Zephaniah 2:9
Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
Original Language Analysis
לָכֵ֣ן
H3651
לָכֵ֣ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 28
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
חַי
Therefore as I live
H2416
חַי
Therefore as I live
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
2 of 28
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
יְהוָ֨ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֨ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 28
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֜וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֜וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
6 of 28
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
the God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
the God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
7 of 28
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
8 of 28
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
9 of 28
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מוֹאָ֞ב
Surely Moab
H4124
מוֹאָ֞ב
Surely Moab
Strong's:
H4124
Word #:
10 of 28
moab, an incestuous son of lot; also his territory and descendants
תִּֽהְיֶה֙
H1961
תִּֽהְיֶה֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
12 of 28
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וּבְנֵ֤י
and the children
H1121
וּבְנֵ֤י
and the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
13 of 28
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
עַמּוֹן֙
of Ammon
H5983
עַמּוֹן֙
of Ammon
Strong's:
H5983
Word #:
14 of 28
ammon, a son of lot; also his posterity and their country
חָר֛וּל
of nettles
H2738
חָר֛וּל
of nettles
Strong's:
H2738
Word #:
17 of 28
properly, pointed, i.e., a bramble or other thorny weed
וּמִכְרֵה
H953
מֶ֥לַח
H4417
מֶ֥לַח
Strong's:
H4417
Word #:
19 of 28
properly, powder, i.e., (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved)
עַד
and a perpetual
H5704
עַד
and a perpetual
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
21 of 28
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
עוֹלָ֑ם
H5769
עוֹלָ֑ם
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
22 of 28
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
שְׁאֵרִ֤ית
the residue
H7611
שְׁאֵרִ֤ית
the residue
Strong's:
H7611
Word #:
23 of 28
a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion
עַמִּי֙
of my people
H5971
עַמִּי֙
of my people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
24 of 28
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וְיֶ֥תֶר
them and the remnant
H3499
וְיֶ֥תֶר
them and the remnant
Strong's:
H3499
Word #:
26 of 28
properly, an overhanging, i.e., (by implication) a small rope (as hanging free)
Cross References
Isaiah 11:14But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.Deuteronomy 29:23And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:Isaiah 25:10For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.Isaiah 49:18Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.Jeremiah 50:40As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.
Historical Context
The Dead Sea's eastern shore, once Moab and Ammon's territory, remains largely desolate—one of earth's harshest environments. Archaeological sites show destruction layers from Babylonian campaigns, followed by sparse occupation. The Nabataeans and later Arabs occupied the region, but Moabites and Ammonites disappeared as distinct peoples.
Questions for Reflection
- What does God's oath 'as I live' teach about the certainty of His promises and threats?
- How does the fate of Moab and Ammon warn against taking advantage of God's people during their weakness?
- In what sense does the church—the 'remnant'—inherit the territories of hostile powers that opposed God's kingdom?
Analysis & Commentary
Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts (chai-ani ne'um YHWH tseva'ot)—God swears by His own life, the strongest possible oath (Hebrews 6:13). His own existence guarantees this judgment. 'LORD of hosts' emphasizes His command over heavenly armies.
Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah—The fate of Lot's descendants mirrors Lot's original cities (Genesis 19:24-25). The breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation (mimshaq charul u'mikhrah melach u'shemamah ad-olam)—The Dead Sea region's desolation extends to their territories. Yet the residue of my people shall spoil them—God's remnant will inherit their land, reversing the oppressor-oppressed relationship.