Zephaniah 3:1
Zephaniah 3:1 in Multiple Translations
Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city!
Sorrow to her who is uncontrolled and unclean, the cruel town!
What disaster is coming to corrupted, rebellious Jerusalem, you who oppress people!
Woe to her that is filthie and polluted, to the robbing citie.
Woe [to] the rebellious and polluted, The oppressing city!
Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city!
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
Woe to the provoking, and redeemed city, the dove.
Terrible things will also happen to Jerusalem, that city whose people have rebelled against Yahweh and who have become unacceptable to him because of the sins that they have committed. They act violently toward others and they ◄oppress/treat cruelly► other people.
Berean Amplified Bible — Zephaniah 3:1
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 3:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
ה֥וֹי
מֹרְאָ֖ה
וְ/נִגְאָלָ֑ה
הָ/עִ֖יר
הַ/יּוֹנָֽה
ה֥וֹי
hôwy
H1945
woe!
Part
מֹרְאָ֖ה
mârâʼ
H4754
to flap
V-Qal
וְ/נִגְאָלָ֑ה
gâʼal
H1351
to defile
Conj | V-Niphal-Inf-c
הָ/עִ֖יר
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
Art | N-fs
הַ/יּוֹנָֽה
yânâh
H3238
to oppress
Art | V-Qal
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Zephaniah 3:1
ה֥וֹי
hôwy
H1945
"woe!"
Part
Hoy is an expression of sadness or pain, like saying oh or woe. It's used to show strong emotions, and is often translated as alas or woe in the KJV Bible. This word conveys a sense of lament or regret.
Definition: ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!
Usage: Occurs in 47 OT verses. KJV: ah, alas, ho, O, woe. See also: 1 Kings 13:30; Jeremiah 22:18; Isaiah 1:4.
מֹרְאָ֖ה
mârâʼ
H4754
"to flap"
V-Qal
This Hebrew word means to flap or rebel, and is also used to describe something filthy. It is used in the Bible to describe the ostrich flapping its wings. The word has a sense of turmoil or unrest.
Definition: 1) (Hiphil) to beat (the air), flap (the wings) 1a) meaning uncertain 2) (Qal) filthy
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: be filthy, lift up self. See also: Job 39:18; Zephaniah 3:1.
וְ/נִגְאָלָ֑ה
gâʼal
H1351
"to defile"
Conj | V-Niphal-Inf-c
This Hebrew word means to make something unclean or impure, often used in Leviticus to describe defiling the temple or oneself. It can also mean to stain or desecrate something, like in Ezekiel 20:16. The concept is about ruining something's purity or holiness.
Definition: 1) to defile, pollute, desecrate 1a) (Niphal) to be defiled, be polluted 1b) (Piel) to pollute, desecrate 1c)(Pual) to be desecrated (of removal from priesthood) 1d) (Hiphil) to pollute, stain 1e) (Hithpael) to defile oneself
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: defile, pollute, stain. See also: Ezra 2:62; Lamentations 4:14; Isaiah 59:3.
הָ/עִ֖יר
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
Art | N-fs
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
הַ/יּוֹנָֽה
yânâh
H3238
"to oppress"
Art | V-Qal
To oppress or treat someone violently, often implying a sense of injustice or wrongdoing, as found in the KJV.
Definition: 1) to oppress, suppress, treat violently, maltreat, vex, do wrong 1a) (Qal) to oppress, suppress 1b) (Hiphil) to treat violently, maltreat
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: destroy, (thrust out by) oppress(-ing, -ion, -or), proud, vex, do violence. See also: Exodus 22:20; Jeremiah 46:16; Psalms 74:8.
