Zephaniah 1:16
What does Zephaniah 1:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 1:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 1:16 means
The day of Jehovah comes with “the trumpet and alarm,” signaling military attack. Fortified cities and high battlements, symbols of human security, will be targeted and fall. Trumpets that once rallied defenders now announce unavoidable defeat. The verse exposes the futility of trusting in defenses, strategies, and high places when the Lord Himself is the adversary. Human ingenuity cannot outlast divine judgment. By highlighting the siege, the prophecy shows how the spiritual crisis manifests in concrete, historical calamity: the walls crumble because the covenant has been breached. What seemed impregnable proves fragile when God removes His protective hand.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high battlements.
KJV
King James Version · 1611A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high battlements.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949A day of sounding the horn and the war-cry against the walled towns and the high towers.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862A day of trumpet and shouting against the fenced cities, And against the high corners.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high bulwarks.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fenced cities and against the high battlements.
Context
After describing the day’s dark character (verse 15), verse 16 makes the threat concrete with images of warfare and collapsing defenses. The next verse (17) explains the moral reason for such distress—they have sinned against Jehovah—and portrays the gruesome outcomes. The flow maintains a balance between description (what will happen) and explanation (why it happens).
v.15That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
v.16This passage
v.17And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hosea 8:1
Setthe trumpet to thy mouth. As an eagle he cometh against the house of Jehovah, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.
- Jeremiah 4:19
My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart; my heart is disquieted in me; I cannot hold my peace; because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
- Amos 3:6
Shall the trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? shall evil befall a city, and Jehovah hath not done it?
- Hosea 5:8
Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: sound an alarm at Beth-aven; behind thee, O Benjamin.
- Jeremiah 8:16
The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan: at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones the whole land trembleth; for they are come, and have devoured the land and all that is in it; the city and those that dwell therein.
- Isaiah 2:12
For there shall be a day of Jehovah of hosts upon all that is proud and haughty, and upon all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low;
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