THE PROPHET
ZEPHANIAH

Zephaniah 1

1The time when Zephaniah prophesied. 2God's severe judgment against Judah for various sins.


1THE word of the LORD which came unto 1Zephaniah the son of 2Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, 3in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

1 Also commonly called Sophonias.

2 Who this Cushi and those who follow him here were, is now uncertain to us, but doubtless they were famous and well known men in those days. And it seems that this genealogy of the forefathers of Zephaniah is therefore set down here to distinguish him from Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah, who likewise lived in Josiah’s time. The prophet Zephaniah has also lived and prophesied at the time of Jeremiah and of the prophetess Huldah. Compare 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chron. 34:22; 35:25; Jer. 1:2.

3 Namely, after Josiah had reformed the worship of God and true religion, as may be gathered from verse 4.

2I will 4utterly consume all things 5from off the land, saith the LORD.

4 Hebr. consuming consume, namely, by the king of the Chaldeans. See of the word here used Psalm 26:9.

5 Hebr. from on the face of this land, namely, the land of Judah.

3I will consume man and 6beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and 7the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.

6 Here the very beasts are also included under the punishments which men have deserved by their sins, to make it appear how heinous a thing sin is before God. Compare Jer. 4:23, 25, 26, 27; 9:10; Hosea 4:3.

7 Or, offences, namely, the remainders of Baal, verse 4, such as were the idols, the chapels and all manner of utensils belonging to idolatry; for, by such things the godly were offended and made sad, and many were astrayed from the true worship of God. See Ezek. 14:3, 7.

48I will also 9stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off 10the remnant of Baal 11from this place, and the name 12of the Chemarims 13with the priests;

8 Other, That is, in which sense the letter vau is oftentimes taken.

9 Namely, to smite.

10 That is, of Judah and Jerusalem.

11 That is, the utensils serving for the idolatrous worship of Baal, which the pious king Josiah was not able to root out at once. Yet some do understand this of the remnant of idolatry, which, after the carrying away of the ten tribes into Assyria, still remained among God’s people, even in Judah.

12 See the annotation at 2 Kings 23 on verse 5 what is to be understood by the Chemarims.

13 Understand here those priests who had defiled and profaned themselves with idolatry in the common apostasy. See Zeph. 3:4; 2 Kings 23 on verse 9.

514And 15them that worship 16the host of heaven upon 17the housetops; and them that worship and that 18swear by the LORD, and that 19swear by 20Malcham;

14 Namely, I will destroy.

15 That is, not only those who were public idolaters, but also those, who have a mixed religion, and those, who besides or together with their idols, likewise wanted to serve the true God. This God expressly forbids in 1 Kings 18:21; 2 Kings 17:33; Ezek. 20:39.

16 Which, in Judea and other countries of those parts, were flat. See annotation Deut. 22 on verse 8, and whereon they much used to practice their idolatry. See 2 Kings 23 on verse 12; Jer. 19:13.

17 That is, before the stars, sun and moon. See the annotations Deut. 4:19; Jer. 7 on verse 18; Jer. 10 on verse 2.

18 Or, swear to the Lord, as 2 Chron. 15:14, which signifies to promise obedience to God and to keep His commandments, with a consecrating of, and yielding up oneself to God.

19 See the annotation Jer. 49 on verse 1.

20 Or, Melech, or, Moloch, the idol of the children of Ammon. Though under the name of this idol one may understand likewise all other idols, which the idolaters were want to call their kings. Melech signifies in the Hebrew a king.

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

a Isa. 1:4; 59:13; Jer. 15:6.

721Hold thy peace 22at the presence of the Lord GOD: for 23the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared 24a sacrifice, he hath 25bid 26his guests.

21 That is, do not murmur against the Lord, but acknowledge that He judges uprightly. Or, be silent, you shall soon see the execution of His threats.

22 That is, by reason of the presence of the Lord.

23 Namely, the day of God’s vengeance in which He shall punish the wicked idolatrous Jews. Also verse 14. From the very death of king Josiah the Jews fell continually out of one calamity into another, until their kings and they together with them came to be subdued.

24 Or, a slaughterfeast, for which cattle must be slaughtered. The Hebrew word also signifies a beast slain for sacrifice, but here it is understood a slaughter of the Jews. See the like phrase Isa. 34:6; Jer. 46:10; Rev. 19:17.

25 That is, prepared, or separated. See Jer. 12 on verse 3.

26 Understand by these guests, who were bidden, the Chaldeans and other enemies of the Jews, who were to come to Jerusalem out of their own country to kill, slay and plunder all. Yet by the invited guests may also be understood the fowls of the air and the wild beasts of the field, which would eat up the dead bodies of the Jews who were slain, as Deut. 28:26; Ezek. 39:17.

8And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’S sacrifice, 27that I will punish the princes, and 28the king’s children, and 29all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

27 Ere that he, namely, the Lord. Likewise verse 9.

28 See the fulfillment Jer. 39:6.

29 Hebr. that clothe themselves with the clothes of a strange people, to please the heathen. Others understand it of vain, wanton people, who for luxury do not know how to clothe, dress and fashion themselves, not being satisfied with the usual wear, which is customary in their country, but want to have all according to the latest style and foreign fashion.

9In the same day also 30will I punish 31all those that leap on the threshold, 32which fill their masters’ houses 33with violence and deceit.

30 That is, will I make visitation.

31 That is, who violently enters into another man’s house to rob his neighbor. Or, who transgresses the bounds or pales, and trespass on their neighbor’s land, Hosea 5:10. Or, who have come home well laden with prey and booty from abroad and for joy leap therein.