Study Notes — Zephaniah 3:1
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Zephaniah 3:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Zephaniah 3:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Zephaniah 3:1
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1
- Trapp's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1
- Ellicott's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1
- Cambridge Bible on Zephaniah 3:1
- Barnes' Notes on Zephaniah 3:1
- Whedon's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1
- Sermons on Zephaniah 3:1
Context — Judgment on Jerusalem
1Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
2She heeded no voice; she accepted no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God. 3Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 6:6 | For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst. |
| 2 | Isaiah 30:12 | Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you have rejected this message, trusting in oppression and relying on deceit, |
| 3 | Isaiah 59:13 | rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart. |
| 4 | Malachi 3:5 | “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts. |
| 5 | Zechariah 7:10 | Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’ |
| 6 | Ezekiel 22:7 | Father and mother are treated with contempt. Within your walls the foreign resident is exploited, the fatherless and the widow are oppressed. |
| 7 | Micah 2:2 | They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance. |
| 8 | Leviticus 1:16 | And he is to remove the crop with its contents and throw it to the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes. |
| 9 | Isaiah 5:7 | For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress. |
| 10 | Jeremiah 22:17 | “But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.” |
Zephaniah 3:1 Summary
Zephaniah 3:1 is a warning to a city that has become corrupt and oppressive, and is rebelling against God. This city has become defiled by its own sin, and God is calling it to repentance, just as He calls us to turn away from our own sins and follow Him, as seen in Acts 3:19 and 1 Peter 2:11. We can learn from this verse that God hates injustice and desires His people to be faithful and kind, as taught in Psalm 37:3 and Matthew 5:7. By trusting in the Lord and following His commands, we can avoid the kind of corruption and rebellion that is described in this verse, and instead live lives that are pleasing to Him, as encouraged in Colossians 1:10 and 1 John 3:22.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of city is being described in Zephaniah 3:1?
The city in Zephaniah 3:1 is one that oppresses its people, is rebellious against God, and is defiled by sin, much like the cities described in Isaiah 1:21 and Ezekiel 16:43-45.
What is the significance of the word 'woe' in this verse?
The word 'woe' is a declaration of judgment and sorrow, similar to what we see in Isaiah 5:8-23 and Matthew 23:13-36, where God expresses His displeasure with the sinful actions of His people.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Zephaniah?
Zephaniah 3:1 is part of a larger warning to the nation of Judah, calling them to repentance and faith in the Lord, as seen in Zephaniah 2:1-3 and Zephaniah 3:12-13.
What can we learn from the description of the city in this verse?
We can learn that God hates oppression and rebellion, and that He desires His people to be just and faithful, as taught in Proverbs 21:3 and Micah 6:8.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I might be contributing to oppression or rebellion in my own life, and how can I repent of those sins?
- How can I trust in the Lord and draw near to Him, especially in times of difficulty or uncertainty, as encouraged in Psalm 23:4 and Hebrews 10:22-23?
- What are some practical ways that I can show love and care for those who are oppressed or marginalized in my community, as taught in Matthew 25:31-46 and Galatians 2:10?
- How can I balance the call to speak out against injustice with the need to show compassion and kindness to those who are struggling, as seen in Isaiah 58:6-12 and 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15?
Gill's Exposition on Zephaniah 3:1
Woe to her that is filthy, and polluted,.... Meaning the city of Jerusalem, and its inhabitants; not as before the Babylonish captivity, but after their return from it, under the second temple, as
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Zephaniah 3:1
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! Woe to her that is filthy.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1
CHAPTER 3 A sharp reproof of Jerusalem for divers sins, . An exhortation to wait for the restoration of Israel ; and to rejoice for their salvation by God, . The prophet showed us Nineveh in ruins for her sins; from this doleful spectacle he brings us to take a prospect of what would come upon Jerusalem, which ere long will be full of woes, because now full of sin. Filthy; loathsome in her sins, so foul they are, and so abominably acted. A city, that, like an infamous woman, is branded for her impudence in sin. Or, Woe to the great craw! as pointing out the gluttony of Jerusalem literally, and their swallowing the poor who were a prey to the great ones. Polluted; greatly polluted by this means. To the oppressing city; or the city foolish and seduced, as a silly dove; so the Hebrew will bear: but our version is to be preferred; it is come to that pass, Jerusalem is a city that doth nothing but oppress, Ezekiel 22.
