The Imminent Day of the Lord and Call to Repentance
Zephaniah 1:14-2:3
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Zep.1.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- קרוב: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הגדול: ADJ,m,sg,def
- קרוב: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ומהר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מאד: ADV
- קול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צרח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שם: ADV
- גבור: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 13:6 (verbal): Same cry of alarm—"Wail/Howl, for the day of the LORD is near"—using near/at hand language to announce the coming day of the Lord.
- Joel 2:1 (verbal): Blow the trumpet; sound the alarm—declares the day of the LORD is coming, using the imminent, trumpet‑alarm motif found in Zeph. 1:14.
- Joel 2:11 (thematic): Describes the LORD’s powerful intervention—his voice/army bringing a great and terrible day—paralleling Zephaniah’s portrayal of a crushing, fearsome Day of the LORD.
- Amos 5:18 (thematic): Warnings about the Day of the LORD as judgment rather than deliverance—Amos cautions those who desire that day because it will be darkness and not light, echoing Zephaniah’s dire announcement.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (allusion): New Testament reflection on the unexpected coming of the Day of the Lord—'comes like a thief'—resonates with Zephaniah’s emphasis on the nearness and suddenness of the day.
Alternative generated candidates
- The great day of the LORD is near—near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter—there the mighty man cries out.
- The great day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly; the blast of the day of the LORD is bitter—the warrior cries there.
Zep.1.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עברה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומצוקה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שאה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומשואה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חשך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ואפלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ענן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וערפל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joel 2:2 (verbal): Uses almost identical language—"a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness"—echoing Zephaniah's description of the day of the LORD.
- Joel 1:15 (structural): Begins with an anguished cry about the coming day ("Alas for the day!"), paralleling Zephaniah's opening warning about a disastrous day.
- Amos 5:18-20 (thematic): Denounces the coming day of the LORD as a day of darkness and not light—connects to Zephaniah's depiction of wrath, distress, darkness, and gloom.
- Isaiah 13:9-10 (thematic): Announces the day of the LORD as a day of fierce anger and cosmic darkening (sun and moon affected), resonating with Zephaniah's emphasis on wrath and darkness.
- Obadiah 1:15 (allusion): Declares that "the day of the LORD is near" and speaks of judgment on the nations, paralleling Zephaniah's announcement of an imminent day of distress and retribution.
Alternative generated candidates
- A day of wrath—that day: a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.
- A day of wrath— that day is a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Zep.1.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שופר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותרועה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- הערים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- הבצרות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- הפנות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- הגבהות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Joel 2:1 (verbal): “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain” — virtually the same pairing of trumpet and alarm announcing the day of the LORD/judgment.
- Amos 3:6 (thematic): “If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid?” — links the sounding of a trumpet with public alarm and impending disaster.
- Zechariah 9:14 (verbal): “The LORD God will blow the trumpet” — similar verbal use of divine trumpet as the signal of decisive intervention and judgment.
- Ezekiel 33:3-6 (structural): Watchman blows a trumpet to warn the people of danger — matches the functional role of trumpet/alarm as a warning to fortified places.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (allusion): “The Lord... with the trumpet of God” — New Testament appropriation of OT trumpet imagery to signal the eschatological coming of the Lord, echoing OT ‘day of trumpet/alarm.’
Alternative generated candidates
- A day of trumpet blast and alarm against the walled cities and against the lofty battlements.
- A day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the lofty corner towers.
Zep.1.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והצרתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,m,sg
- לאדם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והלכו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- כעורים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כי: CONJ
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- חטאו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ושפך: VERB,hiph,perf,1,m,sg
- דמם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כעפר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולחמם: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3mp
- כגללים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 28:29 (verbal): Curse language about groping/groaning like the blind and failing eyes as judgment for sin—parallels Zephaniah’s image of people walking as the blind because of their sin.
- Isaiah 59:10 (verbal): Speaks of groaning and groping like the blind and stumbling at noonday—closely echoes the motif of spiritual/experiential blindness as a consequence of iniquity.
- Psalm 79:2-3 (verbal): Complains that enemies have given the bodies of God’s servants as food and poured out their blood like water—parallels Zephaniah’s vivid language of blood being poured out.
- Joel 2:1-11 (thematic): The prophetic ‘day of the LORD’ oracle depicting sudden devastation, darkness and mass death resonates with Zephaniah’s announcement of sweeping judgment and its effects on the people.
- Amos 5:18-20 (thematic): Warnings that the day of the LORD will be a day of darkness and judgment rather than salvation—thematises the unexpected, destructive nature of divine judgment found in Zephaniah 1:17.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will bring distress upon mankind, and they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.
- I will bring distress upon mankind, and they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, their flesh like dung.
Zep.1.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גם: ADV
- כספם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3mp
- גם: ADV
- זהבם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3mp
- לא: PART_NEG
- יוכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,ms
- להצילם: VERB,hiph,inf+3mp
- ביום: PREP
- עברת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ובאש: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קנאתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3ms
- תאכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- כל: DET
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- כלה: ADV
- אך: PART
- נבהלה: VERB,niphal,perf,3,fs
- יעשה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- ישבי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Ezek.7:19 (verbal): Very close verbal parallel — Ezekiel says ‘their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath,’ echoing Zephaniah’s statement that silver and gold cannot save on the day of Yahweh’s anger.
