Zephaniah 1:4-6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-6

Here is, I. The title-page of this book (Zeph. 1:1), in which we observe, 1. What authority it has, and who gave it that authority; it is from heaven, and not of men: It is the word of the Lord. 2. Who was the instrument of conveying it to the church. His name was Zephaniah, which signifies the servant of the Lord, for God revealed his secrets to his servants the prophets. The pedigree of other prophets, whose extraction we have an account of, goes no further back than their father, except... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:4

I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah ,.... Under whom the tribe of Benjamin is comprehended, which are only designed; the ten tribes having been carried captive in Hezekiah's time many years before this: not "to Judah", as beckoning to come and hearken to him, as calling to repentance and reformation; this he had done, but was rejected, and therefore determines to stretch out his hand "upon" them; nor "over Judah", to protect and defend them; but "upon Judah", exerting his power,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:5

And upon them that worship the host of heaven upon the house tops ,.... The sun, moon, and stars, which some worshipped upon their house tops; the roofs of their houses being flat, as the roofs of the houses of the Jews generally were; from hence they had a full view of the host of heaven, and worshipped them openly; and fancied, the nearer they were to them, the more acceptable was their service; see Jeremiah 19:13 , and them that worship, and that swear the Lord, and that swear by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:6

And them that are turned back from the Lord ,.... Who once were worshippers of him, but now become apostates, and had turned their backs on him and his worship. Some think this describes those who renewed their covenant with God in Josiah's time, and after that revolted from him, who must be very abominable to him; and therefore he threatens to stretch out his hand, and pour out his wrath upon them: and those that have not sought the Lord, nor inquired for him ; profane abandoned... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:4

I will cut off the remnant of Baal - I think he refers here, partly at least, to the reformation which Josiah was to bring about. See the account, 2 Kings 23:5 ; (note). The Chemarims - The black-robed priests of different idols. See the note on 2 Kings 23:6 . These were put down by Josiah. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:5

The host of heaven - Sun, moon, planets, and stars. This worship was one of the most ancient and the most common of all species of idolatry; and it had a greater semblance of reason to recommend it. See 2 Kings 23:6 , 2 Kings 23:12 ; Jeremiah 19:13 ; Jeremiah 32:29 . That swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham - Associating the name of an idol with that of the Most High. For Malcham, see on Hosea 4:15 ; (note), and Amos 5:26 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:6

Them that are turned back - Who have forsaken the true God, and become idolaters. Nor inquired for him - Have not desired to know his will. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:4

Verse 4 The Prophet explains still more clearly why he directed his discourse in the last verse against the beasts of the earth and the birds of heaven, even for this end—that the Jews might understand that God was angry with them. I will stretch forth, he says, my hand on Judah and on Jerusalem. God, then, by executing his vengeance on animals, intended to exhibit to the Jews, as in a picture, the dreadfulness of his wrath, which yet they despised and regarded as nothing. The stretching forth... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:5

Verse 5 Zephaniah pursues the subject contained in the verse I explained yesterday. For as the majority of the people still adhered to their superstitions, though the pure worship of the law had been restored by Josiah, the Prophet threatens here, that God would punish such ingratitude. As then he had spoken in the last verse of the worshipers of Baal and their sacrifices, so now he proceeds farther—that the Lord would execute vengeance on the whole people, who prayed to the host of heaven, or... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:6

Verse 6 The Prophet seems here to include, as it were, in one bundle, the proud despisers of God, as well as those idolaters of whom he had spoken. It may yet be, that he describes the same persons in different words, and that he means that they were addicted to their own superstitions, because they were unwilling to serve God sincerely and from the heart, and even shunned everything that might lead their attention to true religion. And this view I mostly approve; for what some imagine, that... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:6

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