Zephaniah 1:5

Authorized King James Version

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And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

Original Language Analysis

וְאֶת H853
וְאֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 1 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַמִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙ And them that worship H7812
הַמִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙ And them that worship
Strong's: H7812
Word #: 2 of 12
to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 3 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַגַּגּ֖וֹת upon the housetops H1406
הַגַּגּ֖וֹת upon the housetops
Strong's: H1406
Word #: 4 of 12
a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar
לִצְבָ֣א the host H6635
לִצְבָ֣א the host
Strong's: H6635
Word #: 5 of 12
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם of heaven H8064
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם of heaven
Strong's: H8064
Word #: 6 of 12
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וְאֶת H853
וְאֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 7 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַמִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙ And them that worship H7812
הַמִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙ And them that worship
Strong's: H7812
Word #: 8 of 12
to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)
וְהַנִּשְׁבָּעִ֖ים and that swear H7650
וְהַנִּשְׁבָּעִ֖ים and that swear
Strong's: H7650
Word #: 9 of 12
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
לַֽיהוָ֔ה by the LORD H3068
לַֽיהוָ֔ה by the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 10 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְהַנִּשְׁבָּעִ֖ים and that swear H7650
וְהַנִּשְׁבָּעִ֖ים and that swear
Strong's: H7650
Word #: 11 of 12
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
בְּמַלְכָּֽם׃ H4445
בְּמַלְכָּֽם׃
Strong's: H4445
Word #: 12 of 12
milcom, the national idol of the ammonites

Cross References

Jeremiah 19:13And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.1 Kings 11:33Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.2 Kings 17:33They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.Amos 5:26But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.1 Kings 18:21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.2 Kings 17:41So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.2 Kings 23:12And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.Isaiah 44:5One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.Isaiah 45:23I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.Isaiah 48:1Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

Analysis & Commentary

Them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops—Tzeva ha-shamayim (צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם), "the host of heaven," refers to astral deities: sun, moon, stars, and planets worshiped throughout the Ancient Near East. Deuteronomy 4:19 and 17:3 explicitly forbid this practice, yet it flourished in Judah. Flat-roofed houses provided perfect platforms for star worship—high places where devotees bowed to celestial bodies, offered incense, and sought divination (2 Kings 21:5, 23:5; Jeremiah 19:13). Astral religion appealed to human desire to discern fate through astronomy/astrology, bypassing dependence on God's revealed will.

Them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham—This describes religious syncretism, the deadly mixing of true and false worship. These people swear allegiance to Yahweh while simultaneously swearing by Malkam (מַלְכָּם), likely Milcom/Molech, the Ammonite god associated with child sacrifice (1 Kings 11:5, 33; 2 Kings 23:10). The verb swear (shaba, שָׁבַע) means taking oaths, binding oneself in covenant loyalty. To swear by both Yahweh and Molech represents theological schizophrenia—attempting divided loyalty that God utterly rejects.

Jesus echoed this principle: "No man can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). James condemns double-mindedness (James 1:8, 4:8). Elijah confronted Israel: "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). Syncretistic religion—maintaining outward Yahweh worship while incorporating pagan practices—constitutes covenant adultery. God demands exclusive loyalty, undivided affection, single-hearted devotion. Anything less invites His jealous judgment upon those who claim His name while serving other gods.

Historical Context

Astral worship intensified during Assyrian domination (eighth-seventh centuries BC). Assyrian religion heavily emphasized celestial deities, and vassal states like Judah adopted these practices under political-cultural pressure. Manasseh "worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them" and "built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD" (2 Kings 21:3-5)—bringing star worship into God's temple itself. Archaeological evidence confirms widespread astral cult practices in Iron Age Judah.

Rooftop worship appears repeatedly in Jeremiah's contemporary prophecies. Jeremiah 19:13 condemns houses whose roofs were used for burning incense to celestial bodies. Jeremiah 32:29 describes houses where people "have burned incense upon the roofs unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods." These weren't secret, hidden practices but public, normalized religious activities integrated into daily life. The syncretism was so complete that worshipers saw no contradiction between temple sacrifices and rooftop astral rites.

Molech/Milcom worship involved horrific child sacrifice in the Valley of Hinnom (called Topheth) just outside Jerusalem's walls. Parents would "pass their children through the fire to Molech" (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 32:35)—burning infants alive as offerings to ensure prosperity and fertility. That people could maintain Yahweh worship while practicing such abominations demonstrates sin's capacity to blind conscience and harden hearts. Josiah defiled Topheth to prevent further child sacrifice (2 Kings 23:10), but the spiritual corruption persisted, warranting the total judgment Zephaniah announces.

Questions for Reflection