Zephaniah 1:8
New International Version
“On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes.

New Living Translation
“On that day of judgment,” says the LORD, “I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah and all those following pagan customs.

English Standard Version
And on the day of the LORD’s sacrifice— “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire.

Berean Standard Bible
“On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the princes, the sons of the king, and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

New King James Version
“And it shall be, In the day of the LORD’s sacrifice, That I will punish the princes and the king’s children, And all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.

New American Standard Bible
“Then it will come about on the day of the LORD’S sacrifice That I will punish the princes, the king’s sons, And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.

NASB 1995
“Then it will come about on the day of the LORD’S sacrifice That I will punish the princes, the king’s sons And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.

NASB 1977
“Then it will come about on the day of the LORD’s sacrifice, That I will punish the princes, the king’s sons, And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Then it will be on the day of Yahweh’s sacrifice That I will punish the princes, the king’s sons, And all who clothe themselves with foreign garments.

Amplified Bible
“Then it will come about on the day of the LORD’S sacrifice That I will punish the princes and the king’s sons And all who are clothed in [lavish] foreign apparel [reflecting their paganism].

Christian Standard Bible
On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials, the king’s sons, and all who are dressed in foreign clothing.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials, the king’s sons, and all who are dressed in foreign clothing.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass in the day of Jehovah's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's sons, and all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.

Contemporary English Version
On that day I will punish national leaders and sons of the king, along with all who follow foreign customs.

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's sons, and all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"On the day of the LORD's sacrifice I will punish the officials, the king's sons, and all who dress in foreign clothing.

Good News Translation
"On that day of slaughter," says the LORD, "I will punish the officials, the king's sons, and all who practice foreign customs.

International Standard Version
"It will come about during the LORD's sacrifice that I'll punish the officials, the royal descendants, and all who wear foreign clothing.

Majority Standard Bible
“On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the princes, the sons of the king, and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.

NET Bible
"On the day of the LORD's sacrificial meal, I will punish the princes and the king's sons, and all who wear foreign styles of clothing.

New Heart English Bible
It will happen in the day of the LORD's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, the king's sons, and all those who are clothed with foreign clothing.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.

World English Bible
It will happen in the day of Yahweh’s sacrifice that I will punish the princes, the king’s sons, and all those who are clothed with foreign clothing.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“And it has come to pass, "" In the day of the sacrifice of YHWH, "" That I have laid a charge on the heads, "" And on sons of the king, "" And on all putting on strange clothing.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass, In the day of the sacrifice of Jehovah, That I have laid a charge on the heads, And on sons of the king, And on all putting on strange clothing.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was in the day of the sacrifice of Jehovah, and I reviewed upon the chiefs and upon the sons of the king, and upon all having put on strange clothing.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it shall come to pass in the day of the victim of the Lord, that I will visit upon the princes, and upon the king's sons, and upon all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And this shall be: in the day of the victim of the Lord, I will visit upon the leaders, and upon the sons of the king, and upon all who have been clothed with strange garments.

New American Bible
On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king’s sons, and all who dress in foreign apparel.

New Revised Standard Version
And on the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who dress themselves in foreign attire.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice that I will punish the princes and the king's children, and all such as are clothed in strange apparel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And it will be in the day of the sacrifice of LORD JEHOVAH, I shall adjudge against the Princes and against the children of the King and against all who have been wearing foreign clothing
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, That I will punish the princes, and the king's sons, And all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord's sacrifice, that I will take vengeance on the princes, and on the king's house, and upon all that wear strange apparel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day of the LORD
7Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests. 8 On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the princes, the sons of the king, and all who are dressed in foreign apparel. 9On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.…

Cross References
Isaiah 3:16-26
The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty—walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles— / the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.” / In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents; ...

2 Kings 10:22
And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them.

Ezekiel 9:5-6
And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone! / Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.

Amos 3:2
“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

Isaiah 24:21
In that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below.

Jeremiah 25:29-30
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’ / So you are to prophesy all these words against them and say to them: ‘The LORD will roar from on high; He will raise His voice from His holy habitation. He will roar loudly over His pasture; like those who tread the grapes, He will call out with a shout against all the inhabitants of the earth.

Malachi 3:2-3
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. / And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.

1 Peter 4:17
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

Matthew 22:11-13
But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes. / ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless. / Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Revelation 19:17-18
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, / so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”

Isaiah 2:12
For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled—

Jeremiah 9:25-26
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh— / Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and all the inhabitants of the desert who clip the hair of their temples. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”

Ezekiel 30:3-4
For the day is near, the Day of the LORD is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. / A sword will come against Egypt, and there will be anguish in Cush when the slain fall in Egypt, its wealth is taken away, and its foundations are torn down.

Luke 12:47-48
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. / But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. / Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’


Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

punish.

Isaiah 10:12
Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

Isaiah 24:21
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

the princes.

