Zephaniah 1:12

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְהָיָה֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא אֲחַפֵּ֥שׂ אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּנֵּר֑וֹת וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י עַל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַקֹּֽפְאִים֙ עַל־שִׁמְרֵיהֶ֔ם הָאֹֽמְרִים֙ בִּלְבָבָ֔ם לֹֽא־יֵיטִ֥יב יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א יָרֵֽעַ׃

Transliteration

wəhāyāh in-ʿēṯ hahîʾ ʾăḥappēś ʾeṯ-Yərûšālayim with-hannērôṯ, ûp̄āqaḏtî ʿal-hāʾănāšîm haqqōp̄əʾîm ʿal-šimrêhem, hāʾōmərîm in-liḇḇām not-yêṭîḇ YHWH and-not yārēaʿ.

Grammar Details

• *wəhāyāh*: conjunction + qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - and it will be
• *ʿēṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - time
• *hahîʾ*: demonstrative pronoun, feminine singular - that
• *ʾăḥappēś*: piel imperfect, 1st person singular - I will search
• *ʾeṯ*: direct object marker
• *Yərûšālayim*: proper name, Jerusalem
• *hannērôṯ*: noun, feminine plural with definite article - the lamps
• *ûp̄āqaḏtî*: conjunction + qal perfect, 1st person singular - and I will punish/visit
• *ʿal*: preposition - upon
• *hāʾănāšîm*: noun, masculine plural with definite article - the men
• *haqqōp̄əʾîm*: qal participle, masculine plural with definite article - the ones thickening/congealing
• *šimrêhem*: noun, masculine plural with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their dregs/lees
• *hāʾōmərîm*: qal participle, masculine plural with definite article - the ones saying
• *liḇḇām*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their heart
• *yêṭîḇ*: hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will do good
• *YHWH*: divine name, tetragrammaton
• *yārēaʿ*: hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will do harm

Word Meanings

• *ʾăḥappēś*: I will search/examine/investigate
• *haqqōp̄əʾîm ʿal-šimrêhem*: the ones thickening on their dregs/those who are settled like wine left on its dregs (metaphor for complacency)
• *liḇḇām*: their heart/mind/inner self
• *yêṭîḇ*: he will do good/benefit/act favorably
• *yārēaʿ*: he will do harm/act unfavorably/do evil

Referenced Verses

• Jer 48:11 : 11 Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.
• Ezek 8:12 : 12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
• Amos 6:1 : 1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
• Ezek 9:9 : 9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
• Amos 9:1-3 : 1 I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered. 2 Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down: 3 And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
• Ps 94:7 : 7 Yet they say{H8799)}, The LORD shall not see{H8799)}, neither shall the God of Jacob regard{H8799)} it.
• Mal 3:14-15 : 14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
• Jer 16:16-17 : 16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. 17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.
• 2 Pet 3:4 : 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
• Rev 2:23 : 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
• Isa 5:19 : 19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
• Jer 10:5 : 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
• Job 21:15 : 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
• Ps 10:11-13 : 11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. 12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. 13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
• Ps 14:1 : 1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
• Obad 1:6 : 6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!