Zephaniah 1:6 kjv
And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
Zephaniah 1:6 nkjv
Those who have turned back from following the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him."
Zephaniah 1:6 niv
those who turn back from following the LORD and neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him."
Zephaniah 1:6 esv
those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him."
Zephaniah 1:6 nlt
And I will destroy those who used to worship me
but now no longer do.
They no longer ask for the LORD's guidance
or seek my blessings."
Zephaniah 1 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 26:23-24 | "...if in spite of these things you do not turn to me..." | Consequences for unfaithfulness and ignoring God |
| Deut 28:15 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God..." | Curses for disobedience |
| 1 Chr 28:9 | "...If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him..." | Seeking and forsaking God's relationship |
| 2 Chr 12:1 | "...When Rehoboam's kingdom was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD..." | Abandonment of God's law after initial obedience |
| 2 Chr 15:2 | "...If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him..." | God with those who seek; against those who forsake |
| Ps 73:27 | "For behold, those who are far from You shall perish..." | Perishing due to distance from God |
| Ps 78:57 | "But turned back and acted trecherously like their fathers..." | Generations turning away and treachery |
| Ps 106:13, 21 | "They soon forgot His works... They forgot God, their Savior..." | Forgetting God's deeds and His saving grace |
| Isa 1:4 | "Ah, sinful nation... They have forsaken the LORD..." | Nation's forsaking of the Lord |
| Isa 9:13 | "But the people did not turn to him who struck them..." | Refusal to return to God despite discipline |
| Jer 2:13 | "for they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters..." | Forsaking God for futile alternatives |
| Jer 3:6-7 | "...faithless Israel had gone up on every high hill... yet she did not return to me..." | Failure to return despite opportunity |
| Jer 5:23 | "But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone..." | Stubborn and rebellious hearts turning aside |
| Hos 7:10 | "...nor return to the LORD their God, nor seek him, for all this." | Refusal to return or seek God |
| Amos 5:4 | "For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: Seek Me and live..." | Call to seek God for life |
| Amos 8:12 | "...they shall wander from sea to sea... to seek the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it." | Seeking God's word when too late |
| Zeph 1:3-4 | "I will cut off mankind... remnant of Baal... name of the idolatrous priests..." | Contextual warning of judgment on idolaters |
| Matt 7:22-23 | "...Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." | Rejection of those who merely claim Christ |
| Luke 13:25 | "...Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence,'... And he will say, 'I do not know where you come from; depart from me...'" | Being unknown to the Lord |
| Heb 3:12 | "See to it, brothers, that there be not in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God." | Warning against apostasy from the living God |
| Heb 10:26-27 | "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth..." | Willful sin leading to no sacrifice |
| 2 Pet 2:20-22 | "...For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world... they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse..." | Falling away after initial freedom from defilement |
Zephaniah 1 verses
Zephaniah 1 6 Meaning
Zephaniah 1:6 identifies two primary categories of people who will face God's severe judgment on the Day of the Lord: those who have actively turned away from the LORD after having followed Him (apostates), and those who, through spiritual apathy and neglect, have failed to earnestly seek Him or inquire for His guidance. The verse highlights a deep spiritual unfaithfulness that spans both direct rebellion and passive disinterest towards the covenant God.
Zephaniah 1 6 Context
Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of King Josiah (circa 640-609 BC) in Judah. This was a period immediately preceding Josiah's major religious reforms, indicating that Judah and Jerusalem were steeped in profound idolatry and syncretism inherited from Manasseh's lengthy and wicked reign. Chapter 1 serves as an emphatic announcement of the "Day of the Lord"—a cataclysmic day of judgment directed primarily against Judah for its pervasive sins. The opening verses detail God's comprehensive devastation of the land and all life within it, focusing heavily on the eradication of idolatry. Verse 6 specifically identifies those targeted by this judgment, extending beyond just active idolaters (mentioned in vv. 4-5) to encompass individuals who once walked with God but turned away, as well as those who simply failed to pursue Him. It highlights that judgment is not solely for outright rebellion but also for spiritual indifference and neglect.
Zephaniah 1 6 Word analysis
Word-by-word analysis:
- וְהַנְּסוֹגִים (ve-hannəsôḡîm): "And those who turn back" or "those who backslide/apostates." Derived from the Hebrew root sug (סוּג), meaning to draw back, turn away, apostatize. This term implies a deliberate act of retreating from a former commitment or relationship. It signifies individuals who were at some point following God but consciously chose to deviate and move away from that path, breaching their covenant loyalty. The definitive article 'the' (ha-) points to a distinct class of people.
- מֵאַחֲרֵי (mê’aḥarê): "from after." This prepositional phrase indicates separation or departure from following someone. Combined with the verb, it reinforces the idea of ceasing to walk behind or adhere to.
