Zephaniah 1:12
What does Zephaniah 1:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 1:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 1:12 means
God Himself will “search Jerusalem with lamps,” leaving no dark corner unexamined. He targets those “settled on their lees,” like wine left too long undisturbed—thick, inert, complacent. Their creed is practical atheism: “Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil.” They believe God neither blesses nor judges. This is the root of much corruption, for if God is inactive, anything is permissible. The Lord declares the opposite: He sees, He weighs, He acts. The careful search assures that the guilty will not hide behind respectability, and the indifferent will not be excused. God’s justice is precise; His lamp reaches where human courts and public opinion cannot.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And it will come about at that time, that I will go searching through Jerusalem with lights; and I will send punishment on the men who have become like wine stored over-long, who say to themselves, The Lord will not do good and will not do evil.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And it hath come to pass, at that time, I search Jerusalem with lights, And I have laid a charge on the men Who are hardened on their preserved things, Who are saying in their heart: Jehovah doth no good, nor doth He evil.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and will visit upon the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their hearts: The Lord will not do good, nor will he do evil.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And it shall come to pass at that time, [that] I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil.
Context
Following the collapse of commerce (verse 11), verse 12 shifts to God’s personal, penetrating scrutiny. This inner diagnosis explains why outward life disintegrates: complacency and unbelief rot the core. The next verse (13) states the consequences—loss of wealth and the futility of building and planting—linking inner posture with external outcomes. The movement from public disaster to private examination emphasizes the total reach of God’s judgment.
v.11Wail, ye inhabitants of Maktesh; for all the people of Canaan are undone; all they that were laden with silver are cut off.
v.12This passage
v.13And their wealth shall become a spoil, and their houses a desolation: yea, they shall build houses, but shall not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine thereof.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 21:15
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
- 2 Peter 3:4
and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
- Jeremiah 16:16
Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith Jehovah, and they shall fish them up; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.
- Ezekiel 8:12
Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? for they say, Jehovah seeth us not; Jehovah hath forsaken the land.
- Amos 6:1
Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and to them that are secure in the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!
- Obadiah 1:6
How are the things of Esau searched! how are his hidden treasures sought out!
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