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Zephaniah 3:6

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Zephaniah 3:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.
Zephaniah 3:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Zephaniah 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow.
4Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
5Jehovah in the midst of her is righteous; he will not do iniquity; every morning doth he bring his justice to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
6I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.
7I said, Only fear thou me; receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, [according to] all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings.
8Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9For then will I turn to the peoples of a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent.
← Zephaniah 3:5Zephaniah 3:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I have cut off the nations, etc.] Utterly destroyed them, as the Philistines, Moabites, Ethiopians, and Assyrians, as in the preceding chapters; all which were done before the coming of Christ in the flesh; and by which instances the Jews should have took warning, lest by their sins they should provoke the Lord to destroy their nation, city, and temple: their towers are desolate; built on their frontiers, or on the walls of their cities, to defend them; these were demolished, and laid waste, and of no use: or, “their corners”f103; towers being usually built on the angles or corners of walls. Some interpret this of their princes, nobles, and great men, who were destroyed; (see…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I had hoped that My people by My judgments on other nations would be led to amendment; but they are not, so blinded by sin are they. towers--literally, "angles" or "corners"; hence the towers built at the angles of their city walls. Under Josiah's long and peaceful reign the Jews were undisturbed, while the great incursion of Scythians into Western Asia took place. The judgment on the ten tribes in a former reign also is here alluded to.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I have cut off the nations - God appeals to His judgments on pagan nations, not on any particular nation, as far as we know; but to past history, whether of those, of whose destruction Israel itself had been the instrument, or others. The judgments upon the nations before them were set forth to them, when they were about to enter on their inheritance, as a warning to themselves. “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things, for in all these have the nations defiled themselves, which I cast out before you: and the land is defiled; therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants. And ye, ye shall keep My statutes and My judgements and shall not…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The nations - Of old, the Canaanites, lastly the ten tribes, and later yet, the Assyrians. Zephaniah 3:7”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“cut: Isa. 10:1-34, 15:1-16:14, 19:1-25, Isa 37:11-13, Isa 37:24-26, Isa 37:36; Jer 25:9-11; Jer 25:18-26; Nahum 2:1-3:19; Co1 10:6, Co1 10:11 towers: or, corners Zephaniah 3:7”
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Related study paths

Read Zephaniah 3 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification