Zephaniah 2:15
What does Zephaniah 2:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 2:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 2:15 means
Nineveh, “the joyous city that dwelt carelessly,” boasted, “I am, and there is none besides me,” a claim of self-sufficiency that echoes divine prerogative. God answers such arrogance by making the city a haunt for beasts, so that travelers hiss and wag the hand in astonishment and scorn. The fall of the world’s proud center shows that security without God is illusion. What seemed singular and invincible becomes a cautionary ruin. This closing verse crystallizes the chapter’s message: the Lord humbles the nations and preserves a remnant for Himself; pride brings desolation, but those who seek Him may be hidden in His day.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000This is the joyous city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
KJV
King James Version · 1611This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901This is the joyous city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949This is the town which was full of joy, living without fear of danger, saying in her heart, I am, and there is no other: how has she been made waste, a place for beasts to take their rest in! everyone who goes by her will make hisses, waving his hand.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862This <FI>is<Fi> the exulting city that is dwelling confidently, That is saying in her heart, `I <FI>am<Fi> , and beside me there is none,' How hath she been for a desolation, A crouching-place for beasts, Every one passing by her doth hiss, He doth shake his hand!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752This is the glorious city that dwelt in security: that said in her heart: I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desert, a place for beasts to lie down in? every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890This is the rejoicing city that dwelt in security, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none else beside me: how is she become a desolation, a couching-place for beasts! Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, shall wave his hand.
Context
This final summary interprets the ruin just described in verses 13–14. It ties the fate of Assyria back to the chapter’s opening call: humble yourselves now, for God resists the proud. With judgments spanning west, east, south, and north, Zephaniah has shown God’s universal sovereignty. The reader is left to choose the path of verse 3—seek the Lord, righteousness, and meekness—in light of the warnings and promises threaded through the chapter.
v.14And herds shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in the capitals thereof; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar-work.
v.15This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezekiel 27:36
The merchants among the peoples hiss at thee; thou art become a terror, and thou shalt nevermore have any being.
- Isaiah 22:2
O thou that art full of shoutings, a tumultuous city, a joyous town; thy slain are not slain with the sword, neither are they dead in battle.
- 1 Kings 9:7
then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
- Lamentations 2:15
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
- Lamentations 2:1
How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He hath cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, And hath not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.
- Revelation 18:7
How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.
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