- יְהוָה (Yahweh): The covenant name of God, emphasizing the personal, relational breach. It highlights that the apostasy is a betrayal of the unique, saving God of Israel, not just any deity.
- וַאֲשֶׁר (wa’ăšer): "And who," connecting the second group of people to the first.
- לֹא־בִקְשׁוּ (lō’-viqšū): "have not sought." From the verb baqash (בָקַשׁ), meaning to seek, search for, desire, consult. In spiritual contexts, it signifies an earnest, active pursuit of God's presence, will, and favor, born from a longing heart. The negative particle lo indicates an utter absence of this pursuit, denoting spiritual indifference and a lack of active engagement with God. It implies no inner spiritual hunger or effort to find God.
- אֶת־יְהוָה (et-Yahweh): The direct object marker for "the LORD."
- וְלֹא (wəlō’): "nor," further reinforcing the negation.
- דְרָשֻׁהוּ (dərašūhū): "nor inquired for Him." From the verb darash (דָרַשׁ), meaning to inquire, seek, consult, frequent, or investigate. While similar to baqash, darash often carries a connotation of seeking God's will through prayer, prophecy, or His law, for guidance or understanding His ways. It points to a failure of practical reliance on God in daily life and decision-making, showing no concern to know His will or follow His instruction. The suffix -hu is a direct object pronoun "Him."
Words-group analysis:
- "those who turn back from following the LORD": This phrase describes explicit apostasy or backsliding. These are individuals who once professed to follow God and perhaps walked in His ways for a time but have now deliberately deserted their allegiance. This isn't merely passive neglect but an active turning away, a renunciation of the covenant relationship. It encompasses a breach of faithfulness akin to covenant unfaithfulness in marriage.
- "those who have not sought the LORD, nor inquired for Him": This second group represents profound spiritual apathy and negligence, an active failure to pursue God.
- "not sought the LORD": Refers to a lack of genuine internal desire or hunger for God, a failure to make Him the object of their life's earnest pursuit. It speaks to the absence of a personal, heartfelt relationship where God is diligently sought.
- "nor inquired for Him": Refers to a failure to consult God for guidance, wisdom, or understanding in practical life and spiritual matters. It indicates a lack of reliance on His word, prophets, or priests. This group lives their lives independent of God, showing no interest in His direction.This two-fold description encompasses both the absence of internal longing for God's presence (baqash) and the absence of external consultation of His will (darash). Such individuals live as though God does not exist or is irrelevant, even if they do not explicitly engage in idolatry, making them equally liable for judgment for their comprehensive neglect.
Zephaniah 1 6 Bonus section
The severity of judgment on those who "have not sought the LORD" reveals a critical aspect of God's character and His expectations of His people. It indicates that neutrality or spiritual apathy is not an option in His covenant relationship. The absence of active pursuit and inquiry for God is considered a direct offense, equivalent in consequence to open apostasy. This highlights God's desire for a living, dynamic relationship characterized by intentional seeking and dependence on Him. It counters the popular misconception that merely "not doing bad things" suffices, underscoring that a lack of actively pursuing God is itself a profound failure and a form of rejection. It further implies that salvation or escape from judgment is intrinsically linked to an ongoing, personal seeking and communion with God.
Zephaniah 1 6 Commentary
Zephaniah 1:6 delineates two forms of spiritual unfaithfulness that God's severe judgment will address. The first group comprises the "backsliders" or "apostates"—those who consciously and deliberately withdraw from their prior commitment to following the LORD. This signifies a betrayal of covenant love, a direct turning away from the path they once trod with God. It implies a deeper level of culpability as they once knew and walked with God but chose to depart.
The second group condemned is marked by passive spiritual neglect: those who "have not sought the LORD, nor inquired for Him." This reveals that merely avoiding overt idolatry is insufficient to escape God's wrath. Judgment also falls upon those whose hearts are devoid of a yearning for God and whose lives exhibit no practical reliance on His wisdom or guidance. Their sin is not necessarily active rebellion but profound indifference, spiritual sloth, and a comprehensive absence of relationship with God. They may pay lip service or simply live lives ignoring God's sovereignty. The emphasis is on the complete lack of initiative to cultivate or maintain a living relationship with Yahweh.
Both categories are severe in God's eyes, demonstrating that He requires active pursuit and faithfulness, not just the avoidance of certain sins. This verse served as a stark warning to a Judah immersed in syncretism and apathy during Josiah's reign, underscoring that the absence of seeking God is as damning as actively forsaking Him. The coming Day of the Lord is against all forms of spiritual infidelity, demanding genuine allegiance and a heartfelt relationship.