32 That is, who collectively help to perform such things, as great men’s servants are apt to do to assist their masters in committing such ugly practices.

33 That is, brought together with riches by violence and deceit.

10And it shall come to pass 34in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be 35the noise of a cry from 36the fish gate, and an howling from 37the second, and 38a great crashing 39from the hills.

34 Namely, when the Chaldeans shall come and invade the city.

35 Namely, of the citizens at Jerusalem, caused by the invasion or raid of the Chaldeans.

36 Of this gate there is mention likewise made in Neh. 3:3. It was the nearest of all the gates of Jerusalem toward the sea, on that side of the city which led toward Diospolis and Joppa.

37 Otherwise called the middle city. See the annotations 2 Kings 20 on verse 4; 2 Kings 22 on verse 14. Other, the second gate.

38 That is, a horrendous lamentation, misery, cry of murder. If one cries and screams with such a force that it almost rents and cracks the throat and from this it breaks and rents the air.

39 That is, from that side of the city at which were several hills, near the dung gate. See Jer. 31:39 and the annotations there. The Mount of Olives was also situated on that side. In a word, the prophet gives to understand in this verse that there would be in all quarters of the city a woeful lamentation, whereof three are named here and the others to be understood among them.

11Howl, ye inhabitants 40of Maktesh, for all the 41merchant people are 42cut down; all 43they that bear silver are cut off.

40 The Hebrew word Maktesh is retained in the text. Others render it, in the Mercer-street, or, in the Apothecary- or Herb-street. The Hebrew word properly signifies a mortar. It appears that it has been the name of a certain street within Jerusalem, called the Mortar-street, because one would daily hear the clatter of the mortar, as at that time the pharmacists and herbalists would daily use of the same to butt or pound therein their herbs or medicine. Other, in the hollowness, or, hollow street, that is, where it abounded with many cellars wherein the merchants laid up their wares. In this street the goldsmiths also lived, as may be gathered from Neh. 3:8, 31, 32.

41 Or, peddlers, or, traders, merchants. Other, the people of Canaan, which is taken for merchants, since the Canaanites did much in commerce.

42 Or, blotted out, that is, they shall be destroyed and undone. Other, shall hold their peace, or be silent, either there shall be no trade anymore or that they shall be dead.

43 Or, all those that are laden with money, that is, the merchants and their agents, bankers and exchangers, who carry monies back and forth to buy and to pay for commodities.

12And it shall come to pass at that time, that 44I will search Jerusalem 45with candles, and punish 46the men 47that are settled on their lees:b that say in their heart, 48The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

44 Namely, I, the Lord.

45 That is, with great diligence; I will cause the Chaldeans and other foreign soldiers to search out all the wealth and treasure, and to carry it all away. Or, it implies, that God would most strictly visit and punish the sins of the people.

46 Or, the people.

47 Or, that lie upon their lees or barm, that is, who are at ease and careless, and live in carnal security. Other, that are mingled with their lees, that is, casting up all manner of filth and vileness of sin and vice, and, as it were, vomiting it all out, as does the new wine. Read Jer. 48:11.

b dregs, sediment (separated or refined by pouring from bottle to bottle)

48 The sense is: God does not take care of the government of the world; He punishes and rewards no one according to one’s merits.

13Therefore 49their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: 50they shall also build houses, but 51not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

49 That is, their wealth and riches. Concerning these threatenings see Lev. 26:32; Deut. 28:30.

50 See Amos 5:11; Micah 2:2, 4; 3:10, 12.

51 That is, they shall not dwell long in them. See Deut. 28:30, 39.

1452The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even 53the voice of the day of the LORD: 54the mighty man shall cry 55there bitterly.

52 That is, the day in which the Lord shall punish severely. See verse 7.

53 Compare Psalm 29:3, 4, 5; Jer. 4:19, etc.

54 How much more the men who are weak or fainthearted, not to speak of women and children.

55 That is, at that time, as Psalm 14:5, Or, there, that is, at Jerusalem.

15That day is a day 56of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, ac day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

56 Namely, of the indignation of the Lord, as verse 18; that is, at that time the Lord shall pour out many calamities and judgments in His anger. This is expressed by several terms in this verse. Compare Jer. 30:5, 6, 7; Amos 5:18, 19, 20; Joel 2:1 to 11.

c Joel 2:1, 2.

1657A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against 58the high towers.

57 That is, a day wherein the trumpets and cornets shall sound alarm, because of the enemies’ invasion.

58 Or, high corners, which usually stand at the corners of the castles or cities; or, of the points. Yet by towers they are sometimes understood the heads and principal men among the people, Judges 20:2.

17And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk 59like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out 60as dust, and their 61flesh 62as the dung.

59 Who do not know where to go or to which, what they shall do first or last.

60 That is, abundantly, in great quantity, as a matter of no value at all. Thus dust is taken in Mat. 10:14; Acts 13:51; 18:6.

61 Or, body. Properly: meat. So the body is called, because it becomes worm’s meat.

62 The sense is: their dead bodies shall be cast forth upon the fields and the land, even as dung is cast forth upon it to fertilize the same.

18Neither their silverd nor their gold shall be able to deliver them ine the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be 63devoured 64by the fire of his jealousy: for 65he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell 66in the land.

d Prov. 11:4; Ezek. 7:19.

e verses 14, 15, 16.

63 Hebr. be eaten up; as Zeph. 3:8.

64 That is, by a jealousy, which burns as fire. See Ezek. 38:19.

65 See Jer. 4 on verse 27.

66 Namely, in the land of the Jews.