eng_aiv Amundson Interpretive Version Zephaniah Zephaniah Zephaniah Zeph Zephaniah id=eng_aiv name=Amundson Interpretive Version (AIV) status=draft spec=USFM-USX 3.1.1 export=2026-11-02 char:add=translator-addition-italic char:wj=words-of-Jesus-as-received-unmapped note:f=footnotes para:r=parallel-passage-references para:d=psalm-superscriptions Zephaniah Prophesies Judgment on Judah (Matthew 13:36–43) The word of YHWH that came to be to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah. “Removing I will bring to an end everything from the face of the earth,” a declaration of YHWH. “I will bring to an end man and beast; I will bring to an end the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea and the stumbling blocks with the wicked;1.3 Or and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble and I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” a declaration of YHWH. “And I will stretch out My hand against Judah, and against all those dwelling in Jerusalem; I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal, and the names of the idolatrous priests, with the priests, and those bowing down on the housetops to the host of the heavens, and those bowing down swearing to YHWH, and swearing to Milcom,1.5 Or swearing by their king; Milcom is a variant of Molech; see Leviticus 18:21 and 1 Kings 11:7. and those having turned from after YHWH, and who have not sought YHWH and not having inquired of Him.” The Day of Yahweh (Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; 2 Peter 3:8–13) Be silent before the face of the Lord YHWH, for the day of YHWH is near, for YHWH has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated those called by Him. “And it will come to pass in the day of the sacrifice of YHWH that I will visit punishment on the princes and on the sons of the king and on all those clothing themselves with foreign apparel. And I will visit punishment on all those leaping over the threshold on that day,1.9 See 1 Samuel 5:5. those filling the house of their masters1.9 Or the temple of their gods with violence and deceit. And it will come to pass on that day,” a declaration of YHWH, “The voice of an outcry from the Gate of the Fish, and a wailing from the Mishneh,1.10 Or the Second Quarter or the Second District and a great crashing from the hills. Wail, O dwellers of the Maktesh!1.11 Or the Hollow or the market district or the Mortar For all the merchant people1.11 Or all the people of Canaan are destroyed; all the bearers of silver are cut off. And it will come to pass, at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will visit punishment upon the men settled in their dregs,1.12 Or settled in complacency or thickening on the dregs those saying in their heart, ‘YHWH does no good, and He will not bring evil.’ And their wealth will become as plunder, and their houses as a desolation; they will build houses, and they will not dwell; they will plant vineyards, and they will not drink their wine. Near is the great day of YHWH— near, and hastening exceedingly; the noise of the day of YHWH is bitter, then cries out the mighty. A day of wrath is that day, a day of adversity and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of cloud and thick darkness, a day of shofar and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the high corners. And I will bring distress to mankind, and they will walk like the blind, for against YHWH they have sinned; and their blood will be poured out like the dust, and their flesh like dung! Even their silver, even their gold, will not be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of YHWH; and by the fire of His jealousy will be consumed all the earth, for indeed He will make a sudden end of all those dwelling on the earth!1.18 Or of all the people living in the land” A Call to Repentance (Joel 1:13–20; Amos 5:4–15; Luke 13:1–5) Gather together, and gather together, O nation not desired, before the bringing forth of the decree— the day passes like chaff— before the burning of the anger of YHWH comes upon you⁺, before the day of the anger of YHWH comes upon you⁺. Seek YHWH, all humble ones of the earth, who have done His justice; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you⁺ will be hidden away on the day of the nose of YHWH. Judgment on the Philistines (Jeremiah 47:1–7) For Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon as a desolation; they will drive out Ashdod at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted. Woe to those dwelling on the coast of the sea, O nation of Cherethites. The word of YHWH is against you⁺, O Canaan, land of the Philistines, “And I will make you perish and no one will be dwelling!” And the coast of the sea will become pastures, with wells2.6 Or caves or camps for shepherds and folds the flock. And the coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah; upon them they will shepherd; in the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down in the evening. For YHWH their God will attend to them and turn back their captivity.2.7 Or restore their fortunes