Zephaniah 3:4
2 She heeded no voice; she accepted no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God.
3 Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.
Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.
5 The LORD within her is righteous; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the unjust know no shame.
6 “I 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.
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
- Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.
- KJV
- Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
- WEB
- Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
- ASV
- Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
- DARBY
- Her prophets are vain-glorious, treacherous persons; her priests profane the sanctuary, they do violence to the law.
- BLB
- Her prophets are reckless, men of treacheries; her priests have profaned the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.
- ÅB
- dens profeter er storskrytere, troløse menn; dens prester vanhelliger det som er hellig, de gjør vold på loven.
- OTB
- Hennes profeter er arrogante, bedragerske menn;
Hennes prester har vanhelliget helligdommen,
De har krenket loven. - B1930
- dens profeter er storskrytere, troløse menn; dens prester vanhelliger det som er hellig, de gjør vold på loven.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ezekiel 22:26
Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
Read in contextLamentations 2:14
The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.
Read in contextHosea 9:7
The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived— let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.
Read in contextMalachi 2:8
But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Read in contextMicah 3:5–6
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:
Read in contextJeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
Read in contextJeremiah 23:25–27
“I have heard the sayings of the prophets who prophesy lies in My name: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’
Read in contextIsaiah 9:15
The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies.
Read in context