Trapp's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1
Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!Ver. 1. Woe to her that is filthy and polluted] Meaning Jerusalem, once a faithful city, now an harlot, Isaiah 1:21, faedissimum prostibulum, of the kind of those sordid men who are called Borboritae, of their miry filthiness, whom Epiphanius and Oecumenius speak of. The word ( ψΰι) here rendered filthy comes from a word that signifieth dung, or that signifieth an example (παραδειγμα); and so it is a metaphor taken from light women that are carted in a disgraceful way and made a public example, an infamous instance. It is rendered also gluttonous, or all craw, as Leviticus 1:16. “ Ingluvies et tempestas, barathrumque macelli. ” To the oppressing city!] Praedatrici, that maketh a prey of others (either by force or fraud), as the silly dove is made a prey to the hawk and other ravenous birds.
Ellicott's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1
III. (1-4) The prophet denounces the corruption and moral obduracy which characterise all classes in Jerusalem. This denunciation comes in with startling abruptness. The prophet does not even name the object of his reproof. The literal rendering is, Woe, rebellious and polluted, thou oppressive city!
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1
CHAPTER III The prophet reproves Jerusalem, and all her guides and rulers, for their obstinate perseverance in impiety, notwithstanding all the warnings and corrections which they had received from God, 1-7. They are encouraged, however, after they shall have been chastised for their idolatry, and cured of it, to look for mercy and restoration, 8-13; and exited to hymns of joy at the glorious prospect, 14-17. After which the prophet concludes with large promises of favour and prosperity in the days of the Messiah, 18-20. We take this extensive view of the concluding verses of this chapter, because an apostle has expressly assured us that in EVERY prophetical book of the Old Testament Scriptures are confined predictions relative to the Gospel dispensation. See Acts 3:24. NOTES ON CHAP. III Verse 1. Wo to her that is filthy] This is a denunciation of Divine judgment against Jerusalem.
Cambridge Bible on Zephaniah 3:1
Ch. Zephaniah 3:1-8. Renewed threat against Jerusalem in particular Ch. 3 returns to Jerusalem. The city is reproached as rebellious, polluted, and full of oppression (Zephaniah 3:1); disobedient to God and neglectful of His word and of the lessons of His operations in the world of the nations (Zephaniah 3:2). All classes within her are corrupt: her princes violent, her judges venal and greedy (Zephaniah 3:3), her prophets unstable and false, and her priests profaners of what is holy and perverters of the Torah (Zephaniah 3:4 ff.).
Barnes' Notes on Zephaniah 3:1
The “woe,” having gone round the pagan nations, again circles round where it began, the “Jerusalem that killed the prophets and stoned those that were sent unto her” Matthew 23:37.
Whedon's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1
WOE UPON THE CITY OF , Zephaniah 3:1-7.In Zephaniah 3:1, the prophet turns once more to Jerusalem, “the rebellious and unclean, the city of oppression.” He strikes the same notes as in chapter i,
Sermons on Zephaniah 3:1
| Sermon | Description | |
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On Eagles' Wings Pt 160 by Don Courville | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of focusing on Jesus and trusting in Him, even in difficult circumstances. He references the story of Peter walking on water |
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Slightly Healed by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the disappointment of God with His chosen people, using the analogy of a vineyard. Despite God's efforts to cultivate and protect His people, |
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"Be Ye Doers of the Word" Part 2 by Joshua Daniel | This sermon emphasizes the consequences of despising the Word of God, warning against trusting in oppression and perverseness. It highlights the importance of humbling oneself befo |
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Doers and Not Hearers Only by Joshua Daniel | This sermon emphasizes the importance of not despising the Word of God and the consequences of turning away from His commandments. It warns against the dangers of disobedience and |
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When the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher begins by quoting Isaiah 59:14, where Isaiah laments the state of society, with judgment turned away and truth fallen in the street. The preacher then |
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Driving Out the Money Changers by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of having the mind of Christ and being transformed to think like Him. It highlights the need for zeal for God's house, purity in the church, a |
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God Changeth Not by Joshua Daniel | In this sermon, Joshua Daniel discusses the need for a revival of faith and a return to God's unchanging truth. He emphasizes that while God and the gospel remain constant, it is o |