Zephaniah 2:14

And 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.

And flocks {H5739} shall lie down {H7257} in the midst {H8432} of her, all the beasts {H2416} of the nations {H1471}: both the cormorant {H6893} and the bittern {H7090} shall lodge {H3885} in the upper lintels {H3730} of it; their voice {H6963} shall sing {H7891} in the windows {H2474}; desolation {H2721} shall be in the thresholds {H5592}: for he shall uncover {H6168} the cedar work {H731}.

Herds will lie down in it, and all kinds of wild animals too - jackdaws and owls will roost on her columns, voices screeching in the windows, desolation on the doorsteps, for its cedarwork is stripped bare.

Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.

And herds shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in the capitals thereof; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar-work.

Commentary

Context

Zephaniah 2:14 is part of a prophetic oracle delivered by the prophet Zephaniah during the reign of King Josiah of Judah, likely before the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC. This chapter specifically addresses the impending judgment of God upon various nations surrounding Judah, including Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Ethiopia, and most prominently, Assyria. Verse 14 directly continues the vivid description of the utter desolation awaiting Nineveh, the once-mighty capital of the Assyrian Empire, as prophesied in Zephaniah 2:13.

Meaning and Imagery

This verse paints a powerful and stark picture of complete ruin and reversal. The once-bustling city of Nineveh, known for its grandeur and power, is depicted as being transformed into a desolate wasteland. Instead of human inhabitants, "flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations," signifying that wild animals will inhabit the very heart of what was once a great metropolis. The imagery intensifies with the mention of specific birds—"both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it"—indicating that these birds, typically associated with desolate or marshy ruins, will make their nests in the structural beams of the abandoned buildings. Their "voice shall sing in the windows," replacing the sounds of human activity with the eerie calls of wild birds. The phrase "desolation [shall be] in the thresholds" emphasizes that even the entry points to homes and public buildings will be empty and neglected. Finally, "for he shall uncover the cedar work" highlights the extent of the destruction; valuable cedar wood, often used in royal palaces and temples, will be exposed to the elements, stripped bare, or left to decay, symbolizing the complete stripping away of Nineveh's glory and its reduction to rubble.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse powerfully illustrates God's sovereign judgment against proud and oppressive empires, demonstrating that no nation, however mighty, is beyond His reach or accountability.
  • Complete Desolation: It underscores the theme of utter and irreversible ruin, where a once-flourishing city becomes a habitat for wild animals, signifying the complete cessation of human life and activity.
  • Reversal of Fortune: The prophecy highlights a dramatic reversal, as the seat of a powerful empire is reduced to a desolate wilderness, a stark reminder of the transient nature of worldly power and human achievements.
  • God's Sovereignty: Ultimately, the passage affirms God's absolute control over the rise and fall of nations, fulfilling His word and executing His justice.

Linguistic Nuances

The KJV's translation of "cormorant" (Hebrew: qa'ath) and "bittern" (Hebrew: qippod) points to birds often associated with desolate, ruined, or marshy places in biblical literature. While qippod can also be translated as 'hedgehog' or 'porcupine' in other versions, the KJV's choice of 'bittern' maintains the avian imagery, enhancing the picture of a city so utterly abandoned that it becomes a sanctuary for creatures of the wild and ruin.

Practical Application

Zephaniah 2:14 serves as a timeless reminder of the impermanence of earthly power and the inevitability of God's judgment against sin and pride. It encourages humility and a recognition that true security and lasting peace are found not in human might or material possessions, but in seeking God's will and living righteously. For believers, it reinforces the truth of God's justice and His ultimate control over history, offering both a warning against arrogance and a comfort in His unwavering sovereignty, a theme echoed in other prophecies of judgment like the fall of Babylon described in Revelation 18:2.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 13:19 (3 votes)

    ¶ And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

  • Isaiah 13:22 (3 votes)

    And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in [their] pleasant palaces: and her time [is] near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

  • Amos 9:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.

  • Isaiah 34:11 (3 votes)

    But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.

  • Isaiah 34:17 (3 votes)

    And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.

  • Jeremiah 22:14 (3 votes)

    That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and [it is] cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

  • Revelation 18:2 (2 votes)

    And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.