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Selected Verse: Zephaniah 1:8 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Zep 1:8	Strong Concordance	And it shall come to pass in the day [03117] of the LORD'S [03068] sacrifice [02077], that I will punish [06485] the princes [08269], and the king's [04428] children [01121], and all such as are clothed [03847] with strange [05237] apparel [04403].
	King James	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.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
the princes--who ought to have been an example of good to others, but were ringleaders in all evil. the king's children--fulfilled on Zedekiah's children (Jer 39:6); and previously, on Jehoahaz and Eliakim, the sons of Josiah (Kg2 23:31, Kg2 23:36; Ch2 36:6; compare also Kg2 20:18; Kg2 21:13). Huldah the prophetess (Kg2 22:20) intimated that which Zephaniah now more expressly foretells. all such as are clothed with strange apparel--the princes or courtiers who attired themselves in costly garments, imported from abroad; partly for the sake of luxury, and partly to ingratiate themselves with foreign great nations whose costume as well as their idolatries they imitated, [CALVIN]; whereas in costume, as in other respects, God would have them to be separate from the nations. GROTIUS refers the "strange apparel" to garments forbidden by the law, for example, men's garments worn by women, and vice versa, a heathen usage in the worship of Mars and Venus (Deu 22:5).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

the princes--who ought to have been an example of good to others, but were ringleaders in all evil.

the king's children--fulfilled on Zedekiah's children (Jer 39:6); and previously, on Jehoahaz and Eliakim, the sons of Josiah (Kg2 23:31, Kg2 23:36; Ch2 36:6; compare also Kg2 20:18; Kg2 21:13). Huldah the prophetess (Kg2 22:20) intimated that which Zephaniah now more expressly foretells.

all such as are clothed with strange apparel--the princes or courtiers who attired themselves in costly garments, imported from abroad; partly for the sake of luxury, and partly to ingratiate themselves with foreign great nations whose costume as well as their idolatries they imitated, [CALVIN]; whereas in costume, as in other respects, God would have them to be separate from the nations. GROTIUS refers the "strange apparel" to garments forbidden by the law, for example, men's garments worn by women, and vice versa, a heathen usage in the worship of Mars and Venus (Deu 22:5).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
I will punish - (Literally, visit upon). God seems oftentimes to be away from His own world. People plot, design, say, in word or in deed, "who is Lord over us?" God is, as it were, a stranger in it, or as a man, who hath "taken a journey into afar country." God uses our own language to us. "I will visit," inspecting (so to say), examining, sifting, reviewing, and when man's sins require it, allowing the weight of His displeasure to fall upon them. The princes - The prophet again, in vivid detail (as his characteristic is), sets forth together sin and punishment. Amid the general chastisement of all, when all should become one sacrifice, they who sinned most should be punished most. The evil priests had received their doom. Here he begins anew with the mighty of the people and so goes down, first to special spots of the city, then to the whole, man by man. Josiah being a godly king, no mention is made of him. Thirteen years before his death, he received the promise of God, "because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord - I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy grave in peace, and thou shalt not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place" Kg2 22:19-20. In remarkable contrast to Jeremiah, who had to be, in detail and continual pleading with his people, a prophet of judgment to come, until these judgments broke upon them, and so was the reprover of the evil sovereigns who succeeded Josiah, Zephaniah has to pronounce God's judgments only on the "princes" and "the king's children." Jeremiah, in his inaugural vision, was forewarned, that "the kings Judah, its princes, priests, and the people of the land" Jer 1:18 should war against him, because he should speak unto them all which God should command him. And thenceforth, Jeremiah impleads or threatens kings and the princes together Jer 2:26; Jer 4:9; Jer 8:1; Jer 24:8; Jer 32:37; Jer 34:21. Zephaniah contrariwise, his office lying wholly within the reign of Josiah, describes the princes again as "roaring lions" Zep 3:3, but says nothing of the king, as neither does Micah Mic 3:1, Mic 3:9, in the reign, it may be, of Jotham or Hezekiah. Isaiah speaks of princes, as "rebellious and companions of thieves" Isa 1:23. Jeremiah speaks of them as idolaters Jer 31:32-34; Jer 44:21. They appear to have had considerable influence, which on one occasion they employed in defense of Jeremiah Jer 26:16, but mostly for evil Jer 37:15; Jer 38:4, Jer 38:16. Zedekiah inquired of Jeremiah secretly for fear of them Jer 37:17; Jer 38:14-27. They brought destruction upon themselves by what men praise, their resistance to Nebuchadnezzar, but against the declared mind of God. Nebuchadnezzar unwittingly fulfilled the prophets' word, when he "slew all the nobles of Judah, the eunuch who was over the war, and seven men of them that were near the king's person, and the principal scribe of the host" Jer 39:6; Jer 52:25-27. And the king's children - Holy Scripture mentions chief persons only by name. Isaiah had prophesied the isolated lonely loveless lot of descendants of Hezekiah who should be "eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon" Isa 39:7, associated only with those intriguing pests of Eastern courts, a lot in itself worse than the sword (although to Daniel God overruled it to good) and Zedekiah's sons were slain before his eyes and his race extinct. Jehoiakim died a disgraced death, and Jehoiachin was imprisoned more than half the life of man. And all such as are clothed with strange apparel - Israel was reminded by its dress, that it belonged to God. It was no great thing in itself; "a band of dark blue Num 15:38; Deu 22:12 upon the fringes at the four corners of their garments." But "the band of dark blue" was upon the high priest's mitre, with the plate engraved, "Holiness to the Lord" Exo 28:36, fastened upon it; "with a band of dark blue" also was the breastplate Exo 39:21 bound to the ephod of the high priest. So then, simple as it was, it seems to have designated the whole nation, as "a kingdom of priests, an holy nation" Exo 19:6. It was appointed to them, "that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring; that ye may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God" Num 15:39-40. They might say, "it is but "a band of blue;"" but the "band of blue" was the soldier's badge, which marked them as devoted to the service of their God; indifference to or shame of it involved indifference to or shame of the charge given them therewith, and to their calling as a peculiar people. The choice of the strange apparel involved the choice to be as the nations of the world; "we will be as the pagan, as the families of the countries" Eze 20:33. All luxurious times copy foreign dress, and with it, foreign manners and luxuries; from where even the pagan Romans were zealous against its use. It is very probable that with the foreign dress foreign idolatry was imported . The Babylonian dress was very gorgeous, such as was the admiration of the simpler Jews. "Her captains and rulers clothed in perfection, girded with girdles upon their loins, with flowing dyed attire upon their heads" Eze 23:12, Eze 23:15. Ezekiel had to frame words to express the Hebrew idea of their beauty. Jehoiakim is reproved among other things for his luxury Jer 22:14-15. Outward dress always betokens the inward mind, and in its turn acts upon it. An estranged dress betokened an estranged heart, from where it is used as an image of the whole spiritual mind Rom 13:14; Col 3:12; Eph 4:24. Jerome: "The garment of the sons of the king and the apparel of princes which we receive in Baptism, is Christ, according to that, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ," and "Put ye on bowels of mercy, goodness, humililty, patience," and the rest. Wherein, we are commanded to be clothed with the new man from heaven according to our Creator, and to "lay aside" the clothing of "the old man with his deeds" Eph 4:22. Whereas, then we ought to be clothed in such raiment, for mercy we put on cruelty, for patience, impatience, for righteousness, iniquity; in a word, for virtues, vices, for Christ, antichrist. Whence it is said of such an one, "He is clothed with cursing as with a garment" Psa 109:17. These the Lord will visit most manifestly at His Coming." Rup.: "Thinkest thou that hypocrisy is "strange apparel?" Of a truth. For what stranger apparel than sheeps' clothing to ravening wolves? What stranger than for him who "within is full of iniquity, to appear outwardly righteous before men?" Mat 23:28.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

