New International VersionHer prophets are unprincipled; they are treacherous people. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law.
New Living TranslationIts prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain. Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God’s instructions.
English Standard VersionHer prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law.
Berean Standard BibleHer prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.
King James BibleHer prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
New King James VersionHer prophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law.
New American Standard BibleHer prophets are insolent, treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the Law.
NASB 1995Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
NASB 1977Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
Legacy Standard BibleHer prophets are reckless, treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
Amplified BibleHer prophets are reckless and treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary; They have done violence to the law [by pretending their word is God’s word].
Christian Standard BibleHer prophets are reckless — treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction.
Holman Christian Standard BibleHer prophets are reckless— treacherous men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to instruction.
American Standard VersionHer prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
Contemporary English VersionJerusalem's prophets are proud and not to be trusted. The priests have disgraced the place of worship and abused God's Law.
English Revised VersionHer prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationIts prophets are reckless and unfaithful. Its priests contaminate what is holy. They violate the teachings.
Good News TranslationThe prophets are irresponsible and treacherous; the priests defile what is sacred, and twist the law of God to their own advantage.
International Standard VersionIts prophets are arrogant and treacherous. Its priests have contaminated the sanctuary. They give perverse interpretations of the Law.
NET BibleHer prophets are proud; they are deceitful men. Her priests defile what is holy; they break God's laws.
New Heart English BibleHer prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
Webster's Bible TranslationHer prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHer prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.
World English BibleHer prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHer prophets unstable—men of treachery, "" Her priests have defiled the sanctuary, "" They have violated the Law.
Young's Literal Translation Her prophets unstable -- men of treachery, Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have violated the law.
Smith's Literal TranslationHer prophets vain-glorious men of treacheries: her priests defiled the holy place, they violated the law. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHer prophets are senseless men without faith: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have acted unjustly against the law.
Catholic Public Domain VersionHer prophets are crazed; men without faith. Her priests have polluted what is holy; they have acted unjustly against the law.
New American BibleIts prophets are reckless, treacherous people; Its priests profane what is holy, and do violence to the law.
New Revised Standard VersionIts prophets are reckless, faithless persons; its priests have profaned what is sacred, they have done violence to the law. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHer prophets are wanton and treacherous persons; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedHer Prophets act lewdly and are evil men, and her Priests have defiled the Holy Place and they have done violence to the Law OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Her prophets are wanton And treacherous persons; Her priests have profaned that which is holy, They have done violence to the law.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationHer prophets are light and scornful men: her priests profane the holy things, and sinfully transgress the law.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Judgment on Jerusalem… 3Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning. 4Her prophetsare reckless,faithlessmen.Her priestsprofanethe sanctuary;they do violence tothe law.5The 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.…
Cross References Jeremiah 23:11“For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD.
Ezekiel 22:26Her 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.
Micah 3:11Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”
Matthew 23:27-28Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Lamentations 4:13But this was for the sins of her prophets and the guilt of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst.
Hosea 9:7The 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.
Jeremiah 6:13“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
Isaiah 56:10-11Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. / Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:
Matthew 23:13Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
Ezekiel 13:3This is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing.
Jeremiah 8:10Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
Malachi 2:7-8For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. / 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.
Luke 11:39-42Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. / You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? / But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you. ...
Jeremiah 14:14“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.
2 Peter 2:1-3Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
Treasury of Scripture Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. light. Isaiah 9:15 The ancient and honourable, heis the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, heis the tail. Isaiah 56:10-12 His watchmenare blind: they are all ignorant, theyare all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber… Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people loveto have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? her priests. 1 Samuel 2:12-17,22 Now the sons of Eliwere sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD… Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they sheweddifference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Ezekiel 44:7,8 In that ye have broughtinto my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it,even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations… Jump to Previous ArrogantDeceitFaithlessFullGood-For-NothingHolyLawPersonsPollutedPriestsProfaneProfanedProphetsRecklessSacredSanctuaryTreacherousTreacheryUncleanViolatedViolenceViolentlyWantonJump to Next ArrogantDeceitFaithlessFullGood-For-NothingHolyLawPersonsPollutedPriestsProfaneProfanedProphetsRecklessSacredSanctuaryTreacherousTreacheryUncleanViolatedViolenceViolentlyWantonZephaniah 3 1.A sharp reproof of Jerusalem for various sins.8.An exhortation to wait for the restoration of Israel,14.and to rejoice for their salvation by God.Her prophets are reckless, faithless men.The prophets in Zephaniah's time were expected to be the mouthpieces of God, delivering His messages to the people. However, these prophets were described as reckless, indicating a lack of carefulness and responsibility in their duties. The term "faithless" suggests a betrayal of their divine calling, as they were not adhering to the truth of God's word. This reflects a broader theme in the Old Testament where false prophets led the people astray ( Jeremiah 23:16-17). The failure of the prophets is a significant issue, as they were supposed to guide the nation spiritually. This phrase highlights the spiritual decay and corruption among the leaders of Judah, which is a recurring theme in the prophetic books. Her priests profane the sanctuary;
The priests were responsible for maintaining the sanctity of the temple, the central place of worship for the Israelites. To "profane the sanctuary" means they were defiling what was holy, possibly through improper sacrifices or allowing idolatrous practices (Ezekiel 22:26). This desecration of the temple was a grave sin, as the sanctuary was where God's presence dwelt among His people. The priests' actions would have been seen as a direct affront to God, undermining the covenant relationship between God and Israel. This reflects the broader issue of religious leaders failing in their duties, a problem also addressed by other prophets like Malachi (Malachi 2:1-9). they do violence to the law.
