Zephaniah 1:13
New International Version
Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. Though they build houses, they will not live in them; though they plant vineyards, they will not drink the wine.”

New Living Translation
So their property will be plundered, their homes will be ransacked. They will build new homes but never live in them. They will plant vineyards but never drink wine from them.

English Standard Version
Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.”

Berean Standard Bible
Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

King James Bible
Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

New King James Version
Therefore their goods shall become booty, And their houses a desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine.”

New American Standard Bible
“Their wealth will become plunder, And their houses desolate; Yes, they will build houses but not inhabit them, And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.”

NASB 1995
“Moreover, their wealth will become plunder And their houses desolate; Yes, they will build houses but not inhabit them, And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.”

NASB 1977
“Moreover, their wealth will become plunder, And their houses desolate; Yes, they will build houses but not inhabit them, And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And it will be that their wealth will become spoil And their houses desolate; Indeed, they will build houses but not inhabit them, And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.”

Amplified Bible
“Furthermore, their wealth will become plunder And their houses a desolation. Yes, they will build houses but not live in them, And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.”

Christian Standard Bible
Their wealth will become plunder and their houses a ruin. They will build houses but never live in them, plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Their wealth will become plunder and their houses a ruin. They will build houses but never live in them, plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

American Standard Version
And their wealth shall become a spoil, and their houses a desolation: yea, they shall build houses, but shall not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine thereof.

Contemporary English Version
Their possessions will be taken, their homes left in ruins. They won't get to live in the houses they build, or drink wine from the grapes in their own vineyards.

English Revised Version
And their wealth shall become a spoil, and their houses a desolation: yea, they shall build houses, but shall not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine thereof.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Their wealth will be looted. Their homes will be demolished. They will build houses, but they won't live in them. They will plant vineyards, but they won't drink their wine."

Good News Translation
Their wealth will be looted and their houses destroyed. They will never live in the houses they are building or drink wine from the vineyards they are planting."

International Standard Version
Therefore their possessions will be seized as plunder and their homes left in ruins. They may build houses, but they won't live in them. They may plant vineyards, but they won't drink their wine."

Majority Standard Bible
Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

NET Bible
Their wealth will be stolen and their houses ruined! They will not live in the houses they have built, nor will they drink the wine from the vineyards they have planted.

New Heart English Bible
Their wealth will become a spoil, and their houses a desolation. Yes, they will build houses, but won't inhabit them. They will plant vineyards, but won't drink their wine.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine of them.

World English Bible
Their wealth will become a plunder, and their houses a desolation. Yes, they will build houses, but won’t inhabit them. They will plant vineyards, but won’t drink their wine.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And their wealth has been for a spoil, "" And their houses for desolation, "" And they have built houses, and do not inhabit, "" And they have planted vineyards, "" And they do not drink their wine.”

Young's Literal Translation
And their wealth hath been for a spoil, And their houses for desolation, And they have built houses, and do not inhabit, And they have planted vineyards, And they do not drink their wine.

Smith's Literal Translation
And their wealth was for plunder, and their houses for desolation: and they built houses, and they inhabited not; and they planted vineyards, and they shall not drink their wine.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And their strength shall become a booty, and their houses as a desert: and they shall build houses, and shall not dwell in them: and they shall plant vineyards, and shall not drink the wine of them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And their strength will be in plundering, and their houses in the desert. And they will build houses and not dwell in them, and they will plant vineyards and not drink their wine.

New American Bible
Their wealth shall be given to plunder and their houses to devastation; They will build houses, but not dwell in them; They will plant vineyards, but not drink their wine.

New Revised Standard Version
Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore their goods shall become a booty and their houses a desolation; they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Their possessions shall be for loot and their households for destruction, and they shall build houses and will not dwell in them, and they shall plant a vineyard and they shall not drink their wine
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore their wealth shall become a booty, And their houses a desolation; Yea, they shall build houses, but shall not inhabit them, And they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine thereof.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And their power shall be for a spoil, and their houses for utter desolation; and they shall build houses, but shall not dwell in them; and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine of them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day of the LORD
12And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ 13Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine. 14The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:30
You will be pledged in marriage to a woman, but another man will violate her. You will build a house but will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard but will not enjoy its fruit.

Amos 5:11
Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted.

Micah 6:15
You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.

Isaiah 65:21-22
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. / No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.

Jeremiah 8:10
Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.

Habakkuk 2:6-7
Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’ / Will not your creditors suddenly arise and those who disturb you awaken? Then you will become their prey.