I will punish - (Literally, visit upon). God seems oftentimes to be away from His own world. People plot, design, say, in word or in deed, "who is Lord over us?" God is, as it were, a stranger in it, or as a man, who hath "taken a journey into afar country." God uses our own language to us. "I will visit," inspecting (so to say), examining, sifting, reviewing, and when man's sins require it, allowing the weight of His displeasure to fall upon them.

The princes - The prophet again, in vivid detail (as his characteristic is), sets forth together sin and punishment. Amid the general chastisement of all, when all should become one sacrifice, they who sinned most should be punished most. The evil priests had received their doom. Here he begins anew with the mighty of the people and so goes down, first to special spots of the city, then to the whole, man by man. Josiah being a godly king, no mention is made of him. Thirteen years before his death, he received the promise of God, "because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord - I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy grave in peace, and thou shalt not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place" Kg2 22:19-20. In remarkable contrast to Jeremiah, who had to be, in detail and continual pleading with his people, a prophet of judgment to come, until these judgments broke upon them, and so was the reprover of the evil sovereigns who succeeded Josiah, Zephaniah has to pronounce God's judgments only on the "princes" and "the king's children."

Jeremiah, in his inaugural vision, was forewarned, that "the kings Judah, its princes, priests, and the people of the land" Jer 1:18 should war against him, because he should speak unto them all which God should command him. And thenceforth, Jeremiah impleads or threatens kings and the princes together Jer 2:26; Jer 4:9; Jer 8:1; Jer 24:8; Jer 32:37; Jer 34:21. Zephaniah contrariwise, his office lying wholly within the reign of Josiah, describes the princes again as "roaring lions" Zep 3:3, but says nothing of the king, as neither does Micah Mic 3:1, Mic 3:9, in the reign, it may be, of Jotham or Hezekiah. Isaiah speaks of princes, as "rebellious and companions of thieves" Isa 1:23. Jeremiah speaks of them as idolaters Jer 31:32-34; Jer 44:21. They appear to have had considerable influence, which on one occasion they employed in defense of Jeremiah Jer 26:16, but mostly for evil Jer 37:15; Jer 38:4, Jer 38:16. Zedekiah inquired of Jeremiah secretly for fear of them Jer 37:17; Jer 38:14-27. They brought destruction upon themselves by what men praise, their resistance to Nebuchadnezzar, but against the declared mind of God. Nebuchadnezzar unwittingly fulfilled the prophets' word, when he "slew all the nobles of Judah, the eunuch who was over the war, and seven men of them that were near the king's person, and the principal scribe of the host" Jer 39:6; Jer 52:25-27.

And the king's children - Holy Scripture mentions chief persons only by name. Isaiah had prophesied the isolated lonely loveless lot of descendants of Hezekiah who should be "eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon" Isa 39:7, associated only with those intriguing pests of Eastern courts, a lot in itself worse than the sword (although to Daniel God overruled it to good) and Zedekiah's sons were slain before his eyes and his race extinct. Jehoiakim died a disgraced death, and Jehoiachin was imprisoned more than half the life of man.

And all such as are clothed with strange apparel - Israel was reminded by its dress, that it belonged to God. It was no great thing in itself; "a band of dark blue Num 15:38; Deu 22:12 upon the fringes at the four corners of their garments." But "the band of dark blue" was upon the high priest's mitre, with the plate engraved, "Holiness to the Lord" Exo 28:36, fastened upon it; "with a band of dark blue" also was the breastplate Exo 39:21 bound to the ephod of the high priest. So then, simple as it was, it seems to have designated the whole nation, as "a kingdom of priests, an holy nation" Exo 19:6. It was appointed to them, "that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring; that ye may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God" Num 15:39-40. They might say, "it is but "a band of blue;"" but the "band of blue" was the soldier's badge, which marked them as devoted to the service of their God; indifference to or shame of it involved indifference to or shame of the charge given them therewith, and to their calling as a peculiar people. The choice of the strange apparel involved the choice to be as the nations of the world; "we will be as the pagan, as the families of the countries" Eze 20:33.

