Zephaniah 3:6

I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.

I have cut off {H3772} the nations {H1471}: their towers {H6438} are desolate {H8074}; I made their streets {H2351} waste {H2717}, that none passeth by {H5674}: their cities {H5892} are destroyed {H6658}, so that there is no man {H376}, that there is none inhabitant {H3427}.

"I have cut off nations, their battlements are ruined; I have made their streets ruins, no one walks in them. Their cities are destroyed, abandoned, unpeopled.

โ€œI have cut off the nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have made their streets deserted with no one to pass through. Their cities are laid waste, with no man, no inhabitant.

I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.

Commentary

Context of Zephaniah 3:6

Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of King Josiah, a time of spiritual reform in Judah, yet also one where deep-seated corruption and idolatry persisted. The book of Zephaniah is a stark warning of impending judgment on Judah for its sins, but it also includes prophecies against surrounding nations. Zephaniah 3:6 serves as a powerful illustration of God's past and ongoing judgments against these wicked nations, such as Assyria, Moab, Ammon, and others, to underscore the seriousness of His divine wrath and to serve as a stark warning to Judah itself. It highlights that God is not partial and will bring desolation upon all who defy Him, whether Jew or Gentile.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The verse unequivocally states, "I have cut off the nations... I made their streets waste... their cities are destroyed," emphasizing God's direct and absolute control over the fate of nations. It underscores His supreme authority as the righteous judge of all the earth. This powerful demonstration of God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms is a central theme throughout prophetic literature.
  • Absolute Desolation: The imagery of "towers... desolate," "streets waste, that none passeth by," and "cities... destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant," paints a picture of complete and utter devastation. This isn't just defeat; it's annihilation, where life, commerce, and human presence cease entirely.
  • A Warning to Judah: By recounting the severe judgments meted out to other nations, God implicitly warns His own people, Judah. The message is clear: if these powerful nations faced such destruction for their wickedness, Judah, despite being God's chosen people, would not be exempt from judgment if they continued in their rebellion and refused to repent. This serves as a precursor to God's cup of wrath for all rebellious nations.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong, evocative language. The phrase "cut off" translates the Hebrew word kฤrat, which often implies a decisive, permanent severance or destruction, sometimes even associated with breaking a covenant. "Desolate" (Hebrew: แธฅฤreb) and "destroyed" (Hebrew: ลกฤmam) convey a sense of utter ruin and emptiness, often leading to astonishment or horror. The repetition of "none passeth by," "no man," and "none inhabitant" powerfully reinforces the theme of absolute depopulation and ruin, leaving no room for misunderstanding the severity of God's judgment.

Practical Application

Zephaniah 3:6 serves as a timeless reminder of God's holiness and justice. While we live under the New Covenant, the principle that sin has consequences and that God is ultimately sovereign over all nations remains true. This verse encourages us to:

  • Take Sin Seriously: It highlights the profound seriousness with which God views human rebellion and wickedness.
  • Heed Divine Warnings: Just as Judah was warned by the fate of other nations, we are called to pay attention to God's warnings in Scripture and through His Spirit.
  • Trust God's Justice: It assures us that ultimately, God will bring justice to all forms of evil and oppression, even if it seems delayed from a human perspective.
  • Seek Repentance and Righteousness: The implied call to Judah to repent is a call to all people to turn from sin and seek righteousness, understanding that God's mercy is available to those who humbly seek Him (Zephaniah 2:3).
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 10:6

    ยถ Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

  • 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:11

    Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

  • Isaiah 37:24

    By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, [and] the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, [and] the forest of his Carmel.

  • Isaiah 37:26

    Hast thou not heard long ago, [how] I have done it; [and] of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities [into] ruinous heaps.

  • Jeremiah 25:9

    Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

  • Jeremiah 25:11

    And this whole land shall be a desolation, [and] an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
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