Zephaniah 3:3
New International Version
Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morning.

New Living Translation
Its leaders are like roaring lions hunting for their victims. Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time, who by dawn have left no trace of their prey.

English Standard Version
Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning.

Berean Standard Bible
Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.

King James Bible
Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

New King James Version
Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning.

New American Standard Bible
Her leaders within her are roaring lions, Her judges are wolves at evening; They have no bones to gnaw in the morning.

NASB 1995
Her princes within her are roaring lions, Her judges are wolves at evening; They leave nothing for the morning.

NASB 1977
Her princes within her are roaring lions, Her judges are wolves at evening; They leave nothing for the morning.

Legacy Standard Bible
Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are wolves at evening; They leave nothing to gnaw for the morning.

Amplified Bible
Her officials within her are roaring lions; Her judges are [as hungry as] the wolves at evening, They leave nothing for the morning.

Christian Standard Bible
The princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the night, which leave nothing for the morning.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the night, which leave nothing for the morning.

American Standard Version
Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow.

Contemporary English Version
Its officials are roaring lions, its judges are wolves; in the evening they attack, by morning nothing is left.

English Revised Version
Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Its officials are [like] roaring lions. Its judges are [like] wolves in the evening. They leave nothing to gnaw on for the morning.

Good News Translation
Its officials are like roaring lions; its judges are like hungry wolves, too greedy to leave a bone until morning.

International Standard Version
Its national officials are roaring lions; its judges are like wolves of the night that don't leave the bones for the morning.

Majority Standard Bible
Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.

NET Bible
Her princes are as fierce as roaring lions; her rulers are as hungry as wolves in the desert, who completely devour their prey by morning.

New Heart English Bible
Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day.

Webster's Bible Translation
Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

World English Bible
Her princes within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Her heads in her midst [are] roaring lions, "" Her judges [are] wolves [as in] evening, "" They have not gnawn the bone in the morning.

Young's Literal Translation
Her heads in her midst are roaring lions, Her judges are evening wolves, They have not gnawn the bone in the morning.

Smith's Literal Translation
Her chiefs in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges evening wolves; they laid not up for the morning.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Her princes are in the midst of her as roaring lions: her judges are evening wolves, they left nothing for the morning.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Her leaders are in her midst like roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing for the morning.

New American Bible
Its officials within it are roaring lions; Its judges are desert wolves that have no bones to gnaw by morning.

New Revised Standard Version
The officials within it are roaring lions; its judges are evening wolves that leave nothing until the morning.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Her princes within her are roaring like lions; her judges are like evening wolves; they wait not for the morning.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Her Princes within her roar like lionesses and her Judges are like evening wolves and do not wait for morning
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; Her judges are wolves of the desert, They leave not a bone for the morrow.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Her princes within her were as roaring lions, her judges as the wolves of Arabia; they remained not till the morrow.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Judgment on Jerusalem
2She heeded no voice; she accepted no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God. 3Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning. 4Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.…

Cross References
Ezekiel 22:27
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

Micah 3:1-3
Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice? / You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. / You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.”

Isaiah 56:10-11
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. / Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:

Jeremiah 5:26-28
For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men. / Like cages full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become powerful and rich. / They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Hosea 7:3-7
They delight the king with their evil, and the princes with their lies. / They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by a baker who needs not stoke the fire from the kneading to the rising of the dough. / The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him. ...

Jeremiah 23:1-2
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. / Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.

Isaiah 1:23
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

Jeremiah 22:17
“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.”

Matthew 23:13-15
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

Luke 11:39-44
Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. / You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? / But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you. ...

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Acts 20:29-30
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

2 Peter 2:1-3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Luke 20:46-47
“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. / They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”


Treasury of Scripture

Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

princes.

Job 4:8-11
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same…

Psalm 10:8-10
He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor…

Proverbs 28:15
As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

evening.

Jeremiah 5:6
Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

Habakkuk 1:8
Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

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Zephaniah 3
1. A sharp reproof of Jerusalem for various sins.
8. An exhortation to wait for the restoration of Israel,
14. and to rejoice for their salvation by God.














Her princes within her
The term "princes" refers to the leaders or officials of Jerusalem. In the Hebrew context, the word "sarim" (שָׂרִים) is used, which denotes those in positions of authority. Historically, these leaders were expected to uphold justice and righteousness, guiding the people according to God's laws. However, the imagery of them being "within her" suggests a betrayal from the inside, indicating that those who should protect and serve the city are instead contributing to its moral decay.

are roaring lions
The metaphor of "roaring lions" is powerful, evoking the image of predators that are fierce, intimidating, and destructive. In the ancient Near Eastern context, lions were often symbols of strength and power, but here, they represent the oppressive and violent nature of the leaders. The Hebrew word "aryeh" (אַרְיֵה) for lion emphasizes their ferocity. This imagery suggests that the leaders are preying on the people, using their power for personal gain rather than for the welfare of the community.

her judges are evening wolves
Judges were meant to be arbiters of justice, ensuring fairness and righteousness in society. The Hebrew word "shoftim" (שֹׁפְטִים) indicates those who decide legal matters. However, the comparison to "evening wolves" paints a grim picture. Wolves are known for their cunning and predatory nature, especially when hunting at night. The phrase suggests that these judges are deceitful and exploitative, taking advantage of the vulnerable under the cover of darkness. Historically, this reflects a time when corruption was rampant, and those in judicial positions were more interested in personal gain than in upholding justice.

leaving nothing for the morning
This phrase underscores the complete and utter devastation caused by the leaders and judges. The imagery of "leaving nothing for the morning" suggests that their greed and corruption are so extensive that they consume everything, leaving no hope or resources for the future. In the Hebrew context, this reflects a society where the powerful exploit the weak to such an extent that nothing is left for the next day, symbolizing a lack of sustainability and foresight. This serves as a stark warning of the consequences of unchecked corruption and the urgent need for repentance and reform.

Verse 3. - Roaring lions. The princes, who ought to protect the people, are ready to tear them in pieces and devour them (Proverbs 28:15). Probably the violence and arrogance of the chiefs had increased during the minority of the king. This must have been written before the great reformation. Evening wolves (see note on Habakkuk 1:8). The judges, whose duty it was to administer justice and to set an example of equity and virtue, are themselves most cruel and rapacious. They gnaw not the bones till tomorrow; they gnaw no bones in the morning; that is, they are so greedy that they eat up all their prey at once and leave nothing till the morning. The versions drop the metaphor, and render, "They leave not to the morning" (comp. Ezekiel 22:27).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Her princes
שָׂרֶ֣יהָ (śā·re·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

are roaring
שֹֽׁאֲגִ֑ים (šō·’ă·ḡîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7580: To rumble, moan

lions;
אֲרָי֖וֹת (’ă·rā·yō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 738: A lion

her judges [are]
שֹׁפְטֶ֙יהָ֙ (šō·p̄ə·ṭe·hā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

evening
עֶ֔רֶב (‘e·reḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6153: Evening

wolves,
זְאֵ֣בֵי (zə·’ê·ḇê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2061: A wolf

leaving
גָרְמ֖וּ (ḡā·rə·mū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1633: To bone, denude, the bones

nothing
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

for the morning.
לַבֹּֽקֶר׃ (lab·bō·qer)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning


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OT Prophets: Zephaniah 3:3 Her princes in the midst of her (Zeph. Zep Zp)
Zephaniah 3:2
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