Zephaniah 1

King James Version

Full text for Zephaniah Chapter 1

1¶ The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

2I will utterly consume all [things] from off the land, saith the LORD.

3I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.

4I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, [and] the name of the Chemarims with the priests;

5And 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;

6And them that are turned back from the LORD; and [those] that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.

7¶ Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD [is] at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

8And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

9In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.

10And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, [that there shall be] the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.

11Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

12And it shall come to pass at that time, [that] I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

13Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

14¶ The great day of the LORD [is] near, [it is] near, and hasteth greatly, [even] the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

15That day [is] a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

16A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

17And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

18Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Zephaniah chapter one delivers a stern prophecy concerning the impending "Day of the LORD" upon Judah and Jerusalem. The Lord declares a universal consumption of all things from the land, including man, beast, and idolaters. This day will bring swift punishment upon those who have turned from God, worshipped other deities, or become complacent in their faith. It is depicted as a day of wrath, trouble, and utter desolation, from which no wealth can provide deliverance.

Medium Summary

The prophecy of Zephaniah, delivered during King Josiah's reign, foretells a comprehensive judgment from the Lord upon the land. God declares He will utterly consume all things, from man and beast to fowls and fish, specifically targeting the wicked and their stumblingblocks. His hand will stretch out upon Judah and Jerusalem to cut off the remnants of Baal worship, the Chemarims, those who worship the host of heaven, and those who swear by both the Lord and Malcham. Furthermore, those who have turned back from the Lord or have not sought Him will face divine wrath. The "Day of the LORD" is proclaimed as imminent, a day of sacrifice where princes, the king's children, and the complacent will be punished. This day is characterized by cries of distress, desolation, and darkness, where neither silver nor gold can offer salvation from the fire of God's jealousy.

Long Summary

Zephaniah chapter one opens with the prophet's lineage and the timing of his prophecy during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. The Lord declares a sweeping judgment, vowing to utterly consume all things from the land, encompassing man, beast, fowls of the heaven, and fishes of the sea, along with the stumblingblocks of the wicked. Specifically, God will extend His hand against Judah and Jerusalem, eradicating the remnants of Baal worship, the Chemarims, and those who worship the celestial bodies on their housetops. His wrath will also fall upon those who practice syncretism, swearing by both the Lord and Malcham, as well as those who have apostatized by turning back from seeking Him. The chapter emphasizes the imminence of the "Day of the LORD," portraying it as a prepared sacrifice where God's invited guests are those to be judged. On this day, punishment is decreed for the princes, the king's children, those adorned in foreign attire, and those who fill their homes with violence and deceit. Sounds of alarm, howling, and crashing will emanate from the city, signifying the destruction of merchant people and those bearing silver. The Lord promises to meticulously search Jerusalem with candles to punish those who are complacent and indifferent, believing God will neither do good nor evil. Consequently, their possessions will become spoil, their houses desolate, and their labours in building and planting will yield no enjoyment. The "great day of the LORD" is described as a day of wrath, trouble, distress, desolation, darkness, and alarm against fortified cities. Men will be afflicted, walking blindly due to their sins, their blood poured out as dust and their flesh as dung. Ultimately, no material wealth, neither silver nor gold, will be able to deliver them from the consuming fire of God's jealousy, which will swiftly devour the entire land and its inhabitants.

Core Concepts

  • The Day of the LORDThis concept describes an imminent and terrible day of divine judgment, prepared by God as a sacrifice, bringing wrath, trouble, and desolation upon the land and its inhabitants. It is a day of darkness and alarm, from which there is no escape.
  • Universal JudgmentThe Lord declares an "utter consumption" of all things from the land, extending His judgment not only to humanity but also to beasts, fowls, and fishes, signifying the comprehensive scope of His wrath. This destruction targets the wicked and their idols.
  • Idolatry and ApostasyA primary reason for God's judgment is the widespread practice of idolatry, including the worship of Baal, the host of heaven, and Malcham, alongside the sin of those who have turned back from the Lord or failed to seek Him. These acts provoke divine jealousy and lead to severe punishment.
  • Complacency and IndifferenceGod specifically targets those in Jerusalem who are "settled on their lees," meaning they are complacent and indifferent to spiritual matters, believing the Lord will neither intervene for good nor evil. Their apathy results in the loss of their possessions and homes.
  • Futility of WealthIn the day of the Lord's wrath, neither silver nor gold will be able to deliver the inhabitants from destruction. Material wealth is rendered useless against the consuming fire of God's jealousy, emphasizing the spiritual nature of true salvation.
  • Divine JealousyThe Lord's judgment is driven by His "jealousy," indicating His righteous indignation against those who have forsaken Him for other gods or become indifferent. This jealousy manifests as a consuming fire that devours the entire land.