- Deut.32:22 (verbal): Deuteronomy speaks of ‘a fire is kindled in my anger, and shall burn to the lowest hell; it shall consume the earth,’ paralleling Zephaniah’s image of the fire of God’s jealousy consuming the whole earth.
- Isaiah 2:19-21 (thematic): Isaiah’s portrait of the day of the LORD—terror, people hiding from God’s majesty, and the collapse of human confidence—echoes Zephaniah’s depiction of sudden panic and the end of the inhabitants of the land.
- Ps.49:6-8 (thematic): Psalm 49 argues that the wealthy cannot redeem themselves with riches or ransom a brother from death, thematically paralleling Zephaniah’s assertion that silver and gold cannot save in the day of divine judgment.
- Nahum 1:6-8 (thematic): Nahum emphasizes that none can stand before God’s indignation and that his wrath is like an overwhelming heat/fire that consumes—resonant with Zephaniah’s portrayal of consuming divine jealousy and unavoidable judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath; in the fire of his jealousy the whole earth shall be consumed. He will make a sudden end of all the inhabitants of the earth.
- Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath; in the fire of his jealousy the whole earth shall be consumed. For he will make a full end—he will terrify every inhabitant of the earth.
Zep.2.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- התקוששו: VERB,hitp,perf,3,m,pl
- וקושו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- הגוי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- נכסף: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Joel 3:11 (verbal): A direct call to assemble the nations—'Assemble and come, all ye heathen'—parallels Zephaniah’s imperative to gather.
- Isaiah 45:20 (verbal): Uses similar language ('Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together') addressing nations/peoples to come together, echoing the summons in Zeph. 2:1.
- Zechariah 14:2 (thematic): Describes nations gathering against Jerusalem for judgment—parallels the theme of nations being assembled in a prophetic context of coming judgment.
- Psalm 50:5 (thematic): 'Gather my saints together unto me' evokes the motif of divine summons and assembling of people, resonant with Zephaniah’s call to gather.
Alternative generated candidates
- Gather yourselves—gather! O nation without shame.
- Gather yourselves; gather— O nation that is not desired.
Zep.2.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בטרם: PREP
- לדת: VERB,qal,inf
- חק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כמץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בטרם: PREP
- לא: PART_NEG
- יבוא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עליכם: PREP+PRON,2mp
- חרון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אף: ADV
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בטרם: PREP
- לא: PART_NEG
- יבוא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עליכם: PREP+PRON,2mp
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אף: ADV
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Zephaniah 1:7 (structural): Immediate book parallel: both verses warn that the day of the LORD is near and call for silence/attention before the LORD’s judgment arrives.
- Joel 2:1,11 (thematic): Shares the 'day of the LORD' motif as a sudden, terrible divine attack—an impending day of wrath that brings destruction.
- Amos 5:18-20 (thematic): Warns those who desire the day of the LORD that it will be a day of darkness and judgment rather than blessing, paralleling Zephaniah’s warning of imminent wrath.
- Psalm 1:4 (verbal): Uses the same chaff imagery for the wicked—'like chaff that the wind drives away'—echoing Zephaniah’s simile of a day passing like chaff before divine anger.
- Matthew 3:12 (allusion): John the Baptist’s image of winnowing and burning the chaff reflects the eschatological separation and judgment implied by Zephaniah’s chaff/Day of the LORD language.
Alternative generated candidates
- Before the decree is issued, before the day passes like chaff; before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you—before the day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you.
- Before the decree goes out—before the day passes like chaff—before the LORD’s fierce anger comes upon you; before the day of the LORD’s wrath come upon you.
Zep.2.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בקשו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- ענוי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- משפטו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- פעלו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- בקשו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- צדק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בקשו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- ענוה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אולי: ADV
- תסתרו: VERB,qal,impf,2,pl
- ביום: PREP
- אף: ADV
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Micah 6:8 (verbal): States what the LORD requires — to do justice, love kindness/mercy, and walk humbly with God — echoing Zephaniah’s call to seek justice/righteousness and humility and to follow God’s judgments.
- Isaiah 55:6 (thematic): Both urge an urgent seeking of the LORD while he may be found, matching Zephaniah’s imperative to 'seek the LORD' as the appropriate response.
- Isaiah 26:20-21 (structural): Speaks of hiding oneself 'until the indignation is past' and mentions the 'day of the LORD’s anger,' paralleling Zephaniah’s hope that the humble may be hidden on the day of the LORD’s wrath.
- Psalm 25:9 (thematic): Affirms that the LORD 'leads the humble in what is right' and teaches them his way, corresponding to Zephaniah’s address to 'all the humble of the land' who do his judgments and seek righteousness.
Alternative generated candidates
- Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who have practiced his justice; seek righteousness, seek humility—perhaps you will be hidden on the day of the LORD’s anger.
- Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who practice his justice; seek righteousness, seek humility—perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the LORD’s anger.
The great day of the LORD is near—near and swiftly coming; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; there a warrior cries out.
A day of wrath—that day— a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.
A day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high corner towers.
I will bring distress upon mankind, and they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath; in the fire of his jealousy the whole land will be consumed. For he will make a sudden end—a terrifying ruin—of all the inhabitants of the land.
Assemble yourselves; assemble—O shameless nation.
Before the decree is issued—before the day passes like chaff—before the LORD’s fierce anger comes upon you; before the day of the LORD’s wrath comes upon you.
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who carry out his judgments; seek righteousness, seek humility, that you may perhaps be hidden on the day of the LORD’s wrath.