Zephaniah 3:7
What does Zephaniah 3:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 3:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 3:7 means
God discloses His gracious intent: He wanted Jerusalem to fear Him and accept correction so that her dwelling would not be cut off. His judgments were meant as discipline, not destruction. Yet the people rose early—not to seek God, but to eagerly corrupt all their deeds. Their zeal was misplaced, their industry turned to evil. This verse reveals the heartache of divine patience spurned. The city had a clear path to safety, marked by reverence and repentance, but chose otherwise. Sin is not only breaking rules; it is rejecting a merciful offer to live. Therefore, judgment must proceed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I said, Only fear thou me; receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I said, Only fear thou me; receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I said, Certainly you will go in fear of me, and come under my training, so that whatever I may send on her may not be cut off before her eyes: but they got up early and made all their works evil.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862I have said: Only, ye do fear Me, Ye do accept instruction, And her habitation is not cut off, All that I have appointed for her, But they have risen early, They have corrupted all their doings.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I said: Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive correction: and her dwelling shall not perish, for all things wherein I have visited her: but they rose early, and corrupted all their thoughts.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I said, Only fear me, receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, howsoever I may punish her. But they rose early, they corrupted all their doings.
Context
Verse 7 answers the question raised by the previous verse: What was God aiming for through the judgments on other nations? He desired teachable humility in Jerusalem, but instead found intensified wickedness. This dark conclusion sets up verse 8, where God announces a decisive day of reckoning for all nations. The flow shifts from failed warnings to the certainty of universal judgment, preparing the reader for the surprising turn toward purification and hope that follows.
v.6I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.
v.7This passage
v.8Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 4:16
lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
- 2 Chronicles 32:1
After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself.
- Jeremiah 38:17
Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: If thou wilt go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thy house.
- 2 Chronicles 36:3
And the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and fined the land a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
- Micah 2:1
Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
- Jeremiah 17:25
then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain for ever.
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