Zephaniah 2 10

Zephaniah 2:10 kjv

This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.

Zephaniah 2:10 nkjv

This they shall have for their pride, Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats Against the people of the LORD of hosts.

Zephaniah 2:10 niv

This is what they will get in return for their pride, for insulting and mocking the people of the LORD Almighty.

Zephaniah 2:10 esv

This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the LORD of hosts.

Zephaniah 2:10 nlt

They will receive the wages of their pride,
for they have scoffed at the people of the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

Zephaniah 2 verses

Zephaniah 2 10 Meaning

Zephaniah 2:10 declares the assured punishment for Moab and Ammon: their land will be devastated, a consequence directly attributed to their haughty pride and their consistent mockery and contemptuous reviling of the people of the LORD of hosts, who are God's chosen people, Israel. Their verbal abuse against God's elect is understood as an insult to God Himself, ensuring their divine retribution.

Zephaniah 2 10 Context

Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of King Josiah (c. 640-609 BC), a period preceding the final collapse of Judah and Jerusalem under Babylonian attack. Chapters 1 and the first verses of chapter 2 speak of the impending Day of the LORD, a time of universal judgment that would primarily strike Judah for its idolatry and disobedience. Zephaniah 2:4-15 then broadens the scope to condemn surrounding nations. Verses 8-9 specifically target Moab and Ammon, two Transjordanian nations that were perennial enemies of Israel, predicting their desolation akin to Sodom and Gomorrah. Verse 10 directly states why this judgment falls upon them: their deeply entrenched pride and, crucially, their venomous taunting and scorn of Israel, explicitly identified as "the people of the LORD of hosts." Historically, Moab and Ammon consistently opposed and often encroached upon Israelite territory, seizing land, especially from Gad and Reuben, and delighted in Israel's distress (e.g., in the Babylonian exile), viewing it as an opportunity. Their contempt was not just political animosity but a theological scorn against Israel's God.

Zephaniah 2 10 Word analysis

• "This" (Zeh, זֶה): A demonstrative pronoun, referring directly back to the judgment prophesied in the preceding verses (Zeph 2:8-9), specifically the desolation of Moab and Ammon "like Sodom and Gomorrah." It signifies an inevitable, concrete outcome.
• "they shall have" (yehi lah-hem, יְהִי־לָהֶ֖ם): Lit. "it shall be to them." This phrase denotes a sure inheritance or a guaranteed destiny. The consequence is assured and intrinsically linked to their actions. It's a statement of divine decree and outcome.
• "for their pride" (mid-go'onam, מִגְּאוֹנָ֑ם):
  • Go'on (גָּאוֹן): From the root meaning "to rise up," "exalt." While it can denote majesty or excellence (especially of God, e.g., "the pride of Jacob" in Ps 47:4 referring to their glory in God), when applied to humans in a negative sense, it signifies arrogance, haughtiness, excessive self-exaltation, disdain for others, and presumptuous independence from God. Moab's pride was well-known (Isa 16:6; Jer 48:29). This "pride" is the foundational sin, the inner disposition leading to outward acts.
  • The prefix 'מִן' (min), "from" or "because of," directly links the judgment to their pride as its cause.
• "because" (ki, כִּ): A causal conjunction, providing the direct reason for the judgment stated, emphasizing the direct correlation between their actions and God's response.
• "they have taunted" (ḥērēphū, חֵרְפ֥וּ):
  • Ḥērēph (חרף): To reproach, revile, scorn, blaspheme, or heap abuse upon someone. It refers to open verbal abuse and shaming. It implies stripping someone of their honor or reputation, especially publically. This isn't just disagreement but contemptuous insult.
• "and derided" (way-ga'alū, וַיְגַדְּל֖וּ, some translations "magnified themselves," but "derided/despised" is also possible interpretation from other similar verbs - most Hebrew manuscripts have 'ga'alu' meaning 'they disdained' or 'derided' related to the root געל; but 'waygaddelū' could also imply 'magnified/made great against'). Given context, 'derided' or 'disdained' fits better.
  • Ga'al (געל): To loathe, despise, abhor, reject with contempt, regard as vile. This term adds intensity to "taunted." While "taunt" implies mocking reproach, "deride" suggests profound revulsion and absolute scorn, a rejection of the other's worth or dignity. It is more internal and pervasive than mere verbal abuse, reflecting a deep-seated contempt.
• "the people" (`am, עַ֖ם): Refers specifically to Israel, God's chosen nation, a people bound to Him by covenant.
• "of the LORD of hosts" (YHWH Ts'va'ot, יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת):
  • YHWH (יהוה): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal, relational, and self-existent nature.
  • Ts'va'ot (צבאות): Means "armies," "hosts," or "multitudes." It signifies God's absolute sovereignty over all angelic armies, celestial bodies, and earthly forces. It emphasizes His power and readiness to act in judgment and protection. Their taunting of Israel was, therefore, an affront to the Almighty Commander of all forces.

Zephaniah 2 10 Bonus section

• Moab and Ammon originated from Lot's incestuous relationship with his daughters (Gen 19:30-38), marking them with a unique historical antagonism toward Israel from their inception. This contributed to their consistent enmity, marked by territorial disputes and military clashes throughout Israel's history (e.g., Num 22; Jdg 3:12-30; 1 Sam 11; 2 Chr 20).
• The "taunting and deriding" would have been particularly grievous in moments of Israel's vulnerability, such as during the Assyrian or Babylonian threats and exiles. It meant delighting in their covenant partners' (Israel's) weakness, scorning their dependence on YHWH, and probably even challenging YHWH's power and claims of protection. This went beyond political rivalry into blasphemy against God by despising His unique relationship with Israel.
• The use of "LORD of hosts" (YHWH Ts'va'ot) specifically reinforces the message that these nations were not just taunting a weak, defeated people, but actively disrespecting the all-powerful, heavenly Commander, whose wrath is incomparable. This title also highlights the stark contrast between YHWH's supreme power and the impotence of the idols of Moab and Ammon (Chemosh and Molech).

Zephaniah 2 10 Commentary

Zephaniah 2:10 is a pivotal statement on divine justice, highlighting the ultimate sin behind the downfall of Moab and Ammon. Their renowned national pride, often boasted in their idols (like Chemosh and Molech), led to a profound contempt for "the people of the LORD of hosts." This wasn't merely geopolitical rivalry but a direct verbal assault and loathing directed against those identified with the one true God, YHWH Ts'va'ot. Mocking God's people was an implicit and explicit mockery of God Himself.

The verse clarifies that the coming devastation is a righteous retribution. God, as the sovereign "LORD of hosts," whose very name signifies His dominion over all creation and armies, cannot and will not tolerate such contempt shown towards His chosen. He takes personally the affront against those He has elected and called His own. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that pride, especially when it manifests as active malice against God's representatives on earth, inevitably leads to destruction.