Zephaniah 3:4 kjv
Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
Zephaniah 3:4 nkjv
Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law.
Zephaniah 3:4 niv
Her prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.
Zephaniah 3:4 esv
Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law.
Zephaniah 3:4 nlt
Its prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain.
Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God's instructions.
Zephaniah 3 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zephaniah 3:4 | Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves | Zephaniah 3:4 (original) |
| Isaiah 1:23 | Your princes are rebels, companions of thieves | Isaiah 1:23 (echoes theme) |
| Jeremiah 5:27 | They have grown rich from the spoil of the weak | Jeremiah 5:27 (corruption) |
| Ezekiel 22:27 | Her princes in her are like wolves tearing the prey | Ezekiel 22:27 (simile) |
| Micah 3:2-3 | Who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from them | Micah 3:2-3 (cruelty) |
| Psalm 11:5 | the Lord tests the righteous and the wicked; he hates the violent | Psalm 11:5 (divine hatred) |
| Proverbs 11:1 | A false balance is an abomination to the Lord | Proverbs 11:1 (injustice) |
| Matthew 21:13 | My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers | Matthew 21:13 (Jesus' rebuke) |
| Luke 3:12-14 | Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said, “Teacher, what shall we do?” | Luke 3:12-14 (righteous conduct) |
| Acts 5:1-11 | Ananias and Sapphira's deception and its consequences | Acts 5:1-11 (dishonesty) |
| 1 Corinthians 6:10 | nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God | 1 Corinthians 6:10 (unchristian behavior) |
| Titus 1:7 | For a bishop must be blameless, as God's steward, not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain | Titus 1:7 (qualification) |
| James 5:1-6 | a warning against wealth unjustly accumulated | James 5:1-6 (condemnation) |
| Isaiah 56:10-11 | the shepherds are blind and have no understanding | Isaiah 56:10-11 (lack of discernment) |
| Jeremiah 23:1-2 | Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! | Jeremiah 23:1-2 (shepherd failure) |
| Amos 5:11-13 | because you trample on the poor and take from him taxes of grain | Amos 5:11-13 (oppression) |
| Luke 11:46 | Woe to you lawyers, for you load people with burdens hard to bear | Luke 11:46 (burdensome leaders) |
| Psalm 58:1-5 | God judges in the earth, and condemns injustice | Psalm 58:1-5 (divine justice) |
| Proverbs 28:21 | Whoever flatters is not good | Proverbs 28:21 (falsehood) |
| Lamentations 4:1 | How the gold has lost its luster! The fine gold has become dull! | Lamentations 4:1 (loss of purity) |
| Nahum 3:1 | Woe to the bloody city! All full of lies and plunder | Nahum 3:1 (judgment) |
| 1 Timothy 6:10 | For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils | 1 Timothy 6:10 (love of money) |
Zephaniah 3 verses
Zephaniah 3 4 Meaning
The prophet Zephaniah describes the rulers of Jerusalem as impure, stained by their iniquities and their greed. They have engaged in corrupt practices, exploiting others and clinging to their ill-gotten gains.
Zephaniah 3 4 Context
Zephaniah 3:4 occurs within a chapter that begins with a severe indictment against Jerusalem and its leaders for their unfaithfulness and impurity. The prophet highlights their pride, corruption, and oppression of the poor. Following this, he proclaims a message of hope and restoration, a turning point where God will cleanse His people and bring about a new era of peace and justice. This specific verse acts as a bridge, explaining why judgment is coming by detailing the profound sinfulness of those in authority. It sets the stage for the subsequent promise of a purified remnant and universal worship.
Zephaniah 3 4 Word Analysis
- Her (𝙕𝙕
ē) - Possessive pronoun, referring to Jerusalem. - princes (𝙕𝙕
śārîm) - Hebrew for rulers, leaders, officials. Often denotes nobility or those in positions of power and influence within a city or nation. - within her (𝙕𝙕
ba’gāh) - Within Jerusalem. Emphasizes the internal corruption present among the leadership of the city. - are (𝙕𝙕
hêm) - Plural form of "to be." - roaring lions (𝙕𝙕
layishmeṣuʿarîm) -layish(Hebrew): typically means a lion or a strong, fierce beast. Implies predatory behavior and a capacity for violence and destruction.meṣuʿarîm(Hebrew): from the rootṣā‘ar, meaning to growl, roar.This imagery portrays the princes as rapacious, aggressive, and self-serving, acting like predators who seize what they want through sheer power and intimidation.
- her (𝙕𝙕
ê) - Possessive pronoun, referring to Jerusalem. - judges (𝙕𝙕
šōp̄ṭîm) - Hebrew for those who administer justice. In this context, it points to those in judicial authority, meant to be impartial. - are (𝙕𝙕
hêm) - Plural form of "to be." - evening wolves (𝙕𝙕
zə’ēḇ) -zə’ēḇ(Hebrew): specifically refers to a wolf, known for its predatory nature, cunning, and hunger.The addition of "evening" or "evening wolf" adds a nuance of lurking in the dark, preying on the vulnerable when they are least able to defend themselves. It suggests a covert, insidious form of predation, acting when righteousness is asleep and opportunities for deceit are abundant.
Words Group Analysis
- Her princes within her are roaring lions: This phrase depicts the leadership of Jerusalem not as protectors but as predatory beasts, symbolizing their unchecked power, violent actions, and the fear they instilled through their oppression. They consume the people’s resources and security.
- her judges are evening wolves: This illustrates the judicial system as corrupted. Instead of dispensing justice, the judges act like wolves in the evening, preying opportunistically and unjustly upon the defenseless, taking what they desire under the cover of darkness or authority.
Zephaniah 3 4 Bonus Section
The imagery of lions and wolves as rulers is a recurring motif in prophetic literature to critique leadership that oppresses the people rather than caring for them, as good shepherds would. The contrast is with the divine shepherd who ultimately cares for His flock. This corruption not only led to national decline but also a spiritual disconnect from God, who is inherently just and righteous. The verse highlights the gravity of institutional sin, where the corruption at the top infects the whole societal structure. The mention of "evening" wolves suggests that their predatory acts were often clandestine and carried out with a degree of cunning, rather than open thuggery.
Zephaniah 3 4 Commentary
Zephaniah 3:4 uses powerful animal imagery to condemn the leaders of Jerusalem. The princes are like roaring lions, embodying raw power and destructive intent. The judges are compared to evening wolves, symbolizing their predatory and deceitful nature, exploiting their authority in the shadows to enrich themselves at the expense of the vulnerable. This corruption within the leadership directly leads to the nation's sinfulness and the impending divine judgment described in the preceding verses and the overall message of Zephaniah. The verse underscores a fundamental failure of leadership—the subversion of justice for selfish gain and oppression. This serves as a stark reminder of the accountability that leaders have before God and their people.