Zephaniah 2:6
New International Version
The land by the sea will become pastures having wells for shepherds and pens for flocks.

New Living Translation
The Philistine coast will become a wilderness pasture, a place of shepherd camps and enclosures for sheep and goats.

English Standard Version
And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures, with meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks.

Berean Standard Bible
So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.

King James Bible
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

New King James Version
The seacoast shall be pastures, With shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks.

New American Standard Bible
So the seacoast will become grazing places, With pastures for shepherds and folds for flocks.

NASB 1995
So the seacoast will be pastures, With caves for shepherds and folds for flocks.

NASB 1977
So the seacoast will be pastures, With caves for shepherds and folds for flocks.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the seacoast will be pastures, With caves for shepherds and folds for flocks.

Amplified Bible
So the [depopulated] seacoast shall be pastures, With [deserted] meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks.

Christian Standard Bible
The seacoast will become pasturelands with caves for shepherds and pens for sheep.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The seacoast will become pasturelands with caves for shepherds and folds for sheep.

American Standard Version
And the sea-coast shall be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.

Contemporary English Version
Your seacoast will be changed into pastureland and sheep pens.

English Revised Version
And the sea coast shall be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The seacoast will become pastureland with meadows for shepherds and fenced-off places for sheep.

Good News Translation
Your land by the sea will become open fields with shepherd's huts and sheep pens.

International Standard Version
The Philistine coast will become meadows for shepherds and sheep pens.

Majority Standard Bible
So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.

NET Bible
The seacoast will be used as pasture lands by the shepherds and as pens for their flocks.

New Heart English Bible
The sea coast will be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

World English Bible
The sea coast will be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the seacoast has been habitations, "" Cottages [for] shepherds, and folds [for] a flock.

Young's Literal Translation
And the sea-coast hath been habitations, Cottages for shepherds, and folds for a flock.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the region of the sea was a dwelling, and a cutting off of the shepherds and sheepfolds.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the sea coast shall be the resting place of shepherds, and folds for cattle:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the coastline of the sea will be a resting place for shepherds and a fence line for cattle.

New American Bible
You shall become fields for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

New Revised Standard Version
And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures, meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the seacoast shall become pastures for sheep, and Crete a pasture for flocks of sheep.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the coast of the sea will be pastures, and Crete a place of pasture for folds of sheep
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the sea-coast shall be pastures, Even meadows for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Crete shall be a pasture of flocks, and a fold of sheep.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Judgment on the Philistines
5Woe to the dwellers of the seacoast, O nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you, and no one will be left.” 6So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep. 7The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; there they will find pasture. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Ashkelon, for the LORD their God will attend to them and restore their captives.…

Cross References
Isaiah 11:14
They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines to the west; together they will plunder the sons of the east. They will lay their hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.

Jeremiah 49:28-33
Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated, this is what the LORD says: “Rise up, advance against Kedar, and destroy the people of the east! / They will take their tents and flocks, their tent curtains and all their goods. They will take their camels for themselves. They will shout to them: ‘Terror is on every side!’ / Run! Escape quickly! Lie low, O residents of Hazor,” declares the LORD, “for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has drawn up a plan against you; he has devised a strategy against you. ...

Ezekiel 25:4-5
therefore I will indeed give you as a possession to the people of the East. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk. / I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’

Isaiah 17:2
The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear.

Jeremiah 6:3
Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her, each tending his own portion:

Isaiah 32:14
For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever—the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks—

Ezekiel 34:13-14
I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the settlements of the land. / I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

Jeremiah 50:19
I will return Israel to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan; his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.

Isaiah 35:7
The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.

Ezekiel 36:35
Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’

Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Luke 12:32
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

John 10:9
I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.

Hebrews 4:9-10
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. / For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”


Treasury of Scripture

And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

the sea.

Zephaniah 2:14,15
And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work…

Isaiah 17:2
The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

Ezekiel 25:5
And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Jump to Previous
Caves Coast Dwell Dwellings Flock Flocks Folds Grass-Land Houses Keepers Kerethites Meadows Pastures Pens Places Sea Seacoast Sea-Coast Sheep Shepherds Walled
Jump to Next
Caves Coast Dwell Dwellings Flock Flocks Folds Grass-Land Houses Keepers Kerethites Meadows Pastures Pens Places Sea Seacoast Sea-Coast Sheep Shepherds Walled
Zephaniah 2
1. An exhortation to repentance.
4. The judgment of the Philistines,
8. of Moab and Ammon,
12. of Ethiopia,
13. and of Assyria.














