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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Zephaniah 3:3–4

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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Reference depth

From verse 3

  1. Habakkuk 1:8Rank 1 from verse 3
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    8Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

  2. Ezekiel 22:25–27Rank 2 from verse 3
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    25There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.

    26Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

    27Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

  3. Jeremiah 5:6Rank 3 from verse 3
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    6Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

  4. Ezekiel 22:6Rank 4 from verse 3
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    6Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.

  5. Isaiah 1:23Rank 5 from verse 3
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    23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

From verse 4

  1. Ezekiel 22:26Rank 1 from verse 4
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    26Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

  2. Hosea 9:7Rank 2 from verse 4
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    7The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

  3. Lamentations 2:14Rank 3 from verse 4
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    14Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

  4. Malachi 2:8Rank 4 from verse 4
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    8But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

  5. Isaiah 56:10–12Rank 5 from verse 4
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    10His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

    11Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

    12Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Zephaniah 3:3

COMBINED MEANING

roaring

↗

Present-participial or verbal-noun form of roar, meaning to make such a sound, especially in distress or fierceness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

lions

↗

Sense 1: Large powerful wild cats. Sense 2: Figures of strength, fierceness, danger, or royal power.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

gnaw

↗

To bite off by little and little; to bite or scrape off with the fore teeth; to wear away by biting.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

till

↗

Sense 1: To cultivate, plough, dress, and work soil for crops. Sense 2: As a time or limit word, until, up to, or as far as the stated point, condition, or event.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

morrow

↗

The next day or the time following the present day, and by extension a coming or future time.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Zephaniah 3:4

COMBINED MEANING

light

↗

Sense 1: Brightness or illumination. Sense 2: A source or opening that gives light. Sense 3: Figuratively, truth, knowledge, revelation, life, or favour contrasted with darkness. Sense 4: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 5: To alight or come upon. Sense 6: Slight, easy, swift, or not heavy.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

priests

↗

Persons set apart to religious service, sanctuary duty, sacrifice, intercession, teaching, or representation before a deity.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

polluted

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of pollute, meaning to defile, make unclean, or profane.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

law

↗

Sense 1: An authoritative rule, command, ordinance, instruction, standard, or body of requirements. Sense 2: The writings containing such instruction. Sense 3: A governing principle, power, regular order, or civil rule. Sense 4: In family compounds, relationship by marriage.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

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Surrounding Verses

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2She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God.

3Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

Selected passage

4Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

Selected passage

5The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

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