Zephaniah 1:15

That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Zephaniah addresses Judah and Jerusalem, declaring the imminent arrival of the great Day of the LORD.

The words — The Hebrew י֥וֹם (Yom) repeats to frame each clause as "a day of," while עֶבְרָ֖ה ('ev.Rah) literally means "fury" or "wrath."

The thread — This sequence of darkness and judgment appears in Joel 2:2, Isaiah 22:5, and Revelation 6:17.

Why it lands — The text records an impending divine assault that leaves no escape, requiring the reader to acknowledge an unavoidable reality of judgment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

י֥וֹםYom[will be] a day of עֶבְרָ֖ה'ev.Rahfury הַיּ֣וֹםhai./Yomthe/ day הַה֑וּאha./Hu'<the>/ that י֧וֹםYoma day of צָרָ֣הtza.Rahtrouble וּמְצוּקָ֗הu./me.tzu.Kahand/ distress י֤וֹםYoma day of שֹׁאָה֙sho.'Ahdevastation וּמְשׁוֹאָ֔הu./me.sho.'Ahand/ desolation י֥וֹםYoma day of חֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙cho.shekhdarkness וַאֲפֵלָ֔הva./'a.fe.Lahand/ gloom י֥וֹםYoma day of עָנָ֖ן'a.Nancloud וַעֲרָפֶֽל׃va./'a.ra.Feland/ thick darkness

King James Version

That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

Cross-references

Joel 2:2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.
Isaiah 22:5 For the Lord GOD of Hosts has set a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the Valley of Vision—of breaking down the walls and crying to the mountains.
Revelation 6:17 For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”
Jeremiah 30:7 How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.
Amos 5:18 Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light.
Job 3:4 If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.
Joel 2:11 The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?
Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.
Zephaniah 2:2 before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the Day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you.
Luke 21:22 For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.