Zephaniah 1:14
New International Version
The great day of the LORD is near— near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the LORD is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry.

New Living Translation
“That terrible day of the LORD is near. Swiftly it comes— a day of bitter tears, a day when even strong men will cry out.

English Standard Version
The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there.

Berean Standard Bible
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.

King James Bible
The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

New King James Version
The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out.

New American Standard Bible
The great day of the LORD is near, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior cries out bitterly.

NASB 1995
Near is the great day of the LORD, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior cries out bitterly.

NASB 1977
Near is the great day of the LORD, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior cries out bitterly.

Legacy Standard Bible
Near is the great day of Yahweh, Near and coming very quickly; O the sound, the day of Yahweh! In it the mighty man cries out bitterly.

Amplified Bible
The great [judgment] day of the LORD is near, Near and coming very quickly. Listen! The [voice of the] day of the LORD! The warrior cries out bitterly [unable to fight or to flee].

Christian Standard Bible
The great day of the LORD is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the day of the LORD — then the warrior’s cry is bitter.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The great Day of the LORD is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the Day of the LORD— then the warrior’s cry is bitter.

American Standard Version
The great day of Jehovah is near, it is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of Jehovah; the mighty man crieth there bitterly.

Contemporary English Version
The great day of the LORD is coming soon, very soon. On that terrible day, fearsome shouts of warriors will be heard everywhere.

English Revised Version
The great day of the LORD is near, it is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD; the mighty man crieth there bitterly.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The frightening day of the LORD is near. It is near and coming very quickly. Listen! Warriors will cry out bitterly on the day of the LORD.

Good News Translation
The great day of the LORD is near--very near and coming fast! That day will be bitter, for even the bravest soldiers will cry out in despair!

International Standard Version
"The great Day of the LORD approaches— How it comes, hurrying faster and faster! The sound of the Day of the LORD there includes the bitter cry of the mighty soldier.

Majority Standard Bible
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.

NET Bible
The LORD's great day of judgment is almost here; it is approaching very rapidly! There will be a bitter sound on the LORD's day of judgment; at that time warriors will cry out in battle.

New Heart English Bible
The great day of the LORD is near. It is near, and hurries greatly, the voice of the day of the LORD. The mighty man cries there bitterly.

Webster's Bible Translation
The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

World English Bible
The great day of Yahweh is near. It is near and hurries greatly, the voice of the day of Yahweh. The mighty man cries there bitterly.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Near [is] the Great Day of YHWH, "" Near, and hastening exceedingly, "" The noise of the Day of YHWH, "" There a mighty one bitterly shrieks.

Young's Literal Translation
Near is the great day of Jehovah, Near, and hasting exceedingly, The noise of the day of Jehovah, Bitterly shriek there doth a mighty one.

Smith's Literal Translation
The great day of Jehovah is near, it is near and hastening greatly, the voice of the day of Jehovah: the strong one cried there bitterly.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The great day of the Lord is near, it is near and exceeding swift: the voice of the day of the Lord is bitter, the mighty man shall there meet with tribulation.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The great day of the Lord is near; it is near and exceedingly swift. The voice of the day of the Lord is bitter; the strong will be tested there.

New American Bible
Near is the great day of the LORD, near and very swiftly coming. The sound of the day of the LORD! Piercing— there a warrior shrieks!

New Revised Standard Version
The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The great day of the LORD is near, it is very near, and hastens fast; even the voice of the day of the Lord; yea, it is bitter, harsh, and severe.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The day great of LORD JEHOVAH is near, it is very near and it hastens; the voice of the day of LORD JEHOVAH is bitter and hard and severe
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The great day of the LORD is near, It is near and hasteth greatly, Even the voice of the day of the LORD, Wherein the mighty man crieth bitterly.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and very speedy; the sound of the day of the Lord is made bitter and harsh.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day of the LORD
13Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine. 14The great Day of the LORD is near— near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. 15That 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,…

Cross References
Joel 2:1-2
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— / 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 13:6-9
Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty. / Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt. / Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear. ...

Amos 5:18-20
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. / It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. / Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

Malachi 4:5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.

Ezekiel 30:2-3
“Son of man, prophesy and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Wail, ‘Alas for that day!’ / For the day is near, the Day of the LORD is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

Jeremiah 46:10
For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.

Obadiah 1:15
For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your recompense will return upon your own head.

Isaiah 2:12
For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled—

Isaiah 34:8
For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

Isaiah 63:4
For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redemption had come.

Matthew 24:29-31
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. / And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. / While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

Revelation 6:17
For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Revelation 16:14
These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.


Treasury of Scripture

The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hastens greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

great.

