Zephaniah 3:1 kjv
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
Zephaniah 3:1 nkjv
Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, To the oppressing city!
Zephaniah 3:1 niv
Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
Zephaniah 3:1 esv
Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!
Zephaniah 3:1 nlt
What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem,
the city of violence and crime!
Zephaniah 3 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zephaniah 3:1 | Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! | Dire pronouncement of judgment |
| Isaiah 1:4 | Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers! | Similar description of Israel's sin |
| Jeremiah 7:28 | "But you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God or attended to any thing He has sent you; therefore the LORD has brought this disaster upon you." | God's lament over Israel's disobedience |
| Ezekiel 22:3-5 | "...bloody city... where blood is shed... and you have made yourselves guilty through the shedding of blood..." | Judgment on Jerusalem for bloodshed |
| Micah 3:2-3 | "You who hate the good and love the evil, who flay them from their skin and their flesh from their bones..." | Denunciation of corrupt leaders |
| Psalm 36:4 | He licts iniquity and does not hate it. | God's view of injustice |
| Romans 3:23 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. | Universal sinfulness |
| Revelation 18:5 | For her sins are piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. | Judgment on spiritual Babylon |
| Isaiah 5:20 | Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness... | Condemnation of moral inversion |
| Jeremiah 5:1 | Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! and seek in her open places, if you can find one who does justice, who seeks truth, then I will pardon her. | Desperate search for righteousness |
| Hosea 4:1 | There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land. | Spiritual drought in Israel |
| Isaiah 3:8 | For Jerusalem stumbles and Judah falls, because their tongues and their doings are against the LORD, provoking his glorious presence. | Jerusalem's deliberate rebellion |
| Deuteronomy 28:15 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you..." | Consequences of disobedience |
| Psalm 11:5 | The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. | God's hatred of wickedness |
| Proverbs 11:11 | By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. | Impact of behavior on a city |
| Ezekiel 18:30 | Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. | Call to repentance |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you." | Accusation of continued rebellion |
| Galatians 5:17 | For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other... | The conflict between flesh and Spirit |
| James 4:4 | You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? | Worldliness as enmity with God |
| Lamentations 1:1 | How lonely sits the city that was full of people! She has become like a widow, the great one among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a tributary. | Jerusalem's fallen state |
Zephaniah 3 verses
Zephaniah 3 1 Meaning
Zephaniah 3:1 describes a state of deep rebellion and defiance against God, specifically characterizing Jerusalem and its inhabitants as a city that was polluted, oppressed, and refused to learn. The verse paints a stark picture of moral decay and spiritual disobedience, setting the stage for the judgment that God would bring upon them.
Zephaniah 3 1 Context
Zephaniah prophesied during a time of significant spiritual and political turmoil in Judah, specifically in the late 7th century BCE, during the reign of King Josiah. While Josiah initiated reforms, the deep-seated corruption and defiance described in this verse indicate that the spiritual decay was widespread and persistent. The "city" being addressed is Jerusalem, the religious and political center of the nation. The pronouncement of "woe" is a standard prophetic declaration of impending judgment, a strong warning of the consequences of their continued disobedience. This verse sets the stage for a broader message of judgment against Judah and surrounding nations, culminating in a vision of future restoration.
Zephaniah 3 1 Word Analysis
- Woe (הוֹי - hoy): An interjection expressing grief, anguish, or condemnation. It’s a strong prophetic warning of impending doom or disaster. This is a typical prophetic cry announcing judgment.
- to her (אֵלֶיהָ - 'eleiha): Pronoun referring back to the previously mentioned city.
- that is rebellious (סָרָה - sarah): This Hebrew word comes from the root meaning "to turn aside," "to turn away," or "to rebel." It signifies active disobedience and a deliberate departure from God's path. It speaks of obstinacy.
- and polluted (וּמְגֹאָלָה - u·me·go-'a·lah): The root here (גאל - ga'al) means to be soiled, defiled, or contaminated. It implies a moral and spiritual impurity that has permeated the city, making it unclean in God's sight. It suggests something spoiled and ruined.
- to the oppressing (וּבֹצַעַת - u·vo·tze-'ath): From the root "to cut off" or "to cut prey." It denotes an oppressive, exploitative, and rapacious nature. The city is characterized by its exploitation and unjust dealings. It signifies usury and unjust gain.
- city (עִיר - 'ir): Referring specifically to Jerusalem, the capital and heart of Israel's religious and political life.
Group Analysis:
- The phrase "rebellious and polluted" (סָרָה וּמְגֹאָלָה - sarah u·me·go-'a·lah) highlights a dual nature of their sin: active defiance against God's commands and the resulting internal impurity and corruption. They are not just passively falling away but actively turning aside.
- "the oppressing city" (עִיר הַבֹּצַעַת - 'ir ha·vo·tze-'ath) points to the systemic injustice and exploitation within Jerusalem, reflecting a society that disregarded the welfare of the poor and vulnerable. This oppression is a direct affront to God's covenant, which emphasized justice and righteousness.
Zephaniah 3 1 Bonus Section
The term "oppressing city" (עִיר הַבֹּצַעַת - 'ir ha·vo·tze-'ath) implies not just individual acts of injustice but a pervasive culture of greed and exploitation that characterized the city's social fabric. This echoes themes found throughout the Old Testament prophets, who consistently condemned the wealthy and powerful for their mistreatment of the poor and the subsequent societal breakdown. The spiritual state of Jerusalem, being "rebellious and polluted," led directly to its unjust societal practices. This connection between inner spiritual corruption and outward societal sin is a crucial theological point.
Zephaniah 3 1 Commentary
Zephaniah 3:1 pronounces a strong judgment upon Jerusalem because of its pervasive corruption. The city is described as rebellious, having turned away from God, and polluted, signifying a deep moral and spiritual decay. Furthermore, it is identified as an "oppressing city," indicating systemic injustice, exploitation, and a lack of concern for the vulnerable. This verse functions as a severe indictment, foreshadowing the severe judgment that God will bring upon the city and its people due to their persistent defiance and corruption. The use of "woe" signals an imminent divine reckoning.