Bible Strands
Zephaniah 2:6
So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — YHWH addresses the Philistine seacoast dwellers, specifically the nation of the Cherethites, immediately after pronouncing total destruction on Canaan in Zephaniah 2.
The words — חֶבֶל (Chevel) denotes the specific coastal region or territory, while נְוֹת (neVot) refers to the pastures or dwelling places that will replace the former devastation.
The thread — This motif of conquered cities becoming open pasture appears in Isaiah 5:17, Isaiah 17:2, and Ezekiel 25:5, where ruined territories are repurposed as grazing land for flocks.
Why it lands — The text states that the devastated Philistine coast will be transformed into grazing land with wells and enclosures, which interpreters infer as a literal repurposing of conquered territory for Judah’s remnant. This demands a reader to recognize that divine judgment on hostile nations directly enables the restoration of God’s people.
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
King James Version
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 5:17 Lambs will graze as in their own pastures, and strangers will feed in the ruins of the wealthy.
- Isaiah 17:2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear.
- Ezekiel 25:5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’
- Zephaniah 2:14 Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.