Zephaniah 1:7
Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

Jeremiah 30:7
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Ezekiel 30:3
For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.

it is.

Ezekiel 7:6,7,12
An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come…

Ezekiel 12:23
Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.

Amos 8:2
And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.

even.

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.

Isaiah 22:4,5
Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people…

Isaiah 66:6
A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

the mighty.

Isaiah 15:4
And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.

Isaiah 33:7
Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

Jeremiah 48:41
Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

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Aloud Bitter Bitterly Cries Crieth Cry Exceedingly Fast Great Greatly Hastening Hasteth Hasting Hurries Mighty Noise Quickly Shouting Shriek Sound Voice War Warrior Wherein
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Zephaniah 1
1. The time when Zephaniah prophesied.
2. God's severe judgments against Judah.














The great Day of the LORD
This phrase is a central theme in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. In Hebrew, "Yom Yahweh" signifies a time of divine intervention, judgment, and salvation. Historically, this concept is rooted in the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where God acts decisively in history. The "great" aspect emphasizes the magnitude and significance of this day, not just for Israel but for all nations. It is a day of reckoning, where God's justice and righteousness are fully revealed.

is near
The Hebrew word "qarob" suggests imminence and urgency. This conveys the idea that the Day of the LORD is not a distant event but one that is approaching rapidly. In the historical context of Zephaniah, this would have been a warning to the people of Judah to repent and return to God, as His judgment was impending. For contemporary believers, it serves as a reminder of the nearness of God's kingdom and the call to live in readiness.

near and coming quickly
The repetition of "near" and the addition of "coming quickly" (Hebrew "maher") intensify the urgency of the message. This dual emphasis underscores the certainty and speed with which God's judgment will arrive. It reflects the prophetic tradition of calling people to immediate action and repentance, highlighting the transient nature of human life and the eternal significance of divine judgment.

Listen
The Hebrew word "shama" is not merely about hearing but involves an active response. It is a call to attention and obedience. In the biblical context, listening to God implies a readiness to act according to His will. This imperative is a call to the people to heed the warning and prepare for the coming Day of the LORD.

the Day of the LORD
Reiterating this phrase emphasizes its importance. It is a day characterized by both judgment and hope. For the unrighteous, it is a day of terror and destruction, but for the faithful, it is a day of vindication and salvation. This dual aspect is consistent throughout the prophetic writings, where God's justice is meted out, and His mercy is extended to those who repent.

Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter
The "mighty" (Hebrew "gibborim") refers to warriors or strong men, those who are typically seen as powerful and invincible. The "cry" being "bitter" (Hebrew "mar") indicates a reversal of fortunes. Those who rely on their strength and power will find themselves helpless in the face of God's judgment. This serves as a humbling reminder that human strength is futile against divine power. It calls believers to place their trust not in worldly might but in the Lord, who is the ultimate source of strength and deliverance.

Verses 14-18. - § 5. To arouse the self-confident sinners, the prophet here enlarges upon the near approach and terrible nature of this coming judgment. Verse 14. - Having signified the victims of the judgment, Zephaniah recurs to what he had said in ver. 7, and enforces upon his hearers its near approach. The great day of the Lord (Joel 2:1, 11). Even the voice of the day of the Lord. The day is so close at hand, that the sound of its coming can be heard. Some translate, "Hark! the day of Jehovah." The mighty man shall cry (crieth) there bitterly. There, on the battlefield, the hero is panic-stricken, and cries out for fear. The Greek and Latin Versions connect "bitter" with the former clause. Thus the Vulgate, Vox dies Domini amara; Septuagint, Φωνὴ ἡμέρας Κυρίου πικρὰ καὶ σκληρὰ τέτακται, "The voice of the day of the Lord is made bitter and harsh."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The great
הַגָּד֔וֹל (hag·gā·ḏō·wl)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

Day
יוֹם־ (yō·wm-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

is near—
קָר֤וֹב (qā·rō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7138: Near

near
קָר֖וֹב (qā·rō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7138: Near

and coming
וּמַהֵ֣ר (ū·ma·hêr)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 4118: Hastening, speedy, swift

quickly.
מְאֹ֑ד (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

Listen,
ק֚וֹל (qō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

the Day
י֣וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of the LORD!
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Then
שָׁ֥ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

the cry
צֹרֵ֖חַ (ṣō·rê·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6873: To be clear, to whoop

of the mighty
גִּבּֽוֹר׃ (gib·bō·wr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1368: Powerful, warrior, tyrant

will be bitter.
מַ֥ר (mar)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4751: Bitter, bitterness, bitterly


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OT Prophets: Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of Yahweh is near (Zeph. Zep Zp)
Zephaniah 1:13
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