Zephaniah 1:13 kjv
Therefore 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.
Zephaniah 1:13 nkjv
Therefore their goods shall become booty, And their houses a desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine."
Zephaniah 1:13 niv
Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. Though they build houses, they will not live in them; though they plant vineyards, they will not drink the wine."
Zephaniah 1:13 esv
Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them."
Zephaniah 1:13 nlt
So their property will be plundered,
their homes will be ransacked.
They will build new homes
but never live in them.
They will plant vineyards
but never drink wine from them.
Zephaniah 1 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference (Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:30 | You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her. You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it... | Covenant curse: futility of building |
| Deut 28:39 | You shall plant vineyards and tend them, but you shall not drink of the wine... | Covenant curse: futility of agriculture |
| Lev 26:16 | ...you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. | Covenant curse: enemy consuming produce |
| Amos 5:11 | Therefore, because you exact tolls from the poor...you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them... | Futility of building due to injustice |
| Mic 6:15 | You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourself with oil; you shall press new wine, but not drink wine. | Futility of labor; specific judgments |
| Hag 1:6 | You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough... | Judgment leading to scarcity |
| Jer 12:13 | They have sown wheat and reaped thorns; they have exhausted themselves for nothing. | Futility of effort; cursed land |
| Isa 65:21-22 | They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit... (Contrast) | Blessing of restoration (reversal) |
| Amos 9:14 | I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them... (Contrast) | Blessing of restoration (reversal) |
| Isa 1:7 | Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it... | Description of desolation and plunder |
| Jer 4:27 | For thus says the LORD, "The whole land shall be a desolation..." | Prophecy of land's desolation |
| Joel 1:6-7, 10-12 | A nation has come up against my land...He has laid waste my vines and splintered my fig trees... | Agricultural devastation by invaders |
| Lam 5:2 | Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners. | Exilic reality: loss of property |
| Ezek 7:19 | They cast their silver into the streets...their silver and gold cannot deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. | Futility of wealth in judgment |
| Prov 11:4 | Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. | Wisdom on wealth during judgment |
| Ps 127:1 | Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build labor in vain; unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. | Theological principle: God's necessity |
| Jer 6:12 | Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and their wives together... | Explicit transfer of property |
| Deut 6:10-11 | ...great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill... | Blessing: inheriting what wasn't labored for |
| Hosea 8:7 | ...They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind...if it yields, aliens will swallow it up. | Futility of sowing and alien consumption |
| Luke 12:16-21 | The ground of a rich man produced plentifully... 'But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you...' | Parable: Futility of earthly hoarding for selfish ends |
Zephaniah 1 verses
Zephaniah 1 13 Meaning
Zephaniah 1:13 declares the comprehensive and unavoidable judgment awaiting the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, particularly focusing on the futility of their earthly pursuits and possessions. Their accumulated wealth, typically seen as a source of security and pride, will become plunder for invaders. Their homes, symbols of stability and domestic life, will be left desolate. Furthermore, any new efforts to build and cultivate will be rendered pointless, as they will construct houses they never inhabit and plant vineyards whose wine they will never enjoy, signifying a complete reversal of human labor and expectation by divine decree.
Zephaniah 1 13 Context
Zephaniah 1:13 is part of a series of severe judgments pronounced by the prophet Zephaniah against Judah and Jerusalem in the mid-seventh century BC, during the reign of King Josiah. This prophecy anticipates the "Day of the Lord," a pervasive theme in Zephaniah, which is depicted not just as a general theological concept but as a tangible, imminent historical event of divine retribution. Verses 4-6 specify the reasons for this judgment: widespread idolatry, especially Baal worship and the worship of the "host of heaven," along with syncretism and outright apostasy from the Lord. The prophecy outlines the total devastation that will befall the land and its people due to their covenant unfaithfulness. Verse 13 details the socio-economic consequences of this impending invasion and exile, where material possessions and labor become meaningless, reflecting a reversal of divine blessings and a fulfillment of covenant curses for disobedience.
Zephaniah 1 13 Word analysis
- Their wealth (חֵילָם, cheilam): The Hebrew word chayil (here cheilam with suffix) can denote strength, might, army, or substance/wealth. In this context, it refers specifically to accumulated riches, goods, and valuable possessions. Its selection emphasizes that even the most substantial assets, meant for security and power, will be utterly powerless to protect their owners.
- will become plunder (מְשִׁסָּה, mesissa): This noun signifies spoil, loot, or prey taken by an aggressor, particularly in warfare. It directly indicates that what was lawfully acquired and owned will be violently seized and taken away by an invading force.
- and their houses (וּבָתֵּיהֶם, u'vateyhem): Refers to physical dwellings, homes, and by extension, the stability, safety, and domestic life they represent. The home was central to a family's identity and well-being in ancient Israel.
- a desolation (לְשַׁמָּה, le-shamma): This term signifies utter ruin, emptiness, and abandonment. It indicates that the houses will not just be plundered but will be left uninhabited and in a state of decay, a stark picture of complete devastation and loss of settled life.
- they will build houses but not live in them: This phrase denotes a profound futility of human effort. It highlights the divine judgment that directly intercepts and negates the intended outcome of their labor. Despite expending energy and resources in construction, they will be forcibly removed before enjoying their creations, a direct reversal of blessing into curse.
- and plant vineyards but not drink their wine: This second parallel clause reinforces the theme of futile labor and interrupted enjoyment. Agriculture, particularly viticulture, required significant investment of time and care. The inability to consume the product of their vineyards—wine often symbolizing joy and prosperity—underscores the comprehensive nature of the judgment that deprives them of both sustenance and joy from their efforts. This is a common motif of covenant curse for disobedience.
Zephaniah 1 13 Bonus section
This verse encapsulates the covenant curses outlined in Deut 28, acting as a prophetic declaration of their fulfillment upon a disobedient Judah. The reversal of human expectation is a hallmark of prophetic judgment, demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over human endeavors. The imagery also stands in stark contrast to the millennial blessings described by prophets like Isaiah (Isa 65:21-22), where God's redeemed people will build and inhabit, and plant and eat the fruit. This provides a theological framework: the present suffering is a consequence of rebellion, but a future hope exists for those who live in faithful obedience.
Zephaniah 1 13 Commentary
Zephaniah 1:13 paints a vivid and somber picture of comprehensive judgment that directly counters human ambition and security. It declares that material wealth, the fruit of human labor, and the comfort of one's home will offer no protection on the "Day of the Lord." The transformation of "wealth" into "plunder" highlights the immediate, violent, and complete loss of economic stability. The houses, symbols of domestic security and lineage, will become "desolation," emptied and ruined.
The most poignant aspect lies in the declaration that their future efforts—building homes and cultivating vineyards—will yield no personal benefit. This prophecy targets the very foundations of human security and satisfaction, demonstrating that when God’s favor is withdrawn due to widespread apostasy and idolatry (as seen in Zephaniah 1:4-6), even diligent labor becomes utterly futile. This serves as a stark reminder that ultimate security and prosperity stem not from material accumulation or human effort alone, but from right relationship with the sovereign God. It emphasizes that those who reject God’s covenant will find their plans undone, their security shattered, and their efforts unrewarded, illustrating the profound consequences of spiritual rebellion in the material realm.