Zephaniah 3:2 kjv
She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
Zephaniah 3:2 nkjv
She has not obeyed His voice, She has not received correction; She has not trusted in the LORD, She has not drawn near to her God.
Zephaniah 3:2 niv
She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD, she does not draw near to her God.
Zephaniah 3:2 esv
She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God.
Zephaniah 3:2 nlt
No one can tell it anything;
it refuses all correction.
It does not trust in the LORD
or draw near to its God.
Zephaniah 3 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zephaniah 3:2 | She does not heed the voice, nor receive correction; she does not trust in the Lord, nor draw near to her God. | Direct Statement |
| Jeremiah 7:28 | But you say to them, ‘This is a nation that has not obeyed the voice of the Lord its God nor received correction…' | Echoes Zephaniah's description |
| Proverbs 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Fools reject instruction |
| Proverbs 17:10 | Rebuke is more effective on a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool. | Wise accept rebuke, fools resist |
| Isaiah 30:9 | That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who refuse to hear the law of the Lord; | Rebellion against God's word |
| Hebrews 12:5 | And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; | God's chastening for discipline |
| Deuteronomy 28:63 | "Then it shall come to pass that as the Lord delighted you to do good and multiply you, so the Lord will delight to afflict and destroy you; and you shall be plucked from the land which you are entering to possess. | Obedience brings blessing, disobedience curses |
| Psalm 2:11 | Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. | Proper reverence for God |
| Isaiah 55:2 | Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. | God's call to listen and partake |
| Jeremiah 2:11 | Has a nation ever changed its gods? But they are not gods! Yet my people have exchanged their Glory for something that is worthless. | Exchanging God for idols |
| Psalm 78:32 | In spite of this they still sinned, and did not believe in His wonderful works. | Unbelief despite God's works |
| Romans 1:28 | And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting, | Rejection of God's knowledge |
| Isaiah 1:5 | Where will you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. | National sickness due to sin |
| Jeremiah 5:3 | O Lord, are not your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, but they did not grieve; You have consumed them, but they refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return. | Similar description of unresponsiveness |
| Matthew 11:15 | He who has ears to hear, let him hear! | Call to attentiveness |
| Luke 11:28 | But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” | Hearing and obeying God's word |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. | Resistance to the Spirit |
| John 10:27 | My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. | Disciples heed Jesus' voice |
| 2 Timothy 4:3 | For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have ears itching to hear, they will accumulate for themselves teachers. | Resisting truth for pleasure |
| Hebrews 4:2 | For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. | Faith is essential for profit |
| Revelation 3:19 | As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. | God's chastening is an act of love |
| 1 Corinthians 10:11 | Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonishment, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. | Lessons from past disobedience |
Zephaniah 3 verses
Zephaniah 3 2 Meaning
This verse describes God's strong disapproval of disobedience and sin, characterizing His people as those who have scorned Him and have become resistant to His correction. They are described as stubborn and unrepentant.
Zephaniah 3 2 Context
Zephaniah 3:1-2 stands as a potent indictment of Jerusalem. The preceding verse (3:1) paints a grim picture of the city’s utter corruption, its oppression of the weak, and its refusal to turn from sin. This description extends not just to its leaders but to the populace. Verse 2 delves into the reason for this pervasive wickedness: a deliberate turning away from God’s voice and a rejection of His guidance. The historical backdrop is one of imminent judgment from God, likely referring to the Babylonian exile or perhaps earlier Assyrian threats, as foreign powers loom over Judah due to its sinfulness. The prophet is speaking to a people who have experienced God's mercies, warnings, and even His discipline, yet they remain unresponsive and hardened.
Zephaniah 3 2 Word Analysis
- She: Refers to Jerusalem or, by extension, the people of Judah.
- does not heed: (Hebrew: lo shama') - Signifies not listening, not paying attention, or refusing to obey. This goes beyond simply hearing; it’s an active refusal to give weight or attention.
- the voice: Refers to God's communicated will, whether through prophets, law, or His direct communication.
- nor receive: (Hebrew: ve'lo laqaha) - Implies a refusal to accept or take in something offered.
- correction: (Hebrew: musar) - Encompasses discipline, instruction, chastening, or reproof. It’s God’s method for guiding His people back to Himself.
- she does not trust: (Hebrew: lo batach) - Indicates a lack of confidence, reliance, or security in God. It points to an absence of faith.
- in the Lord: The proper name of God, Yahweh, signifying His covenant faithfulness.
- nor draw near: (Hebrew: ve'lo tirah or telakah) - Literally means "nor walk" or "approach." It signifies a failure to maintain intimacy or fellowship with God, to walk in His ways.
- to her God: Emphasizes the relational aspect, the personal connection God has with His people.
Words-Group Analysis
- "does not heed the voice, nor receive correction": This phrase highlights a two-fold rejection: the rejection of God's message ("voice") and the rejection of His means of discipline ("correction"). They tune out what God says and reject the methods He uses to bring them back to Himself. This shows a deep-seated rebellion, not just an error in judgment.
- "she does not trust in the Lord, nor draw near to her God": This second part describes the internal disposition behind the outward disobedience. Their failure to obey stems from a lack of faith and a distancing from God. Trust is the foundation of a relationship, and without it, the connection with God ("draw near") becomes impossible.
Zephaniah 3 2 Bonus Section
The prophet Zephaniah’s condemnation of Jerusalem's unresponsiveness serves as a perennial warning. Throughout Scripture, God desires an intimate, obedient relationship with His people. He communicates His will, and when His people fail, He chastens them, not to punish out of anger, but to restore them. This verse underscores that spiritual stagnation occurs when the voice of God is ignored and His corrective measures are rejected. It speaks to a dangerous complacency where the grace of God is taken for granted, and His patience is misinterpreted as weakness. The concept of "drawing near to God" is central to biblical faith, as emphasized in James 4:8: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." This verse highlights the opposite – a deliberate move away from the divine presence.
Zephaniah 3 2 Commentary
Zephaniah starkly illustrates a pattern of spiritual failure seen throughout Israel’s history. Jerusalem, God’s chosen city, embodies a profound spiritual blindness and deafness. They ignore the warnings delivered by prophets and resist the disciplines God sends, seeing them as mere misfortunes rather than divine calls to repentance. Their fundamental problem lies in a shattered trust in God; they do not believe He will truly uphold them or provide for them if they turn back to Him. This lack of faith naturally leads to spiritual estrangement—they cease to "draw near" to their God, preferring the shallow satisfactions of their sin. This is not just an intellectual rejection but a relational one, indicating a heart that has turned away from its covenant Lord.