All luxurious times copy foreign dress, and with it, foreign manners and luxuries; from where even the pagan Romans were zealous against its use. It is very probable that with the foreign dress foreign idolatry was imported . The Babylonian dress was very gorgeous, such as was the admiration of the simpler Jews. "Her captains and rulers clothed in perfection, girded with girdles upon their loins, with flowing dyed attire upon their heads" Eze 23:12, Eze 23:15. Ezekiel had to frame words to express the Hebrew idea of their beauty. Jehoiakim is reproved among other things for his luxury Jer 22:14-15. Outward dress always betokens the inward mind, and in its turn acts upon it. An estranged dress betokened an estranged heart, from where it is used as an image of the whole spiritual mind Rom 13:14; Col 3:12; Eph 4:24. Jerome: "The garment of the sons of the king and the apparel of princes which we receive in Baptism, is Christ, according to that, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ," and "Put ye on bowels of mercy, goodness, humililty, patience," and the rest. Wherein, we are commanded to be clothed with the new man from heaven according to our Creator, and to "lay aside" the clothing of "the old man with his deeds" Eph 4:22. Whereas, then we ought to be clothed in such raiment, for mercy we put on cruelty, for patience, impatience, for righteousness, iniquity; in a word, for virtues, vices, for Christ, antichrist. Whence it is said of such an one, "He is clothed with cursing as with a garment" Psa 109:17. These the Lord will visit most manifestly at His Coming." Rup.: "Thinkest thou that hypocrisy is "strange apparel?" Of a truth. For what stranger apparel than sheeps' clothing to ravening wolves? What stranger than for him who "within is full of iniquity, to appear outwardly righteous before men?" Mat 23:28.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The judgment will fall with equal severity upon the idolatrous and sinners of every rank (Zep 1:8-11), and no one in Jerusalem will be able to save himself from it (Zep 1:12, Zep 1:13). In three double verses Zephaniah brings out three classes of men who differ in their civil position, and also in their attitude towards God, as those who will be smitten by the judgment: viz., (1) the princes, i.e., the royal family and superior servants of the king, who imitate the customs of foreigners, and oppress the people (Zep 1:8, Zep 1:9); (2) the merchants, who have grown rich through trade and usury (Zep 1:10, Zep 1:11); (3) the irreligious debauchees (Zep 1:12, Zep 1:13). The first of these he threatens with visitation. Zep 1:8. "And it will come to pass in the day of Jehovah's sacrifice, that I visit the princes and the king's sons, and all who clothe themselves in foreign dress. Zep 1:9. And I visit every one who leaps over the threshold on that day, those who fill the Lord's house with violence and deceit." The enumeration of those who are exposed to the judgment commences with the princes, i.e., the heads of the tribes and families, who naturally filled the higher offices of state; and the king's sons, not only the sons of Josiah, who were still very young (see the Introduction), but also the sons of the deceased kings, the royal princes generally. The king himself is not named, because Josiah walked in the ways of the Lord, and on account of his piety and fear of God was not to lie to see the outburst of the judgment (Kg2 22:19-20; Ch2 34:27-28). The princes and king's sons are threatened with punishment, not on account of the high position which they occupied in the state, but on account of the ungodly disposition which they manifested. For since the clauses which follow not only mention different classes of men, but also point out the sins of the different classes, we must also expect this in the case of the princes and the king's sons, and consequently must refer the dressing in foreign clothes, which is condemned in the second half of the verse, to the princes and king's sons also, and understand the word "all" as relating to those who imitated their manners without being actually princes or king's sons. Malbūsh nokhrı̄ (foreign dress) does not refer to the clothes worn by the idolaters in their idolatrous worship (Chald., Rashi, Jer.), nor to the dress prohibited in the law, viz., "women dressing in men's clothes, or men dressing in women's clothes" (Deu 22:5, Deu 22:11), as Grotius maintains, nor to clothes stolen from the poor, or taken from them as pledges; but, as nokhrı̄ signifies a foreigner, to foreign dress. Drusius has already pointed this out, and explains the passage as follows: "I think that the reference is to all those who betrayed the levity of their minds by wearing foreign dress. For I have no doubt that in that age some copied the Egyptians in their style of dress, and others the Babylonians, according as they favoured the one nation or the other. The prophet therefore says, that even those who adopted foreign habits, and conformed themselves to the customs of the victorious nation, would not be exempt." The last allusion is certainly untenable, and it would be more correct to say with Strauss: "The prophets did not care for externals of this kind, but it was evident to them that 'as the dress, so the heart;' that is to say, the clothes were witnesses in their esteem of the foreign inclinations of the heart." In Zep 1:9 many commentators find a condemnation of an idolatrous use of foreign customs; regarding the leaping over the threshold as an imitation of the priests of Dagon, who adopted the custom, according to Sa1 5:5, of leaping over the threshold when they entered the temple of that idol. But an imitation of that custom could only take place in temples of Dagon, and it appears perfectly inconceivable that it should have been transferred to the threshold of the king's palace, unless the king was regarded as an incarnation of Dagon, - a thought which could never enter the minds of Israelitish idolaters, since even the Philistian kings did not hold themselves to be incarnations of their idols. If we turn to the second hemistich, the thing condemned is the filling of their masters' houses with violence; and this certainly does not stand in any conceivable relation to that custom of the priests of Dagon; and yet the words "who fill," etc., are proved to be explanatory of the first half of the verse, by the fact that the second clause is appended without the copula Vav, and without the repetition of the preposition על. Now, if a fresh sin were referred to there, the copula Vav, at all events, could not have been omitted. We must therefore understand by the leaping over the threshold a violent and sudden rushing into houses to steal the property of strangers (Calvin, Ros., Ewald, Strauss, and others), so that the allusion is to "dishonourable servants of the king, who thought that they could best serve their master by extorting treasures from their dependants by violence and fraud" (Ewald). אדניהם, of their lord, i.e., of the king, not "of their lords:" the plural is in the pluralis majestatis, as in Sa1 26:16; Sa2 2:5, etc.