Zephaniah 2:11 The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.

Bible > Zephaniah > Chapter 2 > Verse 11

◄ Zephaniah 2:11 ►

New International Version
The LORD will be awesome to them when he destroys all the gods of the earth. Distant nations will bow down to him, all of them in their own lands.

New Living Translation
The LORD will terrify them as he destroys all the gods in the land. Then nations around the world will worship the LORD, each in their own land.

English Standard Version
The LORD will be awesome against them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations.

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.

King James Bible
The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

New King James Version
The LORD will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People shall worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations.

New American Standard Bible
The LORD will be terrifying to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place.

NASB 1995
The LORD will be terrifying to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place.

NASB 1977
The LORD will be terrifying to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place.

Legacy Standard Bible
Yahweh will be fearsome to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place.

Amplified Bible
The LORD will be terrifying and awesome to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down and worship Him, everyone from his own place.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD will be terrifying to them when he starves all the gods of the earth. Then all the distant coasts and islands of the nations will bow in worship to him, each in its own place.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then all the distant coastlands of the nations will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.

American Standard Version
Jehovah will be terrible unto them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the nations.

Contemporary English Version
I will fiercely attack. Then every god on this earth will shrink to nothing, and everyone of every nation will bow down to me, right where they are.

English Revised Version
The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the nations.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD will terrify them, because he will make all the gods of the earth waste away. So every person from every coast and nation will bow to him.

Good News Translation
The LORD will terrify them. He will reduce the gods of the earth to nothing, and then every nation will worship him, each in its own land.

International Standard Version
The LORD will incite them to terror, because he will cause all the gods of the earth to waste away. They will worship him, every person in his own home, including even the coastlands of the nations."

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.

NET Bible
The LORD will terrify them, for he will weaken all the gods of the earth. All the distant nations will worship the LORD in their own lands.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD will be awesome to them, for he will famish all the gods of the land. Men will worship him, everyone from his place, even all the shores of the nations.

Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD will be terrible to them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

World English Bible
Yahweh will be awesome to them, for he will famish all the gods of the land. Men will worship him, everyone from his place, even all the shores of the nations.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Fearful [is] YHWH against them, "" For He made all gods of the land bare, "" And all islanders of the nations bow themselves to Him, "" Each from his place.

Young's Literal Translation
Fearful is Jehovah against them, For He made bare all gods of the land, And bow themselves to Him, each from his place, Do all islanders of the nations.

Smith's Literal Translation
God being terrible to them, for he made lean all the gods of the earth; and they shall worship to him each from his place, all the isles of the nations.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord shall be terrible upon them, and shall consume all the gods of the earth: and they shall adore him every man from his own place, all the islands of the Gentiles.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The Lord will be a horror over them, and he will reduce all the gods of the earth. And they will adore him, each man from his own place, all the islands of the Gentiles.

New American Bible
The LORD shall inspire them with terror when he makes all the gods of earth waste away; Then the distant shores of the nations, each from its own place, shall bow down to him.

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD will be terrible against them; he will shrivel all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the coasts and islands of the nations.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For the LORD has declared to them that he shall destroy all the kings of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the seas.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH has revealed to them that he shall destroy all of the Kings of the Earth and they shall worship him, each man from his place, all of the islands of the seas

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
The LORD will be terrible unto them; For He will famish all the gods of the earth; Then shall all the isles of the nations worship Him, Every one from its place.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The Lord shall appear against them, and shall utterly destroy all the gods of the nations of the earth; and they shall worship him every one from his place, even all the islands of the nations.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Judgment on Moab and Ammon
…10This they shall have in return for their pride, for taunting and mocking the people of the LORD of Hosts. 11The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Malachi 1:