Zephaniah 2:14
◄  Zephaniah 2:14  ►
New International Version (© 2011)
Flocks and herds will lie down there, creatures of every kind. The desert owl and the screech owl will roost on her columns. Their hooting will echo through the windows, rubble will fill the doorways, the beams of cedar will be exposed.

King James Bible
And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.

American Standard Version
And herds shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in the capitals thereof; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar-work.

Young's Literal Translation
And crouched in her midst have droves, Every beast of the nation, Both pelican and hedge-hog in her knobs lodge, A voice doth sing at the window, 'Destruction is at the threshold, For the cedar-work is exposed.'

Zephaniah 2:14 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her - Nineveh was so completely destroyed, that its situation is not at present even known. The present city of Mossoul is supposed to be in the vicinity of the place where this ancient city stood.

The cormorant קאת kaath; and the bittern, קפד kippod. These Newcome translates, "The pelican and the porcupine."

Their voice shall sing in the windows - The windows shall be all demolished; wild fowl shall build their nests in them, and shall be seen coming from their sills, and the fine cedar ceilings shall be exposed to the weather, and by and by crumble to dust. See the note on Isaiah 34:11-14 (note), where nearly the same terms are used.

I have in another place introduced a remarkable couplet quoted by Sir W. Jones from a Persian poet, which speaks of desolation in nearly the same terms.

"The spider holds the veil in the palace of Caesar:

The owl stands sentinel in the watchtower of Afrasiab."

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

flocks.

Zephaniah 2:6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

Isaiah 13:19-22 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah...

Isaiah 34:11-17 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it...

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils...

commorant. or, pelican. upper lintels. or, knops, or chapiters.

Amos 9:1 I saw the LORD standing on the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head...

for he shall uncover. or, when he hath uncovered. the cedar.

Jeremiah 22:14 That said, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cuts him out windows; and it is paneled with cedar...

Zephaniah 2:14 Parallel Commentaries
Animals Bare Beams Beasts Bittern Calls Capitals Cedar Cormorant Desolation Echo Flocks Herds Lie Midst Nations Pelican Porcupine Posts Sing Thereof Threshholds Thresholds Uncover Uncovered Upper Voice Voices Windows Work
Animals Bare Beams Beasts Bittern Calls Capitals Cedar Cormorant Desolation Echo Flocks Herds Lie Midst Nations Pelican Porcupine Posts Sing Thereof Threshholds Thresholds Uncover Uncovered Upper Voice Voices Windows Work
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Revelation 18:2 With a mighty voice he shouted: "'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!' She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
Psalm 102:6 I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
Isaiah 13:21 But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about.
Isaiah 14:23 "I will turn her into a place for owls and into swampland; I will sweep her with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD Almighty.
Isaiah 34:11 The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and the raven will nest there. God will stretch out over Edom the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of desolation.
Amos 9:1 I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said: "Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Bring them down on the heads of all the people; those who are left I will kill with the sword. Not one will get away, none will escape.