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Zephaniah 2:14

Judgment

12 “You too, O Cushites, will be slain by My sword.”

13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert.

Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.

15 This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.
KJV
And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.
WEB
Herds will lie down in the middle of her, all kinds of animals. Both the pelican and the porcupine will lodge in its capitals. Their calls will echo through the windows. Desolation will be in the thresholds, for he has laid bare the cedar beams.
ASV
And herds shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in the capitals thereof; [their] voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar-work.
DARBY
And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the crowd of beasts; both the pelican and the bittern shall lodge in the chapiters thereof; a voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be on the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar work.
BLB
And the herds will lie down in her midst, every beast of the nation; even the desert owl and screech owl will lodge in her capitals. Their voice will sing in the window, desolation on the threshold; for He will lay bare the cedar work.
ÅB
Der skal flokker hvile; alle slags villdyrflokker, både pelikaner og pinnsvin, skal overnatte på søylehodene der; fuglesang høres i vinduene, grus ligger på dørtreskelen, for sederpanelet er revet av.
OTB
Flokker skal legge seg midt i henne,
Alle dyr som går i flokker;
Både pelikanen og pinnsvinet
Skal tilbringe natten på toppen av hennes søyler;
Fugler skal synge i vinduet,
Ødeleggelse skal være på terskelen;
For Han har avdekket sedertreverket.
B1930
Der skal hjorder hvile; alle slags villdyrflokker, både pelikaner og pinnsvin, skal overnatte på søilehodene der; fuglesang høres i vinduene, grus ligger på dørtreskelen, for sederpanelet er revet av.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Amos 9:1

    I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said: “Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Topple them on the heads of all the people, and I will kill the rest with the sword. None of those who flee will get away; none of the fugitives will escape.

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  • Isaiah 34:11–17

    The desert owl and screech owl will possess it, and the great owl and raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom a measuring line of chaos and a plumb line of destruction.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 22:14

    who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 13:19–22

    And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

    Read in context

  • Revelation 18:2

    And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 14:23

    “I will make her a place for owls and for swamplands; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Hosts.

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  • Zephaniah 2:6

    So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.

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