probably it is the name of the country of the Cherethim."
Cambridge Bible on Zephaniah 2:6
6. The text of Zep 2:6 is probably in disorder, as the rhythmical balance of the verse is quite obscured. The Sept. also read differently, the words the sea coast being wanting in their text. These words should probably be omitted as a marginal explanation of it, and the verse read, and it (land of the Philistines, Zephaniah 2:5) shall be.… dwellings and cottages for shepherds] R.V. pastures, with cottages, marg. or, caves. The word rendered “cottages” (k’rôth) is obscure. Bochart, whom Keil follows, suggested that the word was infin. of the verb “to dig,” and rendered “for digging,” supposing that the reference was to subterranean huts dug by the shepherds to escape the heat (hence R.V. marg., caves). The idea has no probability. The peculiar construction (which appears similar to that in Job 20:17, the floods, the brooks of honey) suggests that “dwellings” and “cottages” are mere variant expressions, having the same meaning. So Hitzig: shall be for meadows of pastures for shepherds. The sense of pasture is seen, Isaiah 30:23, though the plur. is masc.
Psalms 65:13, while in the present passage the word is fem. It is possible, indeed, that the word is a mere transcriptional duplicate of the preceding word, as the letters forming the two words are frequently confused. The term, however, stood in the text of the Sept., who rendered it Crete, i.e. the country of the Cherethites: and Crete shall be a pasture (n’vath) of shepherds. Either the order of words was different in the text of the Sept., or they translated in entire disregard of Shemitic grammar. The verse with the necessary omissions may read: And it shall be dwellings (or, pastures) for shepherds—and folds for flocks.
Barnes' Notes on Zephaniah 2:6
The seacoast shall be dwellings and cottages - o, literally, cuttings or diggings.
Whedon's Commentary on Zephaniah 2:6
4-7. The doom of Philistia. Gaza… Ashkelon… Ashdod… Ekron — See on Amos 1:6-8. Gath is again absent. Shall be forsaken — Depopulated.