Leviticus 26:32-33
And I will lay waste the land, so that your enemies who dwell in it will be appalled. / But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.

Haggai 1:6
You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”

Jeremiah 6:12
Their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and wives as well, for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 7:19
They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity.

Matthew 6:19-20
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Luke 12:20-21
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ / This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

James 5:1-3
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, / his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. / If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ...

Revelation 18:14-17
And they will say: “The fruit of your soul’s desire has departed from you; all your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be seen again.” / The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn, / saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! ...


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

their goods.

Zephaniah 1:9
In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.

Isaiah 6:11
Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

Isaiah 24:1-3
Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof…

build.

Deuteronomy 28:30,39,51
Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof…

Isaiah 5:8,9
Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! …

Isaiah 65:21,22
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them…

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Booty Build Building Built Demolished Desolate Desolation Drink Drinking Goods Houses Inhabit Laid Moreover Plant Planted Planting Plunder Plundered Spoil Thereof Vine-Gardens Vineyards Violently Waste Wealth Wine Won't
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Zephaniah 1
1. The time when Zephaniah prophesied.
2. God's severe judgments against Judah.














Their wealth will become plunder
The Hebrew word for "wealth" here is "חֵילָם" (cheylam), which refers to strength, resources, or riches. In the context of Zephaniah, this wealth is not just material but represents the misplaced trust and security of the people. The term "plunder" (בַּז, baz) indicates a complete and forceful taking away, often used in the context of war. Historically, this reflects the impending Babylonian invasion, where the wealth of Judah would be seized. Spiritually, it serves as a warning against placing trust in material possessions rather than in God.

and their houses a desolation
The word "houses" (בָּתֵּיהֶם, battehem) signifies not only physical structures but also the legacy and stability of the people. "Desolation" (שַׁמָּה, shammah) implies utter ruin and abandonment. Archaeologically, this is supported by evidence of destruction layers in ancient Judahite cities. Theologically, it underscores the consequences of turning away from God, as the security of one's home is found in divine, not earthly, foundations.

they will build houses but not inhabit them
This phrase echoes the futility of human efforts apart from God. The act of building (בָּנוּ, banu) is a symbol of human ambition and endeavor. However, the inability to "inhabit" (יֵשְׁבוּ, yeshevu) these houses points to the ultimate sovereignty of God over human plans. Historically, this was fulfilled when the Babylonians exiled the people of Judah, leaving their homes empty. Spiritually, it serves as a reminder that without God, our labors are in vain.

and plant vineyards but never drink their wine
"Plant" (נָטְעוּ, nat'u) and "vineyards" (כְּרָמִים, keramim) are symbols of prosperity and blessing in the Bible. Wine (יַיִן, yayin) represents joy and celebration. The inability to "drink" (יִשְׁתּוּ, yishtu) from these vineyards signifies a loss of anticipated joy and fulfillment. This reflects the covenant curses found in Deuteronomy 28, where disobedience leads to the loss of blessings. It serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of forsaking God's commandments and the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures without divine blessing.

Verse 13. - Their goods; literally, their strength; their wealth in which they trusted shall become the prey of the enemy, and thus they shall learn that God ruleth in the affairs of men. They shall also build houses, etc. They shall prove in their own case the reality of the punishment threatened in the Law (Leviticus 26:32, etc.; Deuteronomy 28:30, 39; comp. Amos 5:11; Micah 6:15).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Their wealth
חֵילָם֙ (ḥê·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

will be
וְהָיָ֤ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

plundered
לִמְשִׁסָּ֔ה (lim·šis·sāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4933: Booty, plunder

and their houses
וּבָתֵּיהֶ֖ם (ū·ḇāt·tê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1004: A house

laid waste.
לִשְׁמָמָ֑ה (liš·mā·māh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8077: Devastation, astonishment

They will build
וּבָנ֤וּ (ū·ḇā·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1129: To build

houses
בָתִּים֙ (ḇāt·tîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1004: A house

but not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

inhabit [them],
יֵשֵׁ֔בוּ (yê·šê·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

and plant
וְנָטְע֣וּ (wə·nā·ṭə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5193: To strike in, fix, to plant

vineyards
כְרָמִ֔ים (ḵə·rā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3754: A garden, vineyard

but never
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

drink
יִשְׁתּ֖וּ (yiš·tū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

their wine.
יֵינָֽם׃ (yê·nām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication


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OT Prophets: Zephaniah 1:13 Their wealth will become a spoil (Zeph. Zep Zp)
Zephaniah 1:12
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