Zephaniah 2:11
What does Zephaniah 2:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 2:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 2:11 means
“Jehovah will be terrible unto them” means He will reveal His awe-inspiring power by starving the false gods—cutting off the offerings and devotion that sustained their cults. As idols are famished, people everywhere will turn to worship the true God “from his place,” even in the distant “isles of the nations.” This envisions the collapse of idolatry and the rise of worldwide worship without confinement to one shrine. God’s judgment clears the ground for true devotion. The verse hints at the global scope of God’s kingdom, later realized as the knowledge of the Lord spreads among the nations and people honor Him across the earth.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jehovah will be terrible unto them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the nations.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jehovah will be terrible unto them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the nations.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The Lord will let himself be seen by them: for he will make all the gods of the earth feeble; and men will go down before him in worship, everyone from his place, even all the sea-lands of the nations.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Fearful <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah against them, For He made bare all gods of the land, And bow themselves to Him, each from his place, Do all islanders of the nations.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The Lord shall be terrible upon them, and shall consume all the gods of the earth: and they shall adore him every man from his own place, all the islands of the Gentiles.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jehovah will be terrible unto them; for he will famish all thegods of the earth; and all the isles of the nations shall worship him, every one from his place.
Context
This statement sums up the purpose behind judgments on Moab, Ammon, and beyond: God will vindicate His glory over pretended deities. The scope now widens from local enemies to the ends of the earth. Next, verse 12 briefly addresses Ethiopia, and verses 13–15 focus on Assyria and Nineveh. The sequence shows God’s rule over every direction and nation, bringing both downfall and, ultimately, the recognition of His name.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Zechariah 2:11
And many nations shall join themselves to Jehovah in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
- John 4:21
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.
- Deuteronomy 32:38
Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, Anddrank the wine of their drink-offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your protection.
- Psalms 86:9
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify thy name.
- Micah 4:1
But in the latter days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow unto it.
- Isaiah 49:1
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye peoples, from far: Jehovah hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name:
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