Zephaniah 3:1
What does Zephaniah 3:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 3:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 3:1 means
The prophet pronounces a solemn “woe” upon Jerusalem, calling her rebellious, polluted, and oppressive. This is not a casual complaint but a legal charge from God against a city that should have modeled faith and justice. “Rebellious” points to willful defiance of God’s covenant. “Polluted” signals moral and spiritual defilement, not mere ritual stain. “Oppressing” exposes the city’s power used to crush, not protect, the vulnerable. The verse captures the painful irony: the place set apart for God has become a place of wrongdoing. It is the headline accusation that frames the rest of the charges that follow in the chapter.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city!
KJV
King James Version · 1611Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Sorrow to her who is uncontrolled and unclean, the cruel town!
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Woe <FI>to<Fi> the rebellious and polluted, The oppressing city!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Woe to the provoking and redeemed city, the dove.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Woe to her that is rebellious and corrupted, to the oppressing city!
Context
After indicting surrounding nations in earlier prophecies, Zephaniah turns his gaze inward, targeting Jerusalem itself. Verse 1 opens the final chapter with a stark lament and warning, summoning the reader to listen closely to why judgment must come. The verses that follow will itemize Jerusalem’s sins in civil, religious, and personal spheres. This framing prepares the way for a dramatic shift later in the chapter, when judgment will give way to promises of purification and restoration. But first, the city’s guilt must be fully named and confronted.
v.1This passage
v.2She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in Jehovah; she drew not near to her God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Amos 4:1
Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, that oppress the poor, that crush the needy, that say unto their lords, Bring, and let us drink.
- Leviticus 1:16
and he shall take away its crop with the filth thereof, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, in the place of the ashes:
- Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of Jehovah of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for justice, but, behold, oppression; for righteousness, but, behold, a cry.
- Micah 2:2
And they covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
- Ezekiel 22:29
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery; yea, they have vexed the poor and needy, and have oppressed the sojourner wrongfully.
- Jeremiah 6:6
For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
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