Zephaniah 1 1

Zephaniah 1:1 kjv

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.

Zephaniah 1:1 nkjv

The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

Zephaniah 1:1 niv

The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:

Zephaniah 1:1 esv

The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

Zephaniah 1:1 nlt

The LORD gave this message to Zephaniah when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah.

Zephaniah 1 verses

Zephaniah 1 1 Meaning

Zephaniah 1:1 serves as the authoritative superscription for the book, identifying the prophet, his distinguished lineage, and the specific historical context of his ministry. It establishes the divine origin of the message ("the word of the LORD") and grounds Zephaniah's authority in his ancestral connection to the royal house of Judah and the reign of King Josiah, preparing the reader for a message of immense gravity concerning Judah's sin and the impending Day of the Lord.

Zephaniah 1 1 Context

Zephaniah's prophetic ministry occurs during the early part of King Josiah's reign (640-609 BC), likely before the extensive religious reforms that Josiah initiated following the discovery of the Book of the Law in 622 BC. Judah had previously endured over five decades of extreme idolatry and spiritual depravity under Manasseh and Amon. Zephaniah’s stern warnings about the "Day of the LORD" (a central theme) and impending judgment reflect the deep-seated apostasy of the nation that required more than mere superficial reforms. The reference to King Josiah in the superscription places Zephaniah firmly within a significant transitional period for Judah, as Josiah strove to return the nation to the covenant. The lineage connecting Zephaniah to Hezekiah elevates his standing, implying a prophetic voice from within the Judean elite or even the royal family, lending weight and credibility to his harsh denunciations and warnings against idolatry and corruption that permeated even Jerusalem.

