Zephaniah — Chapter 1

📖 Zephaniah — Chapter 1 (KJV)

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Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Zephaniah 1:1 The ^Rword of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

Ezek 1:3; Hos 1:1

Zephaniah 1:2 ^TI will ^Rutterly consume all things from off ^Tthe land, saith the LORD.

2 Kgs 22:16-17; 2 Chr 36:21

By taking away I will make an end

the face of the land

Zephaniah 1:3 I will ^Rconsume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the ^Tstumblingblocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.

Jer 4:23-29; Jer 12:4

idols

Zephaniah 1:4 I will also ^Rstretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;

Exod 15:12; 2 Kgs 21:13

Zephaniah 1:5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear ^R^Tby the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

Isa 44:5; Isa 45:23

to the LORD

Zephaniah 1:6 And them that are ^Rturned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.

1 Sam 15:11; Ps 36:3

Zephaniah 1:7 Hold ^Rthy 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 ^Tbid his guests.

1 Sam 2:9-10; Job 40:4-5

sanctified, or, prepared

Zephaniah 1:8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’s sacrifice, that I will ^R^Tpunish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

Isa 10:12; Isa 24:21

visit upon

Zephaniah 1:9 In the same day also will I punish all those that ^Rleap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.

1 Sam 5:5

Zephaniah 1:10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be ^Rthe noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.

Isa 22:4-5; Isa 59:11

Zephaniah 1:11 ^RHowl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

Jer 4:8; Jer 25:34

Zephaniah 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time, ^Rthat I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are ^Tsettled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Jer 16:16-17; Amos 9:1-3

curded, or, thickened

Zephaniah 1:13 Therefore ^Rtheir goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

Zeph 1:9; Isa 6:11

Zephaniah 1:14 The ^Rgreat day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

Zeph 1:7; Jer 30:7

Zephaniah 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, ^Ra day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

Job 3:4-8; Joel 2:2,11

Zephaniah 1:16 A ^Rday of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

Isa 59:10; Jer 4:19-20

Zephaniah 1:17 And I will bring distress upon men, that ^Rthey shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

Deut 28:28-29; Ps 79:3

Zephaniah 1:18 Neither ^Rtheir silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

Zeph 1:11; Ps 49:6-9

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Zephaniah 1:1–6 — Judah’s divided worship is confronted

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The word is located in Josiah’s reign and announces sweeping judgment. Baal, heavenly-host worship, mixed oaths, turning away, and failure to seek the Lord are named within Judah and Jerusalem.

Key Truth: Seek the Lord with an undivided response.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Zephaniah 1:7–13 — The Lord searches a violent and complacent city

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The approaching day calls for silence before the Lord. Princes, violence-filled houses, merchants, and those claiming the Lord will do neither good nor evil face searching judgment and loss of goods and homes.

Key Truth: Do not let comfort harden into spiritual indifference.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Zephaniah 1:14–18 — Wealth cannot deliver in the Lord’s day

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The near day is described through wrath, distress, darkness, alarm, and fear. Sin brings humiliation, and silver and gold cannot purchase deliverance from the Lord’s judgment.

Key Truth: Let warning move you toward repentance rather than financial confidence.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Amos 5:18 — Amos also warns that the Lord’s day brings darkness to those falsely confident.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

What divided loyalty or complacent assumption should you bring before the Lord?

Notes

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Zephaniah — Chapter 1