Zephaniah 1:7
What does Zephaniah 1:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 1:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 1:7 means
“Hold thy peace” calls for reverent silence before the sovereign Judge. The day of Jehovah is near, not distant. God has “prepared a sacrifice” and “consecrated his guests.” The imagery reverses expectations: Judah is not the offerer but the offering; the invited guests are likely the agents of judgment whom God has set apart to carry out His sentence. This portrays the certainty and orderliness of divine justice—nothing is haphazard. The verse also points beyond its immediate horizon: Scripture later applies the “day of Jehovah” to the climactic appearing of Christ, when judgment and salvation are fully revealed. Here, the nearness urges sober readiness and humble submission.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Hold 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Hold 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Let there be no sound before the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is near: for the Lord has made ready an offering, he has made his guests holy.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Hush! because of the Lord Jehovah, For near <FI>is<Fi> a day of Jehovah, For prepared hath Jehovah a sacrifice, He hath sanctified His invited ones.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Be silent before the face of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is near, for the Lord hath prepared a victim, he hath sanctified his guests.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Be silent at the presence of the Lord Jehovah; for the day of Jehovah is at hand; for Jehovah hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath hallowed his guests.
Context
After the charges in verses 4–6, verse 7 announces that the time for reckoning has arrived. The sacrificial imagery sets up the specific targets listed in verses 8–9—princes, royal sons, and those given over to superstition, violence, and deceit. The flow shows that judgment begins at the center of power and influence, then radiates outward through the city and its commerce in verses 10–11.
v.6and them that are turned back from following Jehovah; and those that have not sought Jehovah, nor inquired after him.
v.7This passage
v.8And it shall come to pass in the day of Jehovah’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s sons, and all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Samuel 20:26
Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
- Malachi 4:1
For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Jehovah of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
- Romans 3:19
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:
- 1 Samuel 2:9
He will keep the feet of his holy ones; But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.
- 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;
- 1 Samuel 16:5
And he said, Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice unto Jehovah: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
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