Zephaniah 2:15
Old Testament • 18 words with Strong's data
"This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand."
Word-by-Word Analysis
שָׂחַק
sâchaq
to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play
עִיר
ʻîyr
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
יָשַׁב
yâshab
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
בֶּטַח
beṭach
properly, a place of refuge; abstract, safety, both the fact (security) and the feeling (trust); often (adverb with or without preposition) safely
אָמַר
ʼâmar
to say (used with great latitude)
לֵב
lêb
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
אִישׁ
ʼîysh
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
הָיָה
hâyâh
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
שְׁמָמָה
shᵉmâmâh
devastation; figuratively, astonishment
מָקוֹם
mâqôwm
properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
חַי
chay
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin...
שָׁכַב
shâkab
to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
אֶחָד
ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
עָבַר
ʻâbar
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in ...
שָׁרַק
shâraq
properly, to be shrill, i.e. to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn)
נוּעַ
nûwaʻ
to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (as subjoined)
יָד
yâd
a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
Key Terms in This Verse
בֶּטַח beṭach
properly, a place of refuge; abstract, safety, both the fact (security) and the feeling (trust); often (adverb with or without preposition) safely
Study H983 →נוּעַ nûwaʻ
to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (as subjoined)
Study H5128 →שָׁרַק shâraq
properly, to be shrill, i.e. to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn)
Study H8319 →שָׂחַק sâchaq
to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play
Study H7832 →עָבַר ʻâbar
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
Study H5674 →הָיָה hâyâh
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Study H1961 →שָׁכַב shâkab
to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
Study H7901 →חַי chay
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
Study H2416 →Cross References
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a ...
Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?
Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.
And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!
How hath the LORD covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!
Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.
And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more.
Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have mad...
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