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The judgment will fall with equal severity upon the idolatrous and sinners of every rank (Zep 1:8-11), and no one in Jerusalem will be able to save himself from it (Zep 1:12, Zep 1:13). In three double verses Zephaniah brings out three classes of men who differ in their civil position, and also in their attitude towards God, as those who will be smitten by the judgment: viz., (1) the princes, i.e., the royal family and superior servants of the king, who imitate the customs of foreigners, and oppress the people (Zep 1:8, Zep 1:9); (2) the merchants, who have grown rich through trade and usury (Zep 1:10, Zep 1:11); (3) the irreligious debauchees (Zep 1:12, Zep 1:13). The first of these he threatens with visitation. Zep 1:8. "And it will come to pass in the day of Jehovah's sacrifice, that I visit the princes and the king's sons, and all who clothe themselves in foreign dress. Zep 1:9. And I visit every one who leaps over the threshold on that day, those who fill the Lord's house with violence and deceit." The enumeration of those who are exposed to the judgment commences with the princes, i.e., the heads of the tribes and families, who naturally filled the higher offices of state; and the king's sons, not only the sons of Josiah, who were still very young (see the Introduction), but also the sons of the deceased kings, the royal princes generally. The king himself is not named, because Josiah walked in the ways of the Lord, and on account of his piety and fear of God was not to lie to see the outburst of the judgment (Kg2 22:19-20; Ch2 34:27-28). The princes and king's sons are threatened with punishment, not on account of the high position which they occupied in the state, but on account of the ungodly disposition which they manifested. For since the clauses which follow not only mention different classes of men, but also point out the sins of the different classes, we must also expect this in the case of the princes and the king's sons, and consequently must refer the dressing in foreign clothes, which is condemned in the second half of the verse, to the princes and king's sons also, and understand the word "all" as relating to those who imitated their manners without being actually princes or king's sons. Malbūsh nokhrı̄ (foreign dress) does not refer to the clothes worn by the idolaters in their idolatrous worship (Chald., Rashi, Jer.), nor to the dress prohibited in the law, viz., "women dressing in men's clothes, or men dressing in women's clothes" (Deu 22:5, Deu 22:11), as Grotius maintains, nor to clothes stolen from the poor, or taken from them as pledges; but, as nokhrı̄ signifies a foreigner, to foreign dress. Drusius has already pointed this out, and explains the passage as follows: "I think that the reference is to all those who betrayed the levity of their minds by wearing foreign dress. For I have no doubt that in that age some copied the Egyptians in their style of dress, and others the Babylonians, according as they favoured the one nation or the other. The prophet therefore says, that even those who adopted foreign habits, and conformed themselves to the customs of the victorious nation, would not be exempt." The last allusion is certainly untenable, and it would be more correct to say with Strauss: "The prophets did not care for externals of this kind, but it was evident to them that 'as the dress, so the heart;' that is to say, the clothes were witnesses in their esteem of the foreign inclinations of the heart." In Zep 1:9 many commentators find a condemnation of an idolatrous use of foreign customs; regarding the leaping over the threshold as an imitation of the priests of Dagon, who adopted the custom, according to Sa1 5:5, of leaping over the threshold when they entered the temple of that idol. But an imitation of that custom could only take place in temples of Dagon, and it appears perfectly inconceivable that it should have been transferred to the threshold of the king's palace, unless the king was regarded as an incarnation of Dagon, - a thought which could never enter the minds of Israelitish idolaters, since even the Philistian kings did not hold themselves to be incarnations of their idols. If we turn to the second hemistich, the thing condemned is the filling of their masters' houses with violence; and this certainly does not stand in any conceivable relation to that custom of the priests of Dagon; and yet the words "who fill," etc., are proved to be explanatory of the first half of the verse, by the fact that the second clause is appended without the copula Vav, and without the repetition of the preposition על. Now, if a fresh sin were referred to there, the copula Vav, at all events, could not have been omitted. We must therefore understand by the leaping over the threshold a violent and sudden rushing into houses to steal the property of strangers (Calvin, Ros., Ewald, Strauss, and others), so that the allusion is to "dishonourable servants of the king, who thought that they could best serve their master by extorting treasures from their dependants by violence and fraud" (Ewald). אדניהם, of their lord, i.e., of the king, not "of their lords:" the plural is in the pluralis majestatis, as in Sa1 26:16; Sa2 2:5, etc.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The princes - The great ones, who dreamed of shifting better than others, but fell with the first, Kg2 25:19-21. Children - Sons and grand - children, Josiah: Jehoahaz died a captive in Egypt, Kg2 23:34, Jehoakim died in Babylon, and was buried with the burial of an ass, Jer 22:18-19, Jeconiah died a captive: and Zedekiah and his children, fared still worse. Strange apparel - The garb of foreigners, imitated by the wanton Jews.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
I will punish the princes, and the king's children - After the death of Josiah the kingdom of Judah saw no prosperity, and every reign terminated miserably; until at last King Zedekiah and the king's children were cruelly massacred at Riblah, when Nebuchadnezzar had taken Jerusalem. Strange apparel - I really think this refers more to their embracing idolatrous customs and heathen usages, than to their changing their dress. They acquired new habits, as we would say; customs, that they used as they did their clothing - at all times, and in every thing.