The law, or Torah, was the foundation of Israelite society, encompassing moral, ceremonial, and civil guidelines. To "do violence to the law" implies a distortion or outright rejection of God's commandments. This could involve misinterpretation, neglect, or manipulation of the law for personal gain. Such actions would lead to injustice and societal breakdown, as the law was intended to reflect God's righteousness and justice (Deuteronomy 4:8). This phrase underscores the theme of covenant unfaithfulness, as the leaders were not upholding the standards set by God. The failure to adhere to the law is a recurring issue in the Old Testament, often leading to calls for repentance and warnings of impending judgment (Isaiah 5:20-24). Persons / Places / Events 1. ProphetsIn the context of Zephaniah, these are individuals who were supposed to be God's messengers but had become reckless and treacherous, leading the people astray. 2. PriestsReligious leaders responsible for maintaining the sanctity of the temple and the law, yet they are described as profaning the sanctuary and doing violence to the law. 3. SanctuaryThe holy place where God was worshiped, which the priests were defiling through their actions. 4. LawRefers to the Torah, the divine instructions given to the Israelites, which the priests were supposed to uphold but were instead violating. 5. JerusalemThe city where these events are taking place, representing the spiritual and political center of Judah. Teaching Points The Responsibility of LeadershipSpiritual leaders have a significant responsibility to guide their communities in truth and righteousness. When they fail, it leads to widespread corruption and spiritual decay. The Sanctity of WorshipThe sanctuary represents a place of holiness. As believers, we must ensure that our worship remains pure and aligned with God's commands. The Importance of the LawGod's law is not just a set of rules but a guide for living a life that honors Him. Violating the law leads to spiritual harm and separation from God. The Consequences of TreacheryRecklessness and treachery in spiritual matters have severe consequences, not just for the leaders but for the entire community. Call to RepentanceRecognizing the failures of leaders and individuals alike should lead to repentance and a return to God's ways. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Zephaniah 3
In Jeremiah 2:8, why do historical records and other biblical accounts seemingly fail to mention the prophets and priests abandoning the Lord so decisively?
In Leviticus 22:3, why would a loving God issue such a severe punishment for priests who approach holy things while unclean?
1 Samuel 3:7 - How could a child with no prior knowledge of God accurately identify and respond to a supernatural voice?
What evidence exists that Joshua's crowning (Zechariah 6:9-15) actually took place as recorded, given the lack of external documentation?Verse 4. - Her prophets. These are the false prophets, who have no true mission from God (comp. Micah 2:11; Micah 3:5). Light; either, frivolous or empty boasters. The word means properly, "boiling over," like water. Vulgate, vesani; Septuagint, πνευματοφόροι, which means, probably, not "inspired by an (evil) spirit," but "carried away by the wind," "light" (comp. Matthew 11:7). Treacherous persons; literally, men of treacheries, who uttered their own fancies as if they were commissioned by God, and so really opposed him whom they professed to represent ( Jeremiah 23:32). Her priests have polluted the sanctuary ( what is holy). Not the temple only, but all that has to do with God's service, worship, rites, sacrifices; they make no distinction between what is sacred and what is profane ( Ezekiel 22:26). They have done violence to the Law. Chiefly, doubtless, by distorting its meaning, and neither observing it themselves nor teaching others to keep it.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Her prophetsנְבִיאֶ֙יהָ֙(nə·ḇî·’e·hā)Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5030:A spokesman, speaker, prophetare reckless,פֹּֽחֲזִ֔ים(pō·ḥă·zîm)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6348:To bubble up, froth, to be unimportantfaithlessבֹּֽגְד֑וֹת(bō·ḡə·ḏō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 900:Treacheriesmen.אַנְשֵׁ֖י(’an·šê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 582:Man, mankindHer priestsכֹּהֲנֶ֙יהָ֙(kō·hă·ne·hā)Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3548:Priestprofaneחִלְּלוּ־(ḥil·lə·lū-)Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2490:To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to playthe sanctuary;קֹ֔דֶשׁ(qō·ḏeš)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944:A sacred place, thing, sanctitythey do violence toחָמְס֖וּ(ḥā·mə·sū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2554:To treat violently or wrongthe law.תּוֹרָֽה׃(tō·w·rāh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8451:Direction, instruction, law
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OT Prophets: Zephaniah 3:4 Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people (Zeph. Zep Zp) |
