Zephaniah 2
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
2Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.
3Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
4For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
5Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
6And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
7And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
8I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
9Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
10This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.
11The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
12Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
13And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.
14And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.
15This 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.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâhH30689× in this chapter
Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
- עַלʻalH59219× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- כִּיkîyH35886× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- גּוֹיgôwyH14715× in this chapter
a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
- הָיָהhâyâhH19615× in this chapter
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
- כֹּלkôlH36055× in this chapter
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- אֵתʼêthH8535× in this chapter
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- בָּקַשׁbâqashH12453× in this chapter
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
- גַּםgamH15713× in this chapter
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
- חֶבֶלchebelH22563× in this chapter
a rope (as twisted), especially a measuring line; by implication, a district or inheritance (as measured); or a noose (as of cords); figuratively, a company (as if tied together); also a throe (especially of parturition); also ruin
- חַיchayH24163× in this chapter
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
- טֶרֶםṭeremH29623× in this chapter
properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before
- יוֹםyôwmH31173× in this chapter
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
- יָשַׁבyâshabH34273× in this chapter
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
- לֹאlôʼH38083× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- אֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîymH4303× in this chapter
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
- עַםʻamH59713× in this chapter
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
- אַףʼaphH6393× in this chapter
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
- אֶרֶץʼeretsH7763× in this chapter
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
- שְׁמָמָהshᵉmâmâhH80773× in this chapter
devastation; figuratively, astonishment
- בַּיִתbayithH10042× in this chapter
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
- בֵּןbênH11212× in this chapter
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
- גָּדַלgâdalH14312× in this chapter
to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)
- זֹאתzôʼthH20632× in this chapter
this (often used adverb)
- חָרַףchâraphH27782× in this chapter
to pull off, i.e. (by implication) to expose (as by stripping); specifically, to betroth (as if a surrender); figuratively, to carp at, i.e. defame; to spend the winter
- יָדyâdH30272× in this chapter
a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
- יָםyâmH32202× in this chapter
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south
- מוֹאָבMôwʼâbH41242× in this chapter
Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants
- עָבַרʻâbarH56742× in this chapter
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
- אֲנִיʼănîyH5892× in this chapter
I
- עַמּוֹןʻAmmôwnH59832× in this chapter
Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country
- אָבַדʼâbadH62× in this chapter
properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
- צָבָאtsâbâʼH66352× in this chapter
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship)
- קָשַׁשׁqâshashH71972× in this chapter
to forage for straw, stubble or wood; figuratively, to assemble
- רָבַץrâbatsH72572× in this chapter
to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal); be implication, to recline, repose, brood, lurk, imbed
- רָעָהrâʻâhH74622× in this chapter
to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
- שְׁאֵרִיתshᵉʼêrîythH76112× in this chapter
a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion
- אַשְׁקְלוֹןʼAshqᵉlôwnH8312× in this chapter
Ashkelon, a place in Palestine
- אֲשֶׁרʼăsherH8342× in this chapter
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
- בּוֹאbôwʼH9352× in this chapter
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)