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⁵ The woman [0802] shall not wear that which pertaineth [03627] unto a man [01397], neither shall a man [01397] put [03847] on a woman's [0802] garment [08071]: for all that do [06213] so [0428] are abomination [08441] unto the LORD [03068] thy God [0430].

²⁰ Behold therefore, I will gather [0622] thee unto thy fathers [01], and thou shalt be gathered [0622] into thy grave [06913] in peace [07965]; and thine eyes [05869] shall not see [07200] all the evil [07451] which I will bring [0935] upon this place [04725]. And they brought [07725] the king [04428] word [01697] again [07725].

¹³ And I will stretch [05186] over Jerusalem [03389] the line [06957] of Samaria [08111], and the plummet [04949] of the house [01004] of Ahab [0256]: and I will wipe [04229] Jerusalem [03389] as a man wipeth [04229] a dish [06747], wiping [04229] it, and turning [02015] it upside down [06440].

¹⁸ And of thy sons [01121] that shall issue [03318] from thee, which thou shalt beget [03205], shall they take away [03947]; and they shall be eunuchs [05631] in the palace [01964] of the king [04428] of Babylon [0894].

⁶ Against him came up [05927] Nebuchadnezzar [05019] king [04428] of Babylon [0894], and bound [0631] him in fetters [05178], to carry [03212] him to Babylon [0894].

³⁶ Jehoiakim [03079] was twenty [06242] and five [02568] years [08141] old [01121] when he began to reign [04427]; and he reigned [04427] eleven [0259] [06240] years [08141] in Jerusalem [03389]. And his mother's [0517] name [08034] was Zebudah [02080], the daughter [01323] of Pedaiah [06305] of Rumah [07316].

³¹ Jehoahaz [03059] was twenty [06242] and three [07969] years [08141] old [01121] when he began to reign [04427]; and he reigned [04427] three [07969] months [02320] in Jerusalem [03389]. And his mother's [0517] name [08034] was Hamutal [02537], the daughter [01323] of Jeremiah [03414] of Libnah [03841].

⁶ Then the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] slew [07819] the sons [01121] of Zedekiah [06667] in Riblah [07247] before his eyes [05869]: also the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] slew [07819] all the nobles [02715] of Judah [03063].

²⁸ Even so [3779] ye [5210] also [2532] [3303] outwardly [1855] appear [5316] righteous [1342] unto men [444], but [1161] within [2081] ye are [2075] full [3324] of hypocrisy [5272] and [2532] iniquity [458].

¹⁷ As he loved [0157] cursing [07045], so let it come [0935] unto him: as he delighted [02654] not in blessing [01293], so let it be far [07368] from him.

²² That ye [5209] put off [659] concerning [2596] the former [4387] conversation [391] the old [3820] man [444], which [3588] is corrupt [5351] according [2596] to the deceitful [539] lusts [1939];

²⁴ And [2532] that ye put on [1746] the new [2537] man [444], which [3588] after [2596] God [2316] is created [2936] in [1722] righteousness [1343] and [2532] true [225] holiness [3742].

¹² Put on [1746] therefore [3767], as [5613] the elect [1588] of God [2316], holy [40] and [2532] beloved [25], bowels [4698] of mercies [3628], kindness [5544], humbleness of mind [5012], meekness [4236], longsuffering [3115];

¹⁴ But [235] put ye on [1746] the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], and [2532] make [4160] not [3361] provision [4307] for [1519] the flesh [4561], to fulfil the lusts [1939] thereof.

¹⁴ That saith [0559], I will build [01129] me a wide [04060] house [01004] and large [07304] chambers [05944], and cutteth him out [07167] windows [02474]; and it is cieled [05603] with cedar [0730], and painted [04886] with vermilion [08350].
¹⁵ Shalt thou reign [04427], because thou closest [08474] thyself in cedar [0730]? did not thy father [01] eat [0398] and drink [08354], and do [06213] judgment [04941] and justice [06666], and then it was well [02896] with him?

¹⁵ Girded [02289] with girdles [0232] upon their loins [04975], exceeding [05628] in dyed attire [02871] upon their heads [07218], all of them princes [07991] to look to [04758], after the manner [01823] of the Babylonians [01121] [0894] of Chaldea [03778], the land [0776] of their nativity [04138]:

¹² She doted [05689] upon the Assyrians [01121] [0804] her neighbours [07138], captains [06346] and rulers [05461] clothed [03847] most gorgeously [04358], horsemen [06571] riding [07392] upon horses [05483], all of them desirable [02531] young men [0970].

³³ As I live [02416], saith [05002] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069], surely with a mighty [02389] hand [03027], and with a stretched out [05186] arm [02220], and with fury [02534] poured out [08210], will I rule [04427] over you:

³⁹ And it shall be unto you for a fringe [06734], that ye may look [07200] upon it, and remember [02142] all the commandments [04687] of the LORD [03068], and do [06213] them; and that ye seek [08446] not after [0310] your own heart [03824] and your own eyes [05869], after [0310] which ye use to go a whoring [02181]:
⁴⁰ That ye may remember [02142], and do [06213] all my commandments [04687], and be [01961] holy [06918] unto your God [0430].

⁶ And ye shall be unto me a kingdom [04467] of priests [03548], and an holy [06918] nation [01471]. These are the words [01697] which thou shalt speak [01696] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478].

²¹ And they did bind [07405] the breastplate [02833] by his rings [02885] unto the rings [02885] of the ephod [0646] with a lace [06616] of blue [08504], that it might be above the curious girdle [02805] of the ephod [0646], and that the breastplate [02833] might not be loosed [02118] from the ephod [0646]; as the LORD [03068] commanded [06680] Moses [04872].

³⁶ And thou shalt make [06213] a plate [06731] of pure [02889] gold [02091], and grave [06605] upon it, like the engravings [06603] of a signet [02368], HOLINESS [06944] TO THE LORD [03068].

¹² Thou shalt make [06213] thee fringes [01434] upon the four [0702] quarters [03671] of thy vesture [03682], wherewith thou coverest [03680] thyself.

