Zephaniah 2:11

The 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.

The LORD {H3068} will be terrible {H3372} unto them: for he will famish {H7329} all the gods {H430} of the earth {H776}; and men shall worship {H7812} him, every one {H376} from his place {H4725}, even all the isles {H339} of the heathen {H1471}.

ADONAI will be fearsome against them, for he will make all the earth's gods waste away. Then all the coasts and islands of the nations will worship him, each from its place.

The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.

Jehovah 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 nations.

Commentary on Zephaniah 2:11 (KJV)

Zephaniah 2:11 is a powerful prophetic declaration from the prophet Zephaniah, a contemporary of Jeremiah and Habakkuk, who ministered during the reign of King Josiah in Judah (c. 640-609 BC). This verse speaks to the ultimate triumph of the Lord over all false deities and the establishment of His universal worship.

Context

The book of Zephaniah is primarily a message of impending judgment, often referred to as "the Day of the LORD" (Zephaniah 1:7), which would fall upon Judah for its idolatry and corruption, as well as upon surrounding pagan nations. Chapters 2 and 3 specifically detail judgments against the Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Ethiopia, and Assyria. Amidst these pronouncements of destruction against human kingdoms and their false gods, Zephaniah 2:11 offers a glimpse of God's ultimate purpose: to purify the earth and establish His sole sovereignty. It foreshadows a time beyond immediate judgment when all nations will acknowledge the true God.

Key Themes

  • God's Supreme Sovereignty: This verse emphatically declares the Lord's absolute power and authority over all creation and all other supposed "gods." He is not just one deity among many, but the one true God who will demonstrate His uniqueness.
  • The End of Idolatry: The phrase "he will famish all the gods of the earth" vividly portrays the complete undermining and rendering powerless of pagan deities. These idols, which rely on human worship and sacrifices for their perceived existence and influence, will be stripped of their devotees and thus, effectively "starved" into oblivion. This highlights the vanity of worshipping created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).
  • Universal Worship: A profound and hopeful theme is the prediction that "men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen." This looks forward to a future age when the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth (Habakkuk 2:14), and people from all nations and distant lands ("isles of the heathen") will turn from their false gods to worship the Lord. This resonates with prophecies of a global turning to God found elsewhere in the Old Testament, such as Psalm 86:9 and Malachi 1:11.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Terrible" (KJV): The Hebrew word here is נורא (*nora*), which carries the meaning of "awe-inspiring," "dreadful," or "majestic." It denotes a profound sense of reverence and fear due to God's immense power and holiness, not merely something unpleasant. The Lord's actions against the false gods will be so mighty and overwhelming that they will inspire awe and terror in those who witness them.
  • "Famish": The Hebrew verb רזון (*razon*), meaning "to make lean" or "waste away," is used metaphorically. It signifies the complete emasculation and nullification of the pagan gods. They will be deprived of their sustenance—the worship, sacrifices, and belief of humanity—rendering them utterly powerless and irrelevant.
  • "Isles of the heathen": This phrase, איי הגוים (*'iyei hagoyim*), literally refers to coastlands or distant regions inhabited by gentiles (non-Israelites). It is a poetic expression for the farthest reaches of the earth, symbolizing the universal scope of God's future worship, extending beyond the boundaries of Israel to all nations.

Reflection and Application

Zephaniah 2:11 offers both a warning and a profound hope. It reminds us that no idol, whether a physical statue, a worldly pursuit, or even self-reliance, can stand against the true God. All such false objects of worship are ultimately powerless and destined to be "famished" by the Lord's sovereign hand.

For believers today, this verse reinforces the call to single-minded devotion to God alone. It encourages us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and anticipate the glorious day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10). It fuels our hope for global evangelism and missions, knowing that God's plan is for people from "every one from his place" to turn and worship Him. This verse assures us that God's ultimate victory over all forms of darkness and idolatry is certain, and His kingdom will indeed fill the whole earth.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Zechariah 13:2

    And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

  • Zechariah 2:11

    And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

  • Genesis 10:5

    By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

  • Psalms 138:4

    All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

  • Zechariah 14:9

    And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

  • Zechariah 14:21

    Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

  • Psalms 117:1

    ¶ O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

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