Zephaniah 3:1

Authorized King James Version

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Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

Original Language Analysis

ה֥וֹי Woe H1945
ה֥וֹי Woe
Strong's: H1945
Word #: 1 of 5
oh!
מֹרְאָ֖ה to her that is filthy H4754
מֹרְאָ֖ה to her that is filthy
Strong's: H4754
Word #: 2 of 5
to rebel; hence (through the idea of maltreating) to whip, i.e., lash (self with wings, as the ostrich in running)
וְנִגְאָלָ֑ה and polluted H1351
וְנִגְאָלָ֑ה and polluted
Strong's: H1351
Word #: 3 of 5
to soil or (figuratively) desecrate
הָעִ֖יר city H5892
הָעִ֖יר city
Strong's: H5892
Word #: 4 of 5
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
הַיּוֹנָֽה׃ to the oppressing H3238
הַיּוֹנָֽה׃ to the oppressing
Strong's: H3238
Word #: 5 of 5
to rage or be violent; by implication, to suppress, to maltreat

Cross References

Jeremiah 6:6For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.Isaiah 59:13In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.Isaiah 30:12Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:Zechariah 7:10And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.Ezekiel 22:7In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.Malachi 3:5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.Isaiah 5:7For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.Jeremiah 22:17But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.Leviticus 1:16And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:Micah 2:2And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

Analysis & Commentary

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! This prophetic denunciation opens Zephaniah's third chapter with a threefold indictment of Jerusalem. The Hebrew word "filthy" (mor'ah, מֹרְאָה) means rebellious or defiled, describing deliberate resistance to God's authority. "Polluted" (nig'alah, נִגְאָלָה) refers to moral contamination and defilement, particularly through idolatry and injustice. "Oppressing" (hayonah, הַיּוֹנָה) depicts the city as a violent oppressor of the weak and vulnerable.

The triple accusation—religious rebellion, moral corruption, and social oppression—represents comprehensive covenant violation. Jerusalem, called to be a holy city and light to the nations, had become indistinguishable from pagan cities characterized by idolatry and injustice. The prophetic "woe" (hoy, הוֹי) is both a lament and a warning, expressing grief over sin and announcing coming judgment.

Zephaniah's indictment echoes the covenantal curses of Deuteronomy 28 and recalls the prophetic tradition of Amos, Isaiah, and Jeremiah who denounced social injustice alongside religious apostasy. The verse establishes that God's judgment begins with His own people (1 Peter 4:17) and that privilege brings greater responsibility. For the New Testament church, this warning remains relevant: religious profession without righteous living invites divine judgment rather than blessing.

Historical Context

Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of King Josiah of Judah (640-609 BCE), likely in the early years before Josiah's reforms began in earnest (circa 621 BCE). This was a time of spiritual decline following the wickedly idolatrous reigns of Manasseh and Amon. Jerusalem was filled with Baal worship, astral cults, child sacrifice, and rampant social injustice.

The historical context reveals why Zephaniah opens his oracle against Jerusalem with such severity. The city's leadership—princes, judges, prophets, and priests—had systematically violated covenant law while maintaining outward religious observance. Archaeological evidence from this period shows widespread syncretism, with Yahweh worship corrupted by Canaanite and Assyrian religious practices.

Zephaniah's prophecy anticipated both the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE and ultimate restoration beyond judgment. His message called for genuine repentance before the "day of the LORD"—a phrase occurring prominently throughout the book. The historical fulfillment came when Babylon destroyed the "oppressing city," vindicating God's word through His prophet.

Questions for Reflection