Zephaniah 1:12

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps; and I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְהָיָה֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא אֲחַפֵּ֥שׂ אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּנֵּר֑וֹת וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י עַל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַקֹּֽפְאִים֙ עַל־שִׁמְרֵיהֶ֔ם הָאֹֽמְרִים֙ בִּלְבָבָ֔ם לֹֽא־יֵיטִ֥יב יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א יָרֵֽעַ׃

Transliteration

wəhāyāh in-ʿēṯ hahîʾ ʾăḥappēś ʾeṯ-Yərûšālayim with-hannērôṯ, ûp̄āqaḏtî ʿal-hāʾănāšîm haqqōp̄əʾîm ʿal-šimrêhem, hāʾōmərîm in-liḇḇām not-yêṭîḇ YHWH and-not yārēaʿ.

Grammar Details

• *wəhāyāh*: conjunction + qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - and it will be
• *ʿēṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - time
• *hahîʾ*: demonstrative pronoun, feminine singular - that
• *ʾăḥappēś*: piel imperfect, 1st person singular - I will search
• *ʾeṯ*: direct object marker
• *Yərûšālayim*: proper name, Jerusalem
• *hannērôṯ*: noun, feminine plural with definite article - the lamps
• *ûp̄āqaḏtî*: conjunction + qal perfect, 1st person singular - and I will punish/visit
• *ʿal*: preposition - upon
• *hāʾănāšîm*: noun, masculine plural with definite article - the men
• *haqqōp̄əʾîm*: qal participle, masculine plural with definite article - the ones thickening/congealing
• *šimrêhem*: noun, masculine plural with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their dregs/lees
• *hāʾōmərîm*: qal participle, masculine plural with definite article - the ones saying
• *liḇḇām*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their heart
• *yêṭîḇ*: hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will do good
• *YHWH*: divine name, tetragrammaton
• *yārēaʿ*: hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will do harm

Word Meanings

• *ʾăḥappēś*: I will search/examine/investigate
• *haqqōp̄əʾîm ʿal-šimrêhem*: the ones thickening on their dregs/those who are settled like wine left on its dregs (metaphor for complacency)
• *liḇḇām*: their heart/mind/inner self
• *yêṭîḇ*: he will do good/benefit/act favorably
• *yārēaʿ*: he will do harm/act unfavorably/do evil

Referenced Verses

• Jer 48:11 : 11 Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remaineth in him, and his scent is not changed.
• Ezek 8:12 : 12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? for they say, Jehovah seeth us not; Jehovah hath forsaken the land.
• Amos 6:1 : 1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and to them that are secure in the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!
• Ezek 9:9 : 9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of wresting [of judgment]: for they say, Jehovah hath forsaken the land, and Jehovah seeth not.
• Amos 9:1-3 : 1 I saw the Lord standing beside the altar: and he said, Smite the capitals, that the thresholds may shake; and break them in pieces on the head of all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: there shall not one of them flee away, and there shall not one of them escape. 2 Though they dig into Sheol, thence shall my hand take them; and though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down. 3 And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and it shall bite them.
• Ps 94:7 : 7 And they say, Jehovah will not see, Neither will the God of Jacob consider.
• Mal 3:14-15 : 14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built up; yea, they tempt God, and escape.
• Jer 16:16-17 : 16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith Jehovah, and they shall fish them up; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. 17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways; they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity concealed from mine eyes.
• 2 Pet 3:4 : 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
• Rev 2:23 : 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.
• Isa 5:19 : 19 that say, Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
• Jer 10:5 : 5 They are like a palm-tree, of turned work, and speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.
• Job 21:15 : 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
• Ps 10:11-13 : 11 He saith in his heart, God hath forgotten; He hideth his face; he will never see it. 12 Arise, O Jehovah; O God, lift up thy hand: Forget not the poor. 13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, And say in his heart, Thou wilt not require [it]?
• Ps 14:1 : 1 For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works; There is none that doeth good.
• Obad 1:6 : 6 How are [the things of] Esau searched! how are his hidden treasures sought out!