Zephaniah 1:2-3

² I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the Lord. ³ I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks [1] with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord.

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Other Translations of Zephaniah 1:2-3

New International Version

² "I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth," declares the Lord. ³ "I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea- and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble."The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain."When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth," declares the Lord,

English Standard Version

² "I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth," declares the Lord. ³ "I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubbleOr stumbling blocks (that is, idols) with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth," declares the Lord.

The Message

² "I'm going to make a clean sweep of the earth, a thorough housecleaning." God's Decree. ³ "Men and women and animals, including birds and fish - Anything and everything that causes sin - will go, but especially people.

New King James Version

² "I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land," Says the Lord; ³ "I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks Figurative of idols along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land," Says the Lord.

New Living Translation

² "I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth," says the Lord . ³ "I will sweep away people and animals alike. I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish in the sea. I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble, and I will wipe humanity from the face of the earth," says the Lord .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Zephaniah 1:2-3

Commentary on Zephaniah 1:1-6

(Read Zephaniah 1:1-6)

Ruin is coming, utter ruin; destruction from the Almighty. The servants of God all proclaim, There is no peace for the wicked. The expressions are figurative, speaking every where desolation; the land shall be left without inhabitants. The sinners to be consumed are, the professed idolaters, and those that worship Jehovah and idols, or swear to the Lord, and to Malcham. Those that think to divide their affections and worship between God and idols, will come short of acceptance with God; for what communion can there be between light and darkness? If Satan have half, he will have all; if the Lord have but half, he will have none. Neglect of God shows impiety and contempt. May none of us be among those who draw back unto perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.