Zephaniah 1:5-6

Zephaniah 1:5-6 name different classes of worshipers that will be swept away.

Worship the host of heaven The sun, moon, and stars. This form of idolatry, which was quite common in Judah during the latter part of the seventh century B.C. (Jeremiah 8:2; Jeremiah 19:13), was introduced from Assyria. The alliance consummated by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:7-9) opened the way for its introduction, and further provision was made for it by Manasseh (2 Kings 21:3; 2 Kings 21:5; compare 2 Kings 23:12). Josiah sought to abolish it (2 Kings 23:4-5; 2 Kings 23:12), but he did not succeed completely (Ezekiel 8:16; compare Job 31:26).

Upon the housetops An indication that the worship was rendered directly to the heavenly bodies when they were visible, and not to representations of them. The construction of the rest of Zephaniah 1:5 offers some difficulties. The text may have suffered, but the ancient versions offer no relief. If the present text is original a better rendering would be, “those who bow themselves, who devote themselves to Jehovah but swear by their king.” The first “swear” of A.V. is certainly an erroneous translation, for the construction is not the same as in the last clause; the expression means rather “to devote oneself by oath to the service of another,” and that fits admirably. The people prostrate themselves before Jehovah and vow loyalty to him; then they go and swear by some other deity, an indication that, in reality, their affection does not belong to Jehovah. While in this wise acceptable sense can be gotten from the present text, the latter is undoubtedly awkward and is greatly improved if the first “and that swear by” is omitted. It might easily have crept in from the following clause. With this omission 5b will read, “Those who bow themselves before Jehovah but swear by their king”; that is, nominally they worship Jehovah, in reality they have transferred their affection to other deities. If this is the correct interpretation, Zephaniah 1:5 condemns two classes of worshipers, the out-and-out idolaters and the hypocritical Jehovah worshipers (compare Ezekiel 23:39).

Malcham Margin R.V., “their king.” The god whom they recognize as their chief deity, whoever he might be. When many gods are worshiped the individual worshipers have their favorites among them. Peshitto and some manuscripts of LXX. read “Milcom” or “Moloch,” the name of the chief deity of the Ammonites. This presupposes the same consonants but different vowel points in Hebrew; in Jeremiah 49:1; Jeremiah 49:3, the same vowel points are retained. That Milcom was worshiped in Judah in Zephaniah’s days is shown by 2 Kings 23:13.

A third class of sinners is condemned in Zephaniah 1:6, those who have renounced entirely Jehovah and his religion.

Turned back from Jehovah R.V., “turned back from following Jehovah.” They began as worshipers of Jehovah, but have apostatized.

And those that have not sought This translation implies that 6b condemns another class of sinners; it is better, however, to consider the words a characterization of the people condemned in 6a and translate, “And them who have turned from following Jehovah, and who do not seek Jehovah nor inquire for him.” The word rendered here “inquire” is translated in Amos 5:4; Amos 5:6, “seek” (see there); the other word is translated “seek” in Hosea 5:6, and has practically the same meaning. These apostates have no longer any concern for Jehovah (Zephaniah 1:12).