Lectionary Calendar
Monday, August 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

Zephaniah 1:3

I will destroy all the people and all the animals. I will destroy the birds in the air and the fish in the sea. I will destroy the evil people and everything that makes them sin. I will remove all people from the earth." This is what the Lord said.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Stumbling;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Animals;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Hosea;   Zephaniah, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Zephaniah, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Deuteronomy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Day of Judgment;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Stumbling (block and stone);   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Assyria;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Consume;   Fish;   Josiah;   Stumbling-Block;   Zephaniah, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I will sweep away people and animals;I will sweep away the birds of the skyand the fish of the sea,and the ruins along with the wicked.I will cut off mankindfrom the face of the earth.
Hebrew Names Version
I will sweep away man and animal. I will sweep away the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and the heaps of rubble with the wicked. I will cut off man from the surface of the eretz, says the LORD.
King James Version (1611)
I will consume man and beast: I will consume the foules of the heauen and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked, and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord.
King James Version
I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord .
English Standard Version
"I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth," declares the Lord .
New American Standard Bible
"I will remove human and animal life; I will remove the birds of the sky And the fish of the sea, And the ruins along with the wicked; And I will eliminate mankind from the face of the earth," declares the LORD.
New Century Version
"I will sweep away the people and animals; I will destroy the birds in the air and the fish of the sea. I will ruin the evil people, and I will remove human beings from the earth," says the Lord .
Amplified Bible
"I will consume and sweep away man and beast; I will consume and sweep away the birds of the air And the fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks (idols) along with the wicked; And I will cut off and destroy man from the face of the earth," declares the LORD.
Geneva Bible (1587)
I will destroy man and beast: I wil destroy the foules of the heauen, and the fishes of the sea, and ruines shalbe to the wicked, and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"I will remove man and beast; I will remove the birds of the sky And the fish of the sea, And the ruins along with the wicked; And I will cut off man from the face of the earth," declares the LORD.
Legacy Standard Bible
"I will end man and beast;I will end the birds of the skyAnd the fish of the seaAnd the ruins along with the wicked;And I will cut off man from the face of the ground," declares Yahweh.
Berean Standard Bible
"I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth," declares the LORD.
Contemporary English Version
people and animals, birds and fish. Everyone who is evil will crash to the ground, and I will wipe out the entire human race.
Complete Jewish Bible
"I will sweep away humans and animals, the birds in the air and the fish in the sea, also the wicked and what makes them stumble; I will wipe humanity off the land," says Adonai .
Darby Translation
I will take away man and beast; I will take away the fowl of the heavens and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling-blocks with the wicked, and I will cut off mankind from off the face of the ground, saith Jehovah.
George Lamsa Translation
I will remove man and beast; I will remove the fowls of the air and the fish of the sea; I will bring a stumbling block against the wicked; and I will destroy man from the face of the earth, says the LORD.
Good News Translation
all human beings and animals, birds and fish. I will bring about the downfall of the wicked. I will destroy everyone, and no survivors will be left. I, the Lord , have spoken.
Lexham English Bible
"I will destroy humanity and beast; I will destroy the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked. And I will cut off humankind from the face of the earth"—a declaration of Yahweh.
Literal Translation
I will gather away man and beast: I will gather away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the stumbling-blocks, even the wicked. And I will cut off man from the face of the ground, declares Jehovah.
American Standard Version
I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the face of the ground, saith Jehovah.
Bible in Basic English
I will take away man and beast; I will take away the birds of the heaven and the fishes of the sea; causing the downfall of the evil-doers, and cutting man off from the face of the earth, says the Lord.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
I will consume man and beast, I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the face of the earth, saith the LORD.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
I will destroy man and beast, I will destroy the foules in the ayre, and the fishe in the sea, and great ruine shall fall on the wicked, and I wil vtterly destroy the men out of the land, sayth the Lorde.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Let man and cattle be cut off; let the birds of the air and the fishes of the sea be cut off; and the ungodly shall fail, and I will take away the transgressors from the face of the land, saith the Lord.
English Revised Version
I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the face of the ground, saith the LORD.
World English Bible
I will sweep away man and animal. I will sweep away the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and the heaps of rubble with the wicked. I will cut off man from the surface of the earth, says Yahweh.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Y gaderynge man and beeste, Y gaderynge volatils of heuene, and fischis of the see; and fallyngis of vnpitouse men schulen be, and Y schal leese men fro face of erthe, seith the Lord.
Update Bible Version
I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the face of the ground, says Yahweh.
Webster's Bible Translation
I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling-blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
New English Translation
"I will destroy people and animals; I will destroy the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea. (The idolatrous images of these creatures will be destroyed along with evil people.) I will remove humanity from the face of the earth," says the Lord .
New King James Version
"I will consume man and beast;I will consume the birds of the heavens,The fish of the sea,And the stumbling blocks [fn] along with the wicked.I will cut off man from the face of the land,"Says the Lord.
New Living Translation
"I will sweep away people and animals alike. I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish in the sea. I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble, and I will wipe humanity from the face of the earth," says the Lord .
New Life Bible
"I will take away man and animal. I will take away the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea. I will destroy the sinful. And I will take man from off the earth," says the Lord.
New Revised Standard
I will sweep away humans and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. I will make the wicked stumble. I will cut off humanity from the face of the earth, says the Lord .
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I will take away man and beast, I will take away the bird of the heavens and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks, even them who are lawless, - and will cut off mankind, from off the face of the ground, Declareth Yahweh.
Douay-Rheims Bible
I will gather man, and beast, I will gather the birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea: and the ungodly shall meet with ruin: and I will destroy men from off the face of the land, saith the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
"I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. I will overthrow the wicked; I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth," says the LORD.
Young's Literal Translation
I consume man and beast, I consume fowl of the heavens, and fishes of the sea, And the stumbling-blocks -- the wicked, And I have cut off man from the face of the ground, An affirmation of Jehovah,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I wil gather vp man and beest: I wil gather vp the foules in the ayre, and the fysh in the see (to the greate decaye of the wicked) & wil vtterly destroye the men out of the londe, saieth the LORDE.
THE MESSAGE
"Men and women and animals, including birds and fish— Anything and everything that causes sin—will go, but especially people.

