Zephaniah 1:15
That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
Original Language Analysis
י֥וֹם
That day
H3117
י֥וֹם
That day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
1 of 16
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
י֥וֹם
That day
H3117
י֥וֹם
That day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
3 of 16
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַה֑וּא
H1931
הַה֑וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
4 of 16
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
י֥וֹם
That day
H3117
י֥וֹם
That day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
5 of 16
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
י֥וֹם
That day
H3117
י֥וֹם
That day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
8 of 16
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
וּמְשׁוֹאָ֔ה
and desolation
H4875
וּמְשׁוֹאָ֔ה
and desolation
Strong's:
H4875
Word #:
10 of 16
(a) ruin, abstractly (the act) or concretely (the wreck)
י֥וֹם
That day
H3117
י֥וֹם
That day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
11 of 16
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
חֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙
of darkness
H2822
חֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙
of darkness
Strong's:
H2822
Word #:
12 of 16
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
וַאֲפֵלָ֔ה
and gloominess
H653
וַאֲפֵלָ֔ה
and gloominess
Strong's:
H653
Word #:
13 of 16
duskiness, figuratively, misfortune; concrete, concealment
י֥וֹם
That day
H3117
י֥וֹם
That day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
14 of 16
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
Cross References
Joel 2:2A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.Isaiah 22:5For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.Revelation 6:17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Historical Context
Zephaniah prophesied during Josiah's reign (640-609 BC), likely before the 621 BC reforms. Judah faced imminent Babylonian invasion, making this 'day of wrath' both near-term judgment and eschatological foreshadowing of final judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Zephaniah's imagery challenge superficial views of God's love that ignore His wrath against sin?
- Where do you see 'darkness' in contemporary culture that signals God's withdrawing presence?
- How should the certainty of coming judgment shape your priorities and proclamation today?
Analysis & Commentary
That day is a day of wrath (יוֹם עֶבְרָה yom evrah)—Zephaniah's sevenfold repetition of 'day' (יוֹם yom) creates a drumbeat of doom describing the Day of the LORD. The Latin hymn Dies Irae draws directly from this verse's apocalyptic imagery.
Darkness and gloominess (חֹשֶׁךְ וַאֲפֵלָה choshek va'afelah)—This echoes the ninth plague of Egypt (Exodus 10:22) and Joel's locust judgment (Joel 2:2), establishing the Day of the LORD as a cosmic undoing of creation's light. The clouds and thick darkness (עָנָן וַעֲרָפֶל anan va'arafel) recall Sinai's theophany (Exodus 19:16), but here God comes not to covenant but to judge covenant-breakers.