2 Kings 23:30-34
And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead…

2 Kings 24:12,13
And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign…

2 Kings 25:6,7,19-21
So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him…

strange.

Deuteronomy 22:5
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

2 Kings 10:22
And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.

Isaiah 3:18-24
In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, …

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Apparel Array Attire Charge Children Clad Clothe Clothed Clothes Clothing Foreign Garments Heads Jehovah's King's LORD's Offering Officials Princes Punish Punishment Putting Rulers Sacrifice Strange Themselves
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Apparel Array Attire Charge Children Clad Clothe Clothed Clothes Clothing Foreign Garments Heads Jehovah's King's LORD's Offering Officials Princes Punish Punishment Putting Rulers Sacrifice Strange Themselves
Zephaniah 1
1. The time when Zephaniah prophesied.
2. God's severe judgments against Judah.














On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice
This phrase refers to a specific time of divine judgment and intervention. The "day of the LORD" is a recurring theme in the prophetic books, symbolizing a time when God will execute judgment and establish His justice. The Hebrew word for "sacrifice" (זֶבַח, zevach) often implies a ritual offering, suggesting that this day is set apart for a significant divine act. Historically, this could be linked to the practice of sacrificial offerings in the temple, which were central to Israelite worship. Theologically, it underscores the seriousness of God's judgment, as sacrifices were solemn and sacred events.

I will punish the princes
The term "princes" (שָׂרִים, sarim) refers to the leaders or officials of Judah. In the historical context, these were the individuals responsible for guiding the nation according to God's laws. Their punishment indicates a failure in leadership, where they led the people away from God's commandments. This highlights the biblical principle that leaders are held to a higher standard and are accountable for their influence over others.

and the king’s sons
This phrase specifically targets the royal family, indicating that even those of noble birth are not exempt from God's judgment. The "king’s sons" would have been expected to uphold the covenant and lead by example. Their inclusion in this prophecy suggests a corruption or deviation from their divine responsibilities. It serves as a reminder that God's justice is impartial and extends to all levels of society.

and all who are dressed in foreign apparel
The mention of "foreign apparel" (מַלְבּוּשׁ נָכְרִי, malbush nokhri) symbolizes the adoption of foreign customs and practices, which often included idolatry and pagan rituals. In the ancient Near Eastern context, clothing was a significant cultural marker, and wearing foreign garments could indicate a departure from covenantal identity. This phrase warns against the assimilation into surrounding pagan cultures, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a distinct identity as God's people. It serves as a call to holiness and separation from worldly influences, aligning with the broader biblical narrative of Israel as a chosen nation set apart for God's purposes.

Verse 8. The prophet names the three classes of people who shall be smitten in this judgment. First, the princes. In the day of the Lord's sacrifice (see note on ver. 7). God is speaking; so the name of the Lord is employed instead of the pronoun (comp. Lamentations 3:66). I will punish; literally, visit upon (ver. 12; Amos 3:14). The princes. The heads of tribes and families, nobles and magistrates. The king's children (sons); Septuagint, τὸν οϊκον τοῦ βασιλέως, "the house of the king." The royal family, not specially the sons of Josiah, who, if they were then in existence, must have been mere children, but princes of the royal house. The reference may be particularly to the sons of the king reigning when the judgment fell (see 2 Kings 25:7). The king himself is not mentioned as subject to the judgment, inasmuch as he was pious and obedient (2 Chronicles 34:27, etc.). In the mention of these "children" Keil finds proof of the late origin of the prophecy. Such as are clothed with strange apparel. This clause must represent the sin for which the princes are "visited." "Strange" apparel means "foreign" apparel, and this implied foreign manners and habits. The Israelites were reminded by their very dress that they were a peculiar people, consecrated to God's service (Numbers 15:37, etc.; Deuteronomy 22:12). These nobles, however, assumed the dress of the Egyptians and other nations with which they came in contact, and, despising their own national customs, copied the manners and vices of foreigners (comp. Isaiah 3:16-24; Ezekiel 20:32; 1 Macc. 1:11-15).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
On the Day
בְּיוֹם֙ (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of the LORD’s
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

sacrifice
זֶ֣בַח (ze·ḇaḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2077: A slaughter, the flesh of an animal, a sacrifice

I will punish
וּפָקַדְתִּ֥י (ū·p̄ā·qaḏ·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

the princes,
הַשָּׂרִ֖ים (haś·śā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

the king’s
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

sons,
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

and all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who are dressed
הַלֹּבְשִׁ֖ים (hal·lō·ḇə·šîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3847: Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe

in foreign
נָכְרִֽי׃ (nā·ḵə·rî)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5237: Foreign, alien

apparel.
מַלְבּ֥וּשׁ (mal·būš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4403: A garment, clothing


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OT Prophets: Zephaniah 1:8 It will happen in the day (Zeph. Zep Zp)
Zephaniah 1:7
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