Contextual Overview

1 This is the message that the Lord gave to Zephaniah. He received this message during the time that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. Zephaniah was the son of Cushi, who was the son of Gedaliah. Gedaliah was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Hezekiah. 2 The Lord says, "I will destroy everything on earth. 3 I will destroy all the people and all the animals. I will destroy the birds in the air and the fish in the sea. I will destroy the evil people and everything that makes them sin. I will remove all people from the earth." This is what the Lord said. 4 "I will punish Judah and the people living in Jerusalem. I will remove from this place any signs of Baal worship. No one will remember the priests who serve the idols there. 5 And those who go up on their roofs to worship the stars will be forgotten. They worship me, the Lord , but they also use the name of the false god Milcom to make promises. 6 They have turned away from me, the Lord . They have stopped following me. They no longer ask me, the Lord , for help."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

consume man: Jeremiah 4:23-29, Jeremiah 12:4, Hosea 4:3

stumblingblocks: or, idols, Isaiah 27:9, Ezekiel 7:19, Ezekiel 14:3-7, Ezekiel 44:12, Hosea 14:3, Hosea 14:8, Micah 5:11-14, Zechariah 13:2, Matthew 23:39, Revelation 2:14

and I: Ezekiel 14:13-21, Ezekiel 15:6-8

Reciprocal: Genesis 6:7 - General Genesis 7:21 - General Deuteronomy 7:25 - snared Isaiah 2:18 - the idols Isaiah 17:8 - he shall Jeremiah 4:25 - there was no man Jeremiah 10:15 - in the Jeremiah 21:6 - I will Jeremiah 50:3 - both Ezekiel 6:6 - your altars Ezekiel 14:17 - so that Ezekiel 23:48 - I cause Zephaniah 1:18 - he shall

