Zephaniah 2:5

Woe 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.

Woe {H1945} unto the inhabitants {H3427} of the sea {H3220} coast {H2256}, the nation {H1471} of the Cherethites {H3774}! the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068} is against you; O Canaan {H3667}, the land {H776} of the Philistines {H6430}, I will even destroy {H6} thee, that there shall be no inhabitant {H3427}.

Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the K'reti! The word of ADONAI is against you, Kena'an, land of the P'lishtim: "I will destroy you; no one will be left."

Woe to the dwellers of the seacoast, O nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you, and no one will be left.”

Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea-coast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of Jehovah is against you, O Canaan, the land of the Philistines; I will destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

Commentary

Context of Zephaniah 2:5

Zephaniah, a prophet during the reign of King Josiah (late 7th century BC), delivered messages of impending judgment, not only for Judah but also for surrounding nations. This particular verse, Zephaniah 2:5, specifically targets the inhabitants of the Philistine coastal plain, located southwest of Judah. Historically, the Philistines were long-standing adversaries of Israel, known for their powerful cities like Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ashdod. The mention of "the nation of the Cherethites" refers to a people often associated with the Philistines, possibly an ethnic group or a contingent of their forces, perhaps originating from Crete. This prophecy underscores God's universal sovereignty and His righteous judgment extending beyond His covenant people to all who oppose His will or oppress His chosen ones.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment on Nations: The primary message is God's pronouncement of "woe" (Hebrew: hoy, an exclamation of lament or doom) against the Philistines. This demonstrates that God's justice is not confined to Israel but extends to all nations, holding them accountable for their actions. Similar pronouncements are found against other nations in Zephaniah and other prophetic books, such as Jeremiah 47 or Amos 1:6-8.
  • God's Sovereignty: The declaration "the word of the LORD is against you" emphasizes that this judgment emanates directly from the Almighty, who exercises supreme authority over all earthly powers and territories, including the "land of the Philistines" (ancient Canaan). His plan for destruction ("I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant") highlights the severity and certainty of His decree.
  • Desolation and Finality: The prophecy predicts complete desolation for Philistia, so severe that "there shall be no inhabitant." This signifies a total and irreversible judgment, serving as a stark warning against national pride and persistent defiance of God.

Linguistic and Cultural Insights

  • The term "Cherethites" (Hebrew: Kerethim) is often linked to the Philistines and may suggest a Cretan origin, connecting to the broader Aegean roots of the Philistine people. They are also known as a contingent of King David's personal guard, alongside the Pelethites (2 Samuel 8:18), indicating their prowess as warriors.
  • "Canaan" is used here to broadly refer to the land which the Philistines occupied, emphasizing that even this historically significant region, once promised to Israel, would face divine wrath for its inhabitants' wickedness.

Practical Application

The judgment against the Philistines in Zephaniah 2:5 serves as a timeless reminder of God's universal justice. It teaches us that:

  • No nation or individual is exempt from divine accountability. God's moral standards apply to all, regardless of their relationship with Israel.
  • Pride and opposition to God’s purposes will ultimately lead to ruin. The Philistines’ long history of hostility towards God’s people culminated in this severe prophecy.
  • God is sovereign over all history and all peoples. His word is powerful and will accomplish its intended purpose, whether for blessing or for judgment. This should inspire both reverence and a call to repentance for all.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 25:16

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.

  • Jeremiah 47:7

    How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.

  • Joshua 13:3

    From Sihor, which [is] before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, [which] is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

  • Amos 3:1

    ¶ Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

  • Isaiah 14:30

    And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.

  • Judges 3:3

    [Namely], five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.

  • Mark 12:12

    And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
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