Zephaniah 1 · Verse 9

Zephaniah 1:9

In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.

Zephaniah 1:9, King James Version

Zephaniah 1:9 in other translations

BSB	On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.
WEB	In that day, I will punish all those who leap over the threshold, who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit.
ASV	And in that day I will punish all those that leap over the threshold, that fill their master’s house with violence and deceit.
YLT	And I have laid a charge on every one Who is leaping over the threshold in that day, Who are filling the house of their masters With violence and deceit.
DARBY	And in that day will I punish all those that leap over the threshold, who fill their master's house with violence and deceit.
BBE	And in that day I will send punishment on all those who come jumping over the doorstep and make their master's house full of violent behaviour and deceit.
Webster	In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshhold, who fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.

What does Zephaniah 1:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. those that leap on the threshold--the servants of the princes, who, after having gotten prey (like hounds) for their masters, leap exultingly on their masters' thresholds; or, on the thresholds of the houses which they break into [Calvin]. Jerome explains it of those who walk up the steps into the sanctuary with haughtiness. Rosenmuller translates, "Leap over the threshold"; namely, in imitation of the Philistine custom of not treading on the threshold, which arose from the head and hands of Dragon being broken off on the threshold before the ark (1Sa 5:5). Compare Is 2:6, "thy people ... are soothsayers like the Philistines." Calvin's view agrees best with the latter clause of the verse. fill ... masters' houses with violence, &c.--that is, with goods obtained with violence, &c.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 That leap on the threshold - Or, that leap over the threshold. It is most probable that the Philistines are here meant. After the time that Dagon fell before the ark, and his hands were broken off on the threshold of his temple, his worshippers would no more set a foot upon the threshold, but stepped or leaped over it, when they entered into his temple. The Chaldee understands this of the Philistines, without giving this reason for it. Some understand it of haughtiness and pride: others think that leaping on the threshold refers to the customs of the Arabs, who used to ride into people's houses and take away whatever they could carry; and that this is the reason why, in several parts of the East, they have their doors made very low, to prevent those depredators from entering. In this manner, we learn the Persians have frequently oppressed the poor Armenians, going on horseback into their houses, and taking whatever they thought proper. Mr. Harmer understands it in this way.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Zephaniah 1:7-13

God's day is at hand; the punishment of presumptuous sinners is a sacrifice to the justice of God. The Jewish royal family shall be reckoned with for their pride and vanity; and those that leap on the threshold, invading their neighbours' rights, and seizing their possessions. The trading people and the rich merchants are called to account. Secure and careless people are reckoned with. They are secure and easy; they…

Read the full comment on Zephaniah 1:7-13 →

Zephaniah 1:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּפָקַדְתִּ֗יu.fa.kad.Tiand I will visit [judgment]H6485

עַ֧ל'alonH5921

כָּל\־kol-everyH3605

הַדּוֹלֵ֛גha.do.Leg<the> [one who] leapsH1801

עַל\־'al-overH5921

הַמִּפְתָּ֖ןha.mif.Tanthe thresholdH4670

בַּיּ֣וֹםbai.Yomon the dayH3117

הַה֑וּאha.Hu'<the> thatH1931

הַֽמְמַלְאִ֛יםha.mal.'Imthose [who] fillH4390

בֵּ֥יתbeit[the] house ofH1004

אֲדֹנֵיהֶ֖ם'a.do.nei.Hemlord<s> theirH113

חָמָ֥סcha.MasviolenceH2555

וּמִרְמָֽה\׃\ \סu.mir.Mahand deceitH4820

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Zephaniah 1:9

1 Samuel 5:5
Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
Amos 3:10
For they know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
Nehemiah 5:15
But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
1 Samuel 2:15-16
Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
2 Kings 5:20-27
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him. …
Proverbs 29:12
If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
Acts 16:19
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

those.Or, "that leap over the threshold," by which is probably meant the Philistines, who, after the time that Dagon fell before the ark and was broken on the threshold, leaped over it when entering his temple.
leap.
1Sa 5:5
which.
1Sa 2:15,16; 2Ki 5:20-27; Ne 5:15; Pr 29:12; Ac 16:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Zephaniah 1:8
And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
Zephaniah 1:9
In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.
Zephaniah 1:10
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.

Read all of Zephaniah 1

Zephaniah 1:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Asimismo haré visitación en aquel día sobre todos los que saltan la puerta, los que hinchen de robo y de engaño las casas de sus señores.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et je punirai, en ce jour-là, tous ceux qui sautent par-dessus le seuil, ceux qui remplissent la maison de leur seigneur de violence et de fraude.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und an jenem Tage werde ich einen jeden heimsuchen, der über die Schwelle springt alle, die das Haus ihres Herrn mit Gewalttat und Betrug erfüllen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	et visitabo super omnem qui arroganter ingreditur super limen in die illa, qui complent domum Domini Dei sui iniquitate et dolo.