The Meaning of Zephaniah 3:1 Explained

Zephaniah 3:1

KJV: Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

YLT: Woe to the rebellious and polluted, The oppressing city!

Darby: Woe to her that is rebellious and corrupted, to the oppressing city!

ASV: Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Woe  to her that is filthy  and polluted,  to the oppressing  city! 

What does Zephaniah 3:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Zephaniah pronounced another "woe" (cf. Zephaniah 2:5) this time on Jerusalem, which he described as rebellious, defiled, and tyrannical. Rebels are those who refuse to submit to God"s will. The defiled are those polluted by sinful practices. Tyrants disregard the rights of others, particularly those whom they can take advantage of.

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 3:1 mean?

Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted the to city oppressing
ה֥וֹי מֹרְאָ֖ה וְנִגְאָלָ֑ה ! הָעִ֖יר הַיּוֹנָֽה

ה֥וֹי  Woe 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֹוי  
Sense: ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!.
מֹרְאָ֖ה  to  her  who  is  rebellious 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: מָרָא 
Sense: (Hiphil) to beat (the air), flap (the wings).
וְנִגְאָלָ֑ה  and  polluted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: גָּאַל  
Sense: to defile, pollute, desecrate.
! הָעִ֖יר  the  to  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הַיּוֹנָֽה  oppressing 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: יׄונָה 
Sense: to oppress, suppress, treat violently, maltreat, vex, do wrong.