Zephaniah 1 1 Word analysis

• The word: The Hebrew word דְּבַר (d'var), meaning "word," "utterance," or "message," emphasizes that what follows is not Zephaniah's opinion but a direct communication.
• of the LORD: יהוה (YHWH), the sacred covenant name of God, signifies the personal, unchanging God of Israel. Its inclusion underlines the divine authority and covenantal basis of the message. The phrase "word of the LORD" is a standard prophetic formula, indicating direct revelation from God.
• which came: The Hebrew verb הָיָה (hayah), used here with דְּבַר, means "was," "became," or "came into being." In prophetic contexts, it signifies God's message actively entering and taking hold of the prophet, transforming him into a vessel for divine revelation.
• to Zephaniah: צְפַנְיָה (Tsephanyah) means "YHWH has hidden" or "YHWH has treasured." This name could carry ironic or poignant significance: during a time of imminent, open judgment, the Lord nonetheless provides a hidden (or preserved) prophet to declare His truth. It might also subtly point to a remnant kept by God in a time of widespread apostasy.
• the son of Cushi: כּוּשִׁי (Kûshî) likely translates to "Ethiopian" or "man from Cush," but in this context, it is almost certainly a proper name. This distinct name (different from Zephaniah's three grandfathers) helps further distinguish his lineage without necessarily implying non-Judean origin. It may be a family name rather than a direct personal identifier of an Ethiopian ancestor for Zephaniah himself.
• the son of Gedaliah: גְּדַלְיָה (Gedalyah) means "YHWH is great." This continues the trend of Yahweh-centric names in the prophet's ancestry.
• the son of Amariah: אֲמַרְיָה (Amaryah) means "YHWH has spoken" or "YHWH has promised." A significant name for a prophet, hinting at the long tradition of divine communication in his family line.
• the son of Hezekiah: חִזְקִיָּה (Ḥizqîyâ) means "YHWH is my strength." This specific "Hezekiah" is widely believed to be the revered King Hezekiah of Judah (715-686 BC), due to the lack of an identifying title ("king") after Gedaliah, Amariah, and Hezekiah in Zephaniah's immediate lineage, indicating a prominent, singular figure already known. This connection provides Zephaniah immense credibility and authority as his prophetic voice comes from the very house of David, tying his message of judgment to the legacy of a righteous king whose own reforms were imperfect and incomplete. This ancestry elevates the prophet, adding gravitas to his warnings.
• in the days of Josiah: יוֹאשִׁיָּהוּ (Yo'shîyâhû) signifies the reigning monarch (640-609 BC) during Zephaniah's active ministry. This dating helps place the book within the tumultuous historical context of Judah immediately preceding its fall, during a time of partial national reform.
• the son of Amon: אָמוֹן (Amôn) refers to Josiah's idolatrous father, whose short reign (642-640 BC) followed the long, wicked rule of Manasseh (697-643 BC). The mention of Amon highlights the immediate religious apostasy that Josiah sought to reverse.
• king of Judah: מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה (melekh Yehudah) specifically identifies the geographical and political realm of Josiah’s rule. This grounds the prophecy historically and geographically, underscoring its relevance and application directly to the kingdom of Judah.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah": This classic prophetic commissioning phrase ("d'var YHWH Asher haya el...") immediately establishes the book's divine authority and truthfulness. It emphasizes that the prophet is a recipient, not the originator, of the message, distinguishing divine prophecy from human speculation (cf. 2 Pet 1:21). This formula acts as a theological validation of Zephaniah's pronouncements.
• "the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah": This detailed genealogy, unusually long for a prophetic book superscription (most typically list only the father or perhaps grandfather), serves to reinforce Zephaniah's identity and authority. The significant element here is the potential connection to King Hezekiah, placing Zephaniah within the Davidic royal lineage. This royal or aristocratic connection likely granted Zephaniah a degree of access and influence within the court and among the people, allowing his strong message to resonate with particular weight among those who honored Hezekiah's legacy. It grounds the prophet not in obscurity, but in a line that knew both righteous and wicked kings.
• "in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah": This precise temporal marker sets the historical stage for the prophecy. Josiah's reign, particularly its earlier years, saw a nation steeped in the deep-seated idolatry left by his predecessors, Manasseh and Amon. While Josiah later undertook significant reforms, Zephaniah's prophecy likely comes before these reforms took full effect, or is directed at the persistent corruption that even reforms could not entirely erase from the nation's heart. It identifies the target audience—Judah—and the critical juncture in their history when these pronouncements were given, making the message immediately relevant to their context. The inclusion of Amon points to the immediate spiritual decline that preceded Josiah's reign and still needed addressing.

Zephaniah 1 1 Bonus section

• The naming convention "the son of..." repeating several times is a classic Hebrew genealogical style, establishing full credibility and family ties over generations, rather than simply stating one father.
• The connection to Hezekiah meant Zephaniah's message, while confrontational, would have been received with perhaps greater gravity due to his lineage being tied to a well-known, reforming king. It signifies a "voice from within," making the judgment pronouncements feel particularly urgent and weighty, coming from someone with deep roots in the nation's spiritual and royal history.
• This verse contains all three critical elements typically found in prophetic superscriptions: the source (Word of the LORD), the human recipient (Zephaniah), and the historical setting (lineage and dating by the king's reign). This full tripartite structure affirms its legitimacy.

Zephaniah 1 1 Commentary

Zephaniah 1:1 is far more than a simple title; it is the divinely mandated foundation for the entire book. It presents Zephaniah not as a lone voice but as one linked to Judah's royal history and imbued with the authoritative "word of the LORD." This establishes his unique credentials: the message is undeniably from God, given to a prophet with an esteemed ancestry, and specifically delivered during a pivotal time under a reforming but still embattled King Josiah. The long genealogy culminates in the probable link to King Hezekiah, emphasizing a call from within Judah's highest echelons, making the impending judgment on Jerusalem even more poignant. This verse effectively serves as a solemn, authoritative preface to a book steeped in warning, cosmic judgment, and ultimate hope for a righteous remnant. It grounds the transcendent message within a specific and critical earthly historical moment.