³⁸ Speak [01696] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and bid [0559] them that they make [06213] them fringes [06734] in the borders [03671] of their garments [0899] throughout their generations [01755], and that they put [05414] upon the fringe [06734] of the borders [03671] a ribband [06616] of blue [08504]:

⁷ And of thy sons [01121] that shall issue [03318] from thee, which thou shalt beget [03205], shall they take away [03947]; and they shall be eunuchs [05631] in the palace [01964] of the king [04428] of Babylon [0894].

²⁵ He took [03947] also out of the city [05892] an [0259] eunuch [05631], which had the charge [06496] of the men [0582] of war [04421]; and seven [07651] men [0582] of them that were near [07200] the king's [04428] person [06440], which were found [04672] in the city [05892]; and the principal [08269] scribe [05608] of the host [06635], who mustered [06633] the people [05971] of the land [0776]; and threescore [08346] men [0376] of the people [05971] of the land [0776], that were found [04672] in the midst [08432] of the city [05892].
²⁶ So Nebuzaradan [05018] the captain [07227] of the guard [02876] took [03947] them, and brought [03212] them to the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] to Riblah [07247].
²⁷ And the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] smote [05221] them, and put them to death [04191] in Riblah [07247] in the land [0127] of Hamath [02574]. Thus Judah [03063] was carried away captive [01540] out of his own land [0776].

¹⁴ Then Zedekiah [06667] the king [04428] sent [07971], and took [03947] Jeremiah [03414] the prophet [05030] unto him into the third [07992] entry [03996] that is in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068]: and the king [04428] said [0559] unto Jeremiah [03414], I will ask [07592] thee a thing [01697]; hide [03582] nothing from me.
¹⁵ Then Jeremiah [03414] said [0559] unto Zedekiah [06667], If I declare [05046] it unto thee, wilt thou not surely [04191] put me to death [04191]? and if I give thee counsel [03289], wilt thou not hearken [08085] unto me?
¹⁶ So Zedekiah [06667] the king [04428] sware [07650] secretly [05643] unto Jeremiah [03414], saying [0559], As the LORD [03068] liveth [02416], that made [06213] us this soul [05315], I will not put thee to death [04191], neither will I give [05414] thee into the hand [03027] of these men [0582] that seek [01245] thy life [05315].
¹⁷ Then said [0559] Jeremiah [03414] unto Zedekiah [06667], Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], the God [0430] of hosts [06635], the God [0430] of Israel [03478]; If thou wilt assuredly [03318] go forth [03318] unto the king [04428] of Babylon's [0894] princes [08269], then thy soul [05315] shall live [02421], and this city [05892] shall not be burned [08313] with fire [0784]; and thou shalt live [02421], and thine house [01004]:
¹⁸ But if thou wilt not go forth [03318] to the king [04428] of Babylon's [0894] princes [08269], then shall this city [05892] be given [05414] into the hand [03027] of the Chaldeans [03778], and they shall burn [08313] it with fire [0784], and thou shalt not escape out [04422] of their hand [03027].
¹⁹ And Zedekiah [06667] the king [04428] said [0559] unto Jeremiah [03414], I am afraid [01672] of the Jews [03064] that are fallen [05307] to the Chaldeans [03778], lest they deliver [05414] me into their hand [03027], and they mock [05953] me.
²⁰ But Jeremiah [03414] said [0559], They shall not deliver [05414] thee. Obey [08085], I beseech thee, the voice [06963] of the LORD [03068], which I speak [01696] unto thee: so it shall be well [03190] unto thee, and thy soul [05315] shall live [02421].
²¹ But if thou refuse [03986] to go forth [03318], this is the word [01697] that the LORD [03068] hath shewed [07200] me:
²² And, behold, all the women [0802] that are left [07604] in the king [04428] of Judah's [03063] house [01004] shall be brought forth [03318] to the king [04428] of Babylon's [0894] princes [08269], and those women shall say [0559], Thy friends [0582] [07965] have set thee on [05496], and have prevailed [03201] against thee: thy feet [07272] are sunk [02883] in the mire [01206], and they are turned away [05472] back [0268].
²³ So they shall bring out [03318] all thy wives [0802] and thy children [01121] to the Chaldeans [03778]: and thou shalt not escape out [04422] of their hand [03027], but shalt be taken [08610] by the hand [03027] of the king [04428] of Babylon [0894]: and thou shalt cause this city [05892] to be burned [08313] with fire [0784].
²⁴ Then said [0559] Zedekiah [06667] unto Jeremiah [03414], Let no man [0376] know [03045] of these words [01697], and thou shalt not die [04191].
²⁵ But if the princes [08269] hear [08085] that I have talked [01696] with thee, and they come [0935] unto thee, and say [0559] unto thee, Declare [05046] unto us now what thou hast said [01696] unto the king [04428], hide [03582] it not from us, and we will not put thee to death [04191]; also what the king [04428] said [01696] unto thee:
²⁶ Then thou shalt say [0559] unto them, I presented [05307] my supplication [08467] before [06440] the king [04428], that he would not cause me to return [07725] to Jonathan's [03083] house [01004], to die [04191] there.
²⁷ Then came [0935] all the princes [08269] unto Jeremiah [03414], and asked [07592] him: and he told [05046] them according to all these words [01697] that the king [04428] had commanded [06680]. So they left off speaking [02790] with him; for the matter [01697] was not perceived [08085].

¹⁷ Then Zedekiah [06667] the king [04428] sent [07971], and took him out [03947]: and the king [04428] asked [07592] him secretly [05643] in his house [01004], and said [0559], Is there any word [01697] from the LORD [03068]? And Jeremiah [03414] said [0559], There is [03426]: for, said [0559] he, thou shalt be delivered [05414] into the hand [03027] of the king [04428] of Babylon [0894].

¹⁶ So Zedekiah [06667] the king [04428] sware [07650] secretly [05643] unto Jeremiah [03414], saying [0559], As the LORD [03068] liveth [02416], that made [06213] us this soul [05315], I will not put thee to death [04191], neither will I give [05414] thee into the hand [03027] of these men [0582] that seek [01245] thy life [05315].

