Zephaniah 1:11
What does Zephaniah 1:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 1:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 1:11 means
“Maktesh” likely refers to a hollow or market district where traders did business. The call to wail signals commercial ruin. “All the people of Canaan” is a way of naming merchants; those “laden with silver” are cut off. Wealth and trade, once the city’s pride, cannot shield it from God’s verdict. The verse unmasks the fragility of economic security. When the Lord moves in judgment, balances fail and silver loses its power. It is not that commerce is evil, but that trusting in gain and exploiting others hollow out the city’s soul. Therefore, the marketplace becomes a place of lament, where former profits turn into a testimony of misplaced confidence.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Wail, ye inhabitants of Maktesh; for all the people of Canaan are undone; all they that were laden with silver are cut off.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Wail, ye inhabitants of Maktesh; for all the people of Canaan are undone; all they that were laden with silver are cut off.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because of the downfall of all the people of Canaan: all those who were weighted down with silver have been cut off.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Howl, ye inhabitants of the hollow place, For cut off hath been all the merchant people, Cut off have been all bearing silver.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Howl, ye inhabitants of the Morter. All the people of Chanaan is hush, all are cut off that were wrapped up in silver.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh; for all the people of Canaan are cut down, all they that are laden with silver are cut off.
Context
After the alarms of verse 10, verse 11 pinpoints the merchant quarter’s grief, connecting the moral failures of Judah’s leaders and people with tangible financial collapse. This prepares for verse 12, where God promises a meticulous search for complacent hearts. The flow shows that judgment is both societal and personal—institutions crumble, and individuals are found out by the searching light of the Lord.
v.10And in that day, saith Jehovah, there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and a wailing from the second quarter, and a great crashing from the hills.
v.11This passage
v.12And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps; and I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hosea 9:6
For, lo, they are gone away from destruction; yet Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them; their pleasant things of silver, nettles shall possess them; thorns shall be in their tents.
- Hosea 12:7
He isa trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
- Joel 1:5
Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and wail, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
- James 5:1
Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.
- Revelation 18:11
And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more;
- Joel 1:13
Gird yourselveswith sackcloth, and lament, ye priests; wail, ye ministers of the altar; come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meal-offering and the drink-offering are withholden from the house of your God.
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