Zephaniah 3

Zephaniah · Chapter 3

Zephaniah 3:4

1Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!2She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.3Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.4Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.5The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.6I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.7I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.8Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.9For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.11In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.12I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.13The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.15The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.18I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.19Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.20At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
4Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
prophets itsנְבִיאֶ֙יהָ֙ne-vi-'EI-haH5030
prophet

נְבִיא (ne.vi) prophet Aramaic of na.vi (נָבִיא "prophet" H5030)

[are] insolentפֹּֽחֲזִ֔יםpo-cha-ZIMH6348
be reckless

פָּחַז (pa.chaz) (Qal) to be wanton, be reckless, be frothy

men ofאַנְשֵׁ֖י'an-SHEIH0582
human

אֱנוֹשׁ (e.nosh) 1) man, mortal man, person, mankind 1a) of an individual 1b) men (collective) 1c) man, mankind Aramaic equivalent: e.nash (אֱנָשׁ "man" H0606)

treacheriesבֹּֽגְד֑וֹתbo-ge-DOTH0900
treachery

בֹּגְדוֹת (bo.ge.dot) treacherous, treacherousness, men of treacherous behaviour

priests itsכֹּהֲנֶ֙יהָ֙ko-ha-NEI-haH3548
priest

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) 1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler 1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah) 1b) pagan priests 1c) priests of Jehovah 1d) Levitical priests 1e) Zadokite priests 1f) Aaronic priests 1g) the high priest Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

they profaneחִלְּלוּ־chi-le-lu-H2490HNo entry
[the] sanctuaryקֹ֔דֶשׁKO-deshH6944G
holiness

קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) 1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness 1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness 1a1) of God 1a2) of places 1a3) of things 1b) set-apartness, separateness

they do violence toחָמְס֖וּcha-me-SUH2554
to injure

חָמַס (cha.mas) 1) to wrong, do violence to, treat violently, do wrongly 1a) (Qal) to treat violently, do wrong 1a1) of physical wrong 1a2) of ethical wrong 1a3) of physical and ethical wrong 1b) (Niphal) to be treated violently

[the] lawתּוֹרָֽה׃to-RAHH8451
instruction

תּוֹרָה (to.rah) 1) law, direction, instruction 1a) instruction, direction (human or divine) 1a1) body of prophetic teaching 1a2) instruction in Messianic age 1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction 1a4) body of legal directives 1b) law 1b1) law of the burnt offering 1b2) of special law, codes of law 1c) custom, manner 1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.