⁴ Therefore the princes [08269] said [0559] unto the king [04428], We beseech thee, let this man [0376] be put to death [04191]: for thus [03651] he weakeneth [07503] the hands [03027] of the men [0582] of war [04421] that remain [07604] in this city [05892], and the hands [03027] of all the people [05971], in speaking [01696] such words [01697] unto them: for this man [0376] seeketh [01875] not the welfare [07965] of this people [05971], but the hurt [07451].

¹⁵ Wherefore the princes [08269] were wroth [07107] with Jeremiah [03414], and smote [05221] him, and put [05414] him in prison [0612] in the house [01004] of Jonathan [03083] the scribe [05608]: for they had made [06213] that the prison [03608].

¹⁶ Then said [0559] the princes [08269] and all the people [05971] unto the priests [03548] and to the prophets [05030]; This man [0376] is not worthy [04941] to die [04194]: for he hath spoken [01696] to us in the name [08034] of the LORD [03068] our God [0430].

²¹ The incense [07002] that ye burned [06999] in the cities [05892] of Judah [03063], and in the streets [02351] of Jerusalem [03389], ye, and your fathers [01], your kings [04428], and your princes [08269], and the people [05971] of the land [0776], did not the LORD [03068] remember [02142] them, and came [05927] it not into his mind [03820]?

³² Not according to the covenant [01285] that I made [03772] with their fathers [01] in the day [03117] that I took [02388] them by the hand [03027] to bring them out [03318] of the land [0776] of Egypt [04714]; which my covenant [01285] they brake [06565], although I was an husband [01166] unto them, saith [05002] the LORD [03068]:
³³ But this shall be the covenant [01285] that I will make [03772] with the house [01004] of Israel [03478]; After [0310] those days [03117], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], I will put [05414] my law [08451] in their inward parts [07130], and write [03789] it in their hearts [03820]; and will be their God [0430], and they shall be my people [05971].
³⁴ And they shall teach [03925] no more every man [0376] his neighbour [07453], and every man [0376] his brother [0251], saying [0559], Know [03045] the LORD [03068]: for they shall all know [03045] me, from the least [06996] of them unto the greatest [01419] of them, saith [05002] the LORD [03068]: for I will forgive [05545] their iniquity [05771], and I will remember [02142] their sin [02403] no more.

²³ Thy princes [08269] are rebellious [05637], and companions [02270] of thieves [01590]: every one loveth [0157] gifts [07810], and followeth [07291] after rewards [08021]: they judge [08199] not the fatherless [03490], neither doth the cause [07379] of the widow [0490] come [0935] unto them.

⁹ Hear [08085] this, I pray you, ye heads [07218] of the house [01004] of Jacob [03290], and princes [07101] of the house [01004] of Israel [03478], that abhor [08581] judgment [04941], and pervert [06140] all equity [03477].

¹ And I said [0559], Hear [08085], I pray you, O heads [07218] of Jacob [03290], and ye princes [07101] of the house [01004] of Israel [03478]; Is it not for you to know [03045] judgment [04941]?

³ Her princes [08269] within [07130] her are roaring [07580] lions [0738]; her judges [08199] are evening [06153] wolves [02061]; they gnaw not the bones [01633] till the morrow [01242].

²¹ And Zedekiah [06667] king [04428] of Judah [03063] and his princes [08269] will I give [05414] into the hand [03027] of their enemies [0341], and into the hand [03027] of them that seek [01245] their life [05315], and into the hand [03027] of the king [04428] of Babylon's [0894] army [02428], which are gone up [05927] from you.

³⁷ Behold, I will gather them out [06908] of all countries [0776], whither I have driven [05080] them in mine anger [0639], and in my fury [02534], and in great [01419] wrath [07110]; and I will bring them again [07725] unto this place [04725], and I will cause them to dwell [03427] safely [0983]:

⁸ And as the evil [07451] figs [08384], which cannot be eaten [0398], they are so evil [07455]; surely thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], So will I give [05414] Zedekiah [06667] the king [04428] of Judah [03063], and his princes [08269], and the residue [07611] of Jerusalem [03389], that remain [07604] in this land [0776], and them that dwell [03427] in the land [0776] of Egypt [04714]:

¹ At that time [06256], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], they shall bring out [03318] the bones [06106] of the kings [04428] of Judah [03063], and the bones [06106] of his princes [08269], and the bones [06106] of the priests [03548], and the bones [06106] of the prophets [05030], and the bones [06106] of the inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389], out of their graves [06913]:

⁹ And it shall come to pass at that day [03117], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], that the heart [03820] of the king [04428] shall perish [06], and the heart [03820] of the princes [08269]; and the priests [03548] shall be astonished [08074], and the prophets [05030] shall wonder [08539].

²⁶ As the thief [01590] is ashamed [01322] when he is found [04672], so is the house [01004] of Israel [03478] ashamed [03001]; they, their kings [04428], their princes [08269], and their priests [03548], and their prophets [05030],

¹⁸ For, behold, I [0589] have made [05414] thee this day [03117] a defenced [04013] city [05892], and an iron [01270] pillar [05982], and brasen [05178] walls [02346] against the whole land [0776], against the kings [04428] of Judah [03063], against the princes [08269] thereof, against the priests [03548] thereof, and against the people [05971] of the land [0776].

¹⁹ Because thine heart [03824] was tender [07401], and thou hast humbled [03665] thyself before [06440] the LORD [03068], when thou heardest [08085] what I spake [01696] against this place [04725], and against the inhabitants [03427] thereof, that they should become a desolation [08047] and a curse [07045], and hast rent [07167] thy clothes [0899], and wept [01058] before [06440] me; I also have heard [08085] thee, saith [05002] the LORD [03068].
²⁰ Behold therefore, I will gather [0622] thee unto thy fathers [01], and thou shalt be gathered [0622] into thy grave [06913] in peace [07965]; and thine eyes [05869] shall not see [07200] all the evil [07451] which I will bring [0935] upon this place [04725]. And they brought [07725] the king [04428] word [01697] again [07725].

