Zephaniah 1:3

Zephaniah Prophesies Judgment on Judah · Zephaniah 1:1–6
Read Zephaniah 1

Translations

Modern
“I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the idols with their wicked worshipers. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.
Traditional
I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord.
Literal
“I will bring to an end man and beast; I will bring to an end the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea and the stumbling blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” a declaration of YHWH.
Latin
…congregans hominem et pecus, congregans volatilia cæli et pisces maris: et ruinæ impiorum erunt, et disperdam homines a facie terræ, dicit Dominus.

Original

Hebrew
English
“I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the idols with their wicked worshipers. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

Notes

God's judgment will remove things in the reverse order of their creation (Genesis 1:20–26). People and animals are mentioned first, then birds, and finally fish.

This order shows that judgment is a reversal of creation, moving backward through what God originally made.

Zephaniah's message from the Lord warns about worldwide judgment (Zephaniah 1:1–6). He urges his readers to repent (Zephaniah 1:7–13) before disaster strikes (1:14–18). He encourages them to seek the Lord and live righteously and humbly, hoping they may avoid his judgment (Zephaniah 2:1–3).

Theme notes and profiles

The Day of the Lord

Events

Parallels

Matthew 13:36–43

Glossary

Beast Birds Book of Zephaniah Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven

Topics

Stumbling: R. V.