Judgment on Moab and Ammon (Isaiah 16:1–14; Jeremiah 48:1–47) “I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the sons of Ammon, with which they have scorned My people, and magnified themselves against their border. Therefore, as I live,” a declaration of YHWH of Hosts the God of Israel, “Surely Moab will become like Sodom, and the sons of Ammon like Gomorrah, a possession of the nettle and the pit of salt, and a desolation even to forever! The remnant of My people will plunder them, and the remainder of My people will possess them.” This is unto them in exchange for their pride, because they have scorned and magnified themselves against the people of YHWH of Hosts. Fearsome is YHWH against them, for he will starve all the gods of the earth; and will bow down to Him all the coasts of the nations, each man from his place. Judgment on Cush and Assyria “Also you⁺, O Cushites2.12 That is, people from the upper Nile region— they will be slain by My sword.” And He will stretch out His hand against the north, and He will destroy Assyria; and He will set Nineveh as a desolation, as dry as the desert. And the herds will lie down in her midst, every beast of the nation; even the desert owl and screech owl2.14 The precise identification of the animals rendered desert owl and screech owl is uncertain. will lodge in her capitals. Their voice will sing in the window, desolation on the threshold; for He will lay bare the cedar work. This is the jubilant city the one dwelling in security, saying in her heart, “I am, and ceases to be another!” How she has become as a desolation, a resting place for the beast! Everyone passing by her will hiss and shake his fist. Judgment on Jerusalem Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city! She has not listened to His voice, she does not receive discipline; in YHWH she does not trust; to her God she does not draw near. Her princes within her are roaring lions, her judges are wolves of the evening leaving nothing for the morning. Her prophets are reckless, men of treacheries; her priests have profaned the sanctuary; they do violence to the law. YHWH is righteous within her; He will not do injustice; morning by morning He gives His justice; at the light He is not lacking; the unjust one is knowning no shame. Purification of the Nations “I have cut off nations; their corners are desolate; I have made desolate their streets without one passing through; their cities are destroyed, without a man, with no one dwelling. I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me; you will receive discipline.’ Then her dwelling would not be cut off, by all that I have visited upon her. Nevertheless, they rose early to corrupt all their deeds. Therefore wait for Me,” a declaration of YHWH, “Until the day of My arising to testify.3.8 LXX and Syriac; Hebrew arising to seize the prey For My judgment is to gather the nations, to assemble unto Me the kingdoms, to pour out on them My indignation, all the burning of my nose! Indeed, with the fire of My jealousy all the earth will be consumed. A Faithful Remnant For then I will turn over to the peoples a lip made pure, to call for all of them on the name of YHWH, to serve Him with one shoulder. From beyond the rivers of Cush,3.10 That is, the upper Nile region My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, will bring My offering. On that day you will not feel shame from any of your deeds, with which you have transgressed against Me; for then I will turn away from your midst the jubilant ones of your pride, and you will continue no longer to be haughty on the mountain of My holiness. And I will leave in your midst a people humble and poor, and they will take refuge in the name of YHWH. The remnant of Israel will not do injustice, and they will not speak lies, and in their mouth will not be found a tongue of deceit. For they will feed the flocks and will lie down, and there will not be one frightening them.” Israel’s Restoration Sing out, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! YHWH has turned aside your judgments; He has turned back your enemy; the King of Israel, YHWH, is among you; you will fear evil no more. On that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion, do not let your hands be slack! For YHWH your God is among you, the Mighty One who saves; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love;3.17 Or He will be silent in His love; LXX and Syriac He will renew you with His love He will be joyous over you with singing.” “Those sorrowing from the appointed assembly I will gather up, put away from you they will be—a lifting away, and along with it reproach. Behold, I will be dealing with all who afflict you at that time; and I will save the lame, and those driven out I will gather, and I will set them for praise and for renown in every land of their shame. At that time I will bring you⁺ in, at the time I gather you⁺. For I will give to you⁺ renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, in my returning your⁺ captives3.20 Or restoring your fortunes before your⁺ eyes!” Says YHWH.