⁵ And David [01732] sent [07971] messengers [04397] unto the men [0582] of Jabeshgilead [03003] [01568], and said [0559] unto them, Blessed [01288] be ye of the LORD [03068], that ye have shewed [06213] this kindness [02617] unto your lord [0113], even unto Saul [07586], and have buried [06912] him.

¹⁶ This thing [01697] is not good [02896] that thou hast done [06213]. As the LORD [03068] liveth [02416], ye are worthy [01121] to die [04194], because ye have not kept [08104] your master [0113], the LORD'S [03068] anointed [04899]. And now see [07200] where the king's [04428] spear [02595] is, and the cruse [06835] of water [04325] that was at his bolster [04763].

⁵ Therefore neither the priests [03548] of Dagon [01712], nor any that come [0935] into Dagon's [01712] house [01004], tread [01869] on the threshold [04670] of Dagon [01712] in Ashdod [0795] unto this day [03117].

⁹ In the same day [03117] also will I punish [06485] all those that leap [01801] on the threshold [04670], which fill [04390] their masters [0113]' houses [01004] with violence [02555] and deceit [04820].

¹¹ Thou shalt not wear [03847] a garment of divers sorts [08162], as of woollen [06785] and linen [06593] together [03162].

²⁷ Because thine heart [03824] was tender [07401], and thou didst humble [03665] thyself before [06440] God [0430], when thou heardest [08085] his words [01697] against this place [04725], and against the inhabitants [03427] thereof, and humbledst [03665] thyself before [06440] me, and didst rend [07167] thy clothes [0899], and weep [01058] before [06440] me; I have even heard [08085] thee also, saith [05002] the LORD [03068].
²⁸ Behold, I will gather [0622] thee to thy fathers [01], and thou shalt be gathered [0622] to thy grave [06913] in peace [07965], neither shall thine eyes [05869] see [07200] all the evil [07451] that I will bring [0935] upon this place [04725], and upon the inhabitants [03427] of the same. So they brought [07725] the king [04428] word [01697] again [07725].

¹³ Therefore their goods [02428] shall become a booty [04933], and their houses [01004] a desolation [08077]: they shall also build [01129] houses [01004], but not inhabit [03427] them; and they shall plant [05193] vineyards [03754], but not drink [08354] the wine [03196] thereof.

¹² And it shall come to pass at that time [06256], that I will search [02664] Jerusalem [03389] with candles [05216], and punish [06485] the men [0582] that are settled [07087] on their lees [08105]: that say [0559] in their heart [03824], The LORD [03068] will not do good [03190], neither will he do evil [07489].

¹¹ Howl [03213], ye inhabitants [03427] of Maktesh [04389], for all the merchant [03667] people [05971] are cut down [01820]; all they that bear [05187] silver [03701] are cut off [03772].

¹⁰ And it shall come to pass in that day [03117], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], that there shall be the noise [06963] of a cry [06818] from the fish [01709] gate [08179], and an howling [03215] from the second [04932], and a great [01419] crashing [07667] from the hills [01389].

⁸ And it shall come to pass in the day [03117] of the LORD'S [03068] sacrifice [02077], that I will punish [06485] the princes [08269], and the king's [04428] children [01121], and all such as are clothed [03847] with strange [05237] apparel [04403].
⁹ In the same day [03117] also will I punish [06485] all those that leap [01801] on the threshold [04670], which fill [04390] their masters [0113]' houses [01004] with violence [02555] and deceit [04820].
¹⁰ And it shall come to pass in that day [03117], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], that there shall be the noise [06963] of a cry [06818] from the fish [01709] gate [08179], and an howling [03215] from the second [04932], and a great [01419] crashing [07667] from the hills [01389].
¹¹ Howl [03213], ye inhabitants [03427] of Maktesh [04389], for all the merchant [03667] people [05971] are cut down [01820]; all they that bear [05187] silver [03701] are cut off [03772].

¹⁸ Therefore thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] concerning Jehoiakim [03079] the son [01121] of Josiah [02977] king [04428] of Judah [03063]; They shall not lament [05594] for him, saying, Ah [01945] my brother [0251]! or, Ah [01945] sister [0269]! they shall not lament [05594] for him, saying, Ah [01945] lord [0113]! or, Ah [01945] his glory [01935]!
¹⁹ He shall be buried [06912] with the burial [06900] of an ass [02543], drawn [05498] and cast forth [07993] beyond [01973] the gates [08179] of Jerusalem [03389].

³⁴ And Pharaohnechoh [06549] made Eliakim [0471] the son [01121] of Josiah [02977] king [04427] in the room of Josiah [02977] his father [01], and turned [05437] his name [08034] to Jehoiakim [03079], and took [03947] Jehoahaz [03059] away [03947]: and he came [0935] to Egypt [04714], and died [04191] there.

¹⁹ And out of the city [05892] he took [03947] an [0259] officer [05631] that was set [06496] over the men [0582] of war [04421], and five [02568] men [0582] of them that were [07200] in the king's [04428] presence [06440], which were found [04672] in the city [05892], and the principal [08269] scribe [05608] of the host [06635], which mustered [06633] the people [05971] of the land [0776], and threescore [08346] men [0376] of the people [05971] of the land [0776] that were found [04672] in the city [05892]:
²⁰ And Nebuzaradan [05018] captain [07227] of the guard [02876] took [03947] these, and brought [03212] them to the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] to Riblah [07247]:
²¹ And the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] smote [05221] them, and slew [04191] them at Riblah [07247] in the land [0776] of Hamath [02574]. So Judah [03063] was carried away [01540] out of their land [0127].