The Meaning of Zephaniah 3:6 Explained

Zephaniah 3:6

KJV: I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.

YLT: I have cut off nations, Desolated have been their chief ones, I have laid waste their out-places without any passing by, Destroyed have been their cities, Without man, without inhabitant.

Darby: I have cut off nations: their battlements are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.

ASV: I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I have cut off  the nations:  their towers  are desolate;  I made their streets  waste,  that none passeth by:  their cities  are destroyed,  so that there is no man,  that there is none inhabitant. 

What does Zephaniah 3:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord reminded the Jerusalemites that He had already destroyed other nations. This probably refers to the nations around Judah that He had already allowed to fall to the Assyrians. He compared such a fallen nation to a city with strong corner towers that now lay in ruin because of the enemy"s destruction. The streets of this representative "city" also lay deserted. The real cities of these already defeated nations were in ruins without any inhabitants. Samaria was one such city, and the numerous towns of the former Northern Kingdom were others.

Context Summary

Zephaniah 3:1-20 - Fullness Of Salvation
The sins of Jerusalem, Zephaniah 3:1-7. Uninfluenced by judgments upon other nations, Jerusalem pursued her course, morally impure, oppressive, refusing instruction, estranged from God. Yet God still dwelt in the city which He had chosen. Morning by morning His Spirit was appealing for repentance and righteousness. Through His faithful ones He was still shedding the light and glory of a holier civilization through the community, but the population at large refused to heed.
The effects of cleansing judgment, Zephaniah 3:8-20. These closing verses are marked by great tenderness, showing as they do, the results that God's dealings are designed to effect. A pure life; service with one consent; the trust of the afflicted soul in the love of God; the weaning of the heart from all iniquity-what great and lovely results of that long captivity! Let God have His way with you! He will change your sorrow into songs; will cast out your enemies and turn again your captivity; will manifest His infinite love, now in brooding tenderness, and then in outbursting songs. Those who have been filled with sorrow, and have borne the burden of reproach for God, shall be comforted. Even the halt and exiled shall participate, and become a name and a praise. The captives would be liberated and the dispersed would be gathered home [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Zephaniah 3:6 mean?

I have cut off nations are devastated their fortresses I have made desolate their streets with none passing by are destroyed their cities [There is] no one no inhabitant
הִכְרַ֣תִּי גוֹיִ֗ם נָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ פִּנּוֹתָ֔ם הֶחֱרַ֥בְתִּי חֽוּצוֹתָ֖ם מִבְּלִ֣י עוֹבֵ֑ר נִצְדּ֧וּ עָרֵיהֶ֛ם מִבְּלִי־ אִ֖ישׁ מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב

הִכְרַ֣תִּי  I  have  cut  off 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
גוֹיִ֗ם  nations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
נָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙  are  devastated 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמֵם  
Sense: to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy.
פִּנּוֹתָ֔ם  their  fortresses 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: פִּנָּה  
Sense: corner.
הֶחֱרַ֥בְתִּי  I  have  made  desolate 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָרֵב 
Sense: to be waste, lay waste, make desolate, be desolate, be in ruins.
חֽוּצוֹתָ֖ם  their  streets 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.
מִבְּלִ֣י  with  none 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: בְּלִי 
Sense: wearing out adv of negation.
עוֹבֵ֑ר  passing  by 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
נִצְדּ֧וּ  are  destroyed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: צָדָה 
Sense: (Qal) to lie in wait.
עָרֵיהֶ֛ם  their  cities 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
מִבְּלִי־  [There  is]  no 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: בְּלִי 
Sense: wearing out adv of negation.
אִ֖ישׁ  one 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מֵאֵ֥ין  no 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
יוֹשֵֽׁב  inhabitant 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.