Zephaniah 1:17

Authorized King James Version

And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַהֲצֵרֹ֣תִי
H6887
And I will bring distress
to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive
#2
לָאָדָ֗ם
H120
upon men
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
#3
וְהָֽלְכוּ֙
H1980
that they shall walk
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#4
כַּֽעִוְרִ֔ים
H5787
like blind men
blind (literally or figuratively)
#5
כִּ֥י
H3588
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#6
לַֽיהוָ֖ה
H3068
against the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#7
חָטָ֑אוּ
H2398
because they have sinned
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
#8
וְשֻׁפַּ֤ךְ
H8210
shall be poured out
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
#9
דָּמָם֙
H1818
and their blood
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
#10
כֶּֽעָפָ֔ר
H6083
as dust
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
#11
וּלְחֻמָ֖ם
H3894
and their flesh
properly, eaten, i.e., food; also flesh, i.e., body
#12
כַּגְּלָלִֽים׃
H1561
as the dung
dung (plural balls of dung)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection