Zephaniah 1 3

Zephaniah 1:3 kjv

I 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.

Zephaniah 1:3 nkjv

"I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land," Says the LORD.

Zephaniah 1:3 niv

"I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea? and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble." "When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth," declares the LORD,

Zephaniah 1:3 esv

"I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth," declares the LORD.

Zephaniah 1:3 nlt

"I will sweep away people and animals alike.
I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish in the sea.
I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble,
and I will wipe humanity from the face of the earth," says the LORD.

Zephaniah 1 verses

Zephaniah 1 3 Meaning

Zephaniah 1:3 is a stark declaration of God's universal and comprehensive judgment that precedes and intensifies the coming "Day of the Lord." It outlines a total consumption and sweeping away of life, starting with humanity and extending to the entire animal kingdom, including birds and fish, essentially reversing the order of creation. The declaration specifically targets "the wicked," ensuring their active downfall and complete removal from the earth, emphasizing the absolute authority and resolve of the Lord in executing His just decrees against all unrighteousness.

Zephaniah 1 3 Context

Zephaniah's prophecy unfolds during the reign of King Josiah in Judah, a period characterized by initial religious reform efforts following generations of profound idolatry and syncretism (Zeph 1:1). Despite these reforms, deep-seated corruption and a lingering practice of pagan worship persisted among the people and even in Jerusalem's official structures. Verse 3 directly follows Zephaniah 1:2, which states a general sweeping away of "everything from the face of the earth," thereby intensifying and detailing the scope of this judgment. It sets the stage for the terrifying "Day of the Lord" that Zephaniah emphasizes—a day of divine wrath and retribution not only against the surrounding nations but primarily against unfaithful Judah. This cosmic judgment highlights God's sovereignty over all creation and His resolve to purify the land of the wickedness that defiled it, particularly the idolatrous practices that provoked His jealousy. The universal scope also implicitly polemicizes against pagan deities, asserting Yahweh's sole authority over all domains of life, including those aspects of creation—man, beasts, birds, fish—that other nations attributed to their specific gods.

Zephaniah 1 3 Word analysis

• "I will consume" (אָסַף, asaph): Repeated thrice in this verse. This Hebrew verb signifies "to gather, collect," but in the context of judgment, it powerfully conveys "to sweep away, to take away, to destroy." The repetition emphasizes the totality and certainty of this divine action, not just partial destruction but a comprehensive removal from existence or a specific place.
• "man and beast" (אָדָם וּבְהֵמָה, adam u-behemah): This phrase indicates the sweeping scope of the judgment, mirroring the initial creation and the reversal seen in the Genesis flood narrative (Gen 6:7). It implies a universal reach, encompassing all terrestrial living beings, illustrating that human sin affects even the natural world.
• "birds of the heavens" (עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם, oph hashamaim): This specifies judgment extending to the avian world, showcasing divine authority over the sky.
• "fish of the sea" (דְּגֵי הַיָּם, degei hayam): This extends the judgment to marine life, completing the imagery of God's dominion over every sphere of life—land, air, and sea. This cosmic sweep underscores that no creature or domain is beyond His reach or judgment. It further serves as a polemic against ancient near-eastern polytheistic beliefs which assigned control over these domains to various minor deities.
• "I will make the wicked stumble" (וְהִכְשַׁלְתִּי רְשָׁעִים, vehikhshalti resha'im): This is a Hiphil form of kashal, meaning "to cause to stumble, to bring about a fall." It’s an active, divinely initiated action, implying God Himself orchestrates the downfall and ruin of the wicked. It suggests their own sin leads to their appointed destruction, with God's hand ensuring their inevitable collapse and ultimate failure.
• "and cut off man" (וְהִכְרַתִּי אֶת־הָאָדָם, vehikhrâti et-ha'adam): Another Hiphil verb, karat, which can mean "to cut, cut off, cut down." In this context, it implies an absolute termination, eradication, or severance. This term is often used in covenant curses for breaking the covenant (e.g., being "cut off" from the people of God). Here, it denotes complete expulsion or annihilation of wicked humanity.
• "from the face of the earth" (מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, me'al penei ha'adamah): This phrase emphasizes the comprehensiveness and totality of the removal. It indicates a complete eradication and banishment from existence upon the earth, reinforcing the dire nature of the judgment.
• "declares the LORD" (נְאֻם יְהוָה, ne'um YHWH): This is a prophetic formula, serving as a solemn affirmation of divine utterance. It underscores the authoritative, certain, and unchangeable nature of the prophecy. It is God Himself speaking, not a mere human opinion or observation.

Zephaniah 1 3 Bonus section

The extensive scope of judgment in Zephaniah 1:3 – man, beast, birds, and fish – carries strong polemical implications against the surrounding pagan beliefs. In the Ancient Near East, many deities were associated with control over specific aspects of nature (e.g., storm gods for rain and fertility, sea gods for the oceans). By declaring that He, the LORD, would "consume" or "sweep away" life in all these domains, Zephaniah proclaims Yahweh's unchallenged supremacy. It demonstrates that the so-called "gods" of the Canaanites or other nations, worshipped by the syncretistic people of Judah, are utterly powerless to save their domains from the judgment of the one true God. The verse establishes Yahweh as the sole sovereign creator and controller of all existence, able to unmake what He has made when provoked by profound unrighteousness. This theological assertion reinforces the uniqueness and omnipotence of the God of Israel.

Zephaniah 1 3 Commentary

Zephaniah 1:3 paints a vivid and terrifying picture of God’s sovereign and exhaustive judgment, where His indignation against human wickedness—specifically the pervasive idolatry and disobedience within Judah—results in a universal destruction. It’s a complete undoing of creation's order, a thematic echo of the flood in Genesis, signifying that pervasive human sin merits a reversal of divine blessing and established order. The Lord directly causes the downfall of "the wicked," ensuring their absolute eradication. This isn't just about general chaos, but a precise, purposeful divine act. The verse functions as a grave warning, highlighting God's justice, His control over all life, and the certain consequences of rebellion, anticipating the sweeping purification needed before any restoration could occur. Practically, it reminds believers of the seriousness of sin and the inevitability of God's judgment against it, prompting lives of repentance and godliness in the face of His holy standard.