Cross-References

Job 36:30
Look, he spreads lightning all over the sky and covers the deepest part of the ocean.
Job 38:19
"Where does light come from? Where does darkness come from?
Psalms 33:6
The Lord spoke the command, and the world was made. The breath from his mouth created everything in the heavens.
Psalms 33:9
because when he speaks, things happen. And if he says, "Stop!"—then it stops.
Psalms 97:11
Light and happiness shine on those who want to do right.
Psalms 104:2
You wear light like a robe. You spread out the skies like a curtain.
Psalms 118:27
The Lord is God, and he accepts us. Tie up the lamb for the sacrifice and carry it to the horns of the altar."
Psalms 148:5
Let them praise the Lord 's name, because he gave the command and created them all!
Isaiah 45:7
I made the light and the darkness. I bring peace, and I cause trouble. I, the Lord , do all these things.
Isaiah 60:19
"The sun will no longer be your light during the day. The light from the moon will no longer be your light at night. The Lord will be your light forever. Your God will be your glory.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I will consume man and beast,.... Wicked men for their sins, and beasts for the sins of men; and, as a punishment for them, the creatures whom they have abused to the gratifying of their lusts:

I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea; so that there shall be none for the use of man, which are both delicate food; the latter were not consumed at the general deluge. Kimchi thinks this is said by way of hyperbole; but it is possible for these to be consumed, as men by famine, pestilence, and captivity, and beasts by murrain; so the fowls of the air by the noisomeness of it; and the fishes of the sea, that is, such as were in the sea of Tiberias, and other lakes in Judea, by the stagnation of the waters, or by some disease sent among them; unless wicked men, comparable to them, are intended; though they are expressly mentioned, both before and after:

and the stumblingblocks with the wicked: that is, idols, which are stumblingblocks to men, and cause them to offend and fall; these, together with those that made them, and the priests that sacrificed unto them, and the people that worshipped them, should be consumed from off the land: or, "the stumblingblocks of the wicked"; for את is sometimes used as a sign of the genitive case, as Noldius i observes; and so the Vulgate Latin version and the Targum render it:

and I will cut off men from off the land, saith the Lord: this is repeated for the certainty of it; or else this designs another sort of men from the former; and that, as before wicked men are designed, here such as are not perfectly wicked, as Kimchi observes; yea, the righteous should be carried captive, so that the land should be left desolate, without men, good or bad; for even good men may fall in a general calamity, and be cut off from the land, though not from the Lord. The Septuagint indeed here render it wicked men. The phrase, "saith the Lord", is twice expressed, for the certain confirmation of it; for it may be concluded it will be, since God has said it again and again that it shall be.

i Ebr. Concord. Part. p. 122.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The stumbling-blocks with the wicked - Not only shall the wicked be utterly brought to an end, or, in the other meaning of the word, “gathered into bundles to be taken away,” but all causes of stumbling too; everything, through which others can fall, which will not be until the end of all things. Then, he repeats, yet more emphatically, “I will cut off the whole race of man from the face of the earth,” and then he closes the verse, like the foregoing, with the solemn words, “saith the Lord.” All this shall be fulfilled in the Day of Judgment, and all other fulfillments are earnests of the final Judgment. They are witnesses of the ever-living presence of the Judge of all, that God does take account of man’s deeds. They speak to men’s conscience, they attest the existence of a divine law, and therewith of the future complete manifestation of that law, of which they are individual sentences. Not until the prophet has brought this circle of judgments to their close, does he pass on to the particular judgments on Judah and Jerusalem.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Zephaniah 1:3. I will consume man and beast — By war, and by pestilence. Even the waters shall he infected, and the fish destroyed; the air become contaminated, and the fowls die.


 
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