So the seacoast
The term "seacoast" refers to the coastal region of the Philistines, a historically significant area known for its strategic location and maritime activities. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "חוף" (ḥôp̄), which denotes a shoreline or coast. This area, once bustling with trade and military activity, is prophesied to undergo a transformation. The seacoast, symbolic of worldly power and commerce, will be humbled and repurposed by divine intervention, reflecting God's sovereignty over nations and His ability to alter the course of history.

will become a land of pastures
The transformation into "a land of pastures" signifies a shift from a place of human pride and conflict to one of peace and provision. The Hebrew word for "pastures" is "נְוֹת" (nəwōṯ), which implies a dwelling place or habitation, often associated with tranquility and sustenance. This imagery suggests a return to simplicity and reliance on God's provision, reminiscent of the pastoral scenes in Psalm 23. It highlights the restorative power of God, who can turn desolation into abundance.

with wells for shepherds
"Wells for shepherds" indicates the provision of essential resources for life and sustenance. In ancient times, wells were vital for survival, especially in arid regions. The Hebrew word "בְּאֵרוֹת" (bə'ērōṯ) refers to wells or springs, symbolizing life-giving water. This phrase underscores God's care for His people, providing for their needs and ensuring their well-being. It also evokes the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who leads His flock to living waters (John 4:14).

and folds for sheep
The "folds for sheep" represent security and community. The Hebrew term "גִּדְרוֹת" (giḏrōṯ) refers to enclosures or pens, which protect sheep from predators and provide a place of rest. This imagery conveys God's protective nature and His desire to gather His people into a safe and nurturing environment. It reflects the pastoral care of God, who watches over His flock and ensures their safety, much like the imagery found in John 10:14-16, where Jesus speaks of knowing His sheep and bringing them into one fold.

Verse 6. - Dwellings and cottages for shepherds; better, pastures with caves for shepherds. In the use of the word keroth, "diggings" ("cottages," Authorized Version) there is probably intended another play on the "Cherethites." Neale, "The road from Gaza to Askalon lay along the sea shore. In the winter months many parts of it are impracticable, owing to the encroachment of the sea. The surf then dashes wildly into the huge caverns worked out of the endless sand hills that line this coast. These caverns were tenanted, when we passed, by goatherds and their flocks. Thither they resort for shelter from the fierce heat of the noontide sun; and here during the night the goats are penned. There are wells and reservoirs in the vicinity which furnish water for the flocks the whole year round, and the brambles and thorn bushes that flourish near the seaside form their pasturage" ('Eight Years in Syria,' 1:40, 41). Septuagint, ἔσται Κρήτη νομὴ ποιμνίων, "Crete shall be a pasture of flocks."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the seacoast
חֶ֣בֶל (ḥe·ḇel)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2256: A rope, a measuring line, a district, inheritance, a noose, a company, a throe, ruin

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

[a land of] pastures,
נְוֺ֛ת (nə·wōṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5116: Abode of shepherd or flocks, habitation

having caves
כְּרֹ֥ת (kə·rōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 3741: A cistern, well

filled with shepherds
רֹעִ֖ים (rō·‘îm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

and folds
וְגִדְר֥וֹת (wə·ḡiḏ·rō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 1448: Enclosure

with sheep.
צֹֽאן׃ (ṣōn)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock


Links
Zephaniah 2:6 NIV
Zephaniah 2:6 NLT
Zephaniah 2:6 ESV
Zephaniah 2:6 NASB
Zephaniah 2:6 KJV

Zephaniah 2:6 BibleApps.com
Zephaniah 2:6 Biblia Paralela
Zephaniah 2:6 Chinese Bible
Zephaniah 2:6 French Bible
Zephaniah 2:6 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Zephaniah 2:6 The sea coast will be pastures (Zeph. Zep Zp)
Zephaniah 2:5
Top of Page
Top of Page