Zephaniah 1:6
What does Zephaniah 1:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 1:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 1:6 means
This verse confronts apostasy and apathy. Some have “turned back from following Jehovah”—they once knew the path but chose another. Others have not sought or inquired of Him at all—practical neglect that treats God as irrelevant. Both postures break covenant faithfulness. Failing to seek the Lord in prayer, guidance, and obedience is not neutral; it is refusal. The verse shows that sin is not only in spectacular idolatries but also in quiet indifference. God sees both the rebellious and the complacent. He will not overlook a people who abandon His ways or refuse His counsel, because such neglect erodes truth, justice, and the worship He deserves.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and them that are turned back from following Jehovah; and those that have not sought Jehovah, nor inquired after him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And them that are turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord, nor enquired for him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and them that are turned back from following Jehovah; and those that have not sought Jehovah, nor inquired after him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And those who are turned back from going after the Lord, and those who have not made prayer to the Lord or got directions from him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And those removing from after Jehovah, And who have not sought Jehovah, nor besought Him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And them that turn away from following after the Lord, and that have not sought the Lord, nor searched after him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and them that turn back from after Jehovah, and that do not seek Jehovah, nor inquire for him.
Context
Verses 4–6 catalog Judah’s spiritual failures, from overt idolatry to hidden unbelief. With the evidence laid out, verse 7 issues a solemn summons to silence before the Lord, announcing that the day of Jehovah is at hand and pictured as a sacrificial feast. That transition marks the shift from indictment to the execution of judgment, identifying who will be judged and how swiftly it will come.
v.5and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship, that swear to Jehovah and swear by Malcam;
v.6This passage
v.7Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord Jehovah; for the day of Jehovah is at hand: for Jehovah hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath consecrated his guests.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 3:10
And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not returned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith Jehovah.
- Psalms 10:4
The wicked, in the pride of his countenance, saith, He will not requireit. All his thoughts are, There is no God.
- 2 Peter 2:18
For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
- Jeremiah 2:13
For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
- Hebrews 10:38
But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.
- Psalms 125:5
But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, Jehovah will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel.
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