Zephaniah 3:3 kjv
Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
Zephaniah 3:3 nkjv
Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning.
Zephaniah 3:3 niv
Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.
Zephaniah 3:3 esv
Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning.
Zephaniah 3:3 nlt
Its leaders are like roaring lions
hunting for their victims.
Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time,
who by dawn have left no trace of their prey.
Zephaniah 3 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zephaniah 3:3 | Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves... | Prophecy against Judah's leadership |
| Jeremiah 5:31 | The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: but what will ye do in the end thereof? | Corruption in leadership |
| Ezekiel 22:27 | Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. | Parallel description of rulers |
| Micah 3:11 | The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD... | Greed and corruption in prophets |
| Isaiah 1:23 | Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. | Rulers accepting bribes |
| Psalms 10:9 | He lieth in wait as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor... | Similar predatory behavior |
| Proverbs 28:15 | As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. | Comparison of wicked rulers |
| Matthew 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. | False prophets like wolves |
| Luke 11:46 | And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. | Leaders imposing burdens |
| John 10:12 | But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth... | Contrast with a true shepherd |
| Acts 20:29 | For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. | Warning against false teachers |
| Revelation 18:13 | And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep; and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. | Trafficking in human souls |
| Nahum 3:1 | Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! | Woe to oppressive cities |
| Jeremiah 23:1-2 | Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people... | Judgment on corrupt shepherds |
| Ezekiel 34:2-10 | You shepherds of Israel feast on milk and clothe yourselves with wool, but you do not feed the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not returned the strayed or sought the lost. You have made them rule harshly, and they were scattered. And you did not tend them. | Judgment on neglectful shepherds |
| Habakkuk 2:12 | Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establish a city by iniquity! | Building cities on injustice |
| Lamentations 4:13 | For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her. | Shedding innocent blood |
| Proverbs 12:10 | A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. | Cruelty of the wicked |
| Zechariah 11:5 | Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich... | Profiting from destruction |
| Matthew 23:25 | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. | Hypocrisy of leaders |
Zephaniah 3 verses
Zephaniah 3 3 Meaning
The princes within Jerusalem are like the prowlers of a lion. They ruthlessly seize their prey, shedding blood and destroying lives, driven by greed and violence. Their leaders are like roaring lions, devouring their own people rather than preserving them.
Zephaniah 3 3 Context
Zephaniah's prophecy in chapter 3 is directed towards Jerusalem and its leadership. The prophet uses vivid imagery to condemn the corruption, injustice, and oppression that have infiltrated the city. The primary focus of this particular verse is the character and actions of the princes and judges who are supposed to be protectors of the people but instead act like predators. This internal decay, stemming from corrupt leadership, makes Jerusalem vulnerable to the judgment of God, which Zephaniah proclaims will come from external forces. The historical context is a period of significant moral and spiritual decline in Judah, preceding the Babylonian exile.
Zephaniah 3 3 Word Analysis
Princes (sarayih): Hebrew word "sar" meaning chief, ruler, leader. The plural "sarayih" refers to the rulers or nobles within Jerusalem.
within her (bāh): "Bah" signifies "in her" or "inside of her," specifically referring to Jerusalem.
roaring lions (labayis): "Labayis" is derived from "la'biy" meaning lion. The imagery of a "roaring lion" conveys aggression, power, and a predatory nature. It signifies those who assert authority through brute force and intimidation.
her judges (mišpāţēyhā): "Mishpat" means judgment or justice. The plural "mishpatēyhā" refers to those who administer justice.
evening wolves (ze'ebē 'arūbhāh): "Ze'ev" means wolf. "Arūbhāh" refers to the evening or twilight. "Evening wolves" suggests predators that operate under the cover of darkness, emerging when it is opportune and less scrutinized, implying cunning and stealth in their destructive actions.
shall devour their prey (yə'ekōlū ṭerephām): "Yə'ekōlū" is from "'ākal" meaning to eat or devour. "Terephām" means their prey or torn flesh. This phrase emphasizes the rapacious consumption and exploitation of the people by their leaders.
Word Group Analysis:
- "roaring lions" and "evening wolves": This pairing effectively communicates the multifaceted predatory nature of the rulers – overtly aggressive ("roaring lions") and surreptitiously harmful ("evening wolves").
- "devour their prey": This describes the ultimate consequence of their leadership; they don't rule or protect but consume their own people, highlighting utter self-interest and a disregard for the well-being of those they govern.
Zephaniah 3 3 Bonus Section
The "evening wolves" specifically suggests predators who are most dangerous during times of diminished visibility and vigilance, possibly alluding to secret conspiracies or late-night acts of corruption and injustice. The cumulative effect of such predatory leadership would be the disintegration of social order and the severe oppression of the vulnerable within Jerusalem, paving the way for the external judgment that Zephaniah foretells in subsequent verses. The contrast is significant; leaders should be like diligent shepherds guarding the flock, but these leaders are like ravenous predators destroying it.
Zephaniah 3 3 Commentary
Zephaniah paints a stark picture of corrupt leadership in Jerusalem. The princes and judges are likened to predatory animals – lions that roar aggressively and wolves that prowl in the evening. This means they exert their authority not through righteous judgment and protection, but through violence, intimidation, and the illicit seizing of what belongs to others. They "devour their prey," indicating a complete consumption and exploitation of the people they are meant to serve and protect. This imagery underscores the moral bankruptcy of those in power, who have turned from shepherds to wolves, leading to the scattering and suffering of the flock. Their actions are a direct betrayal of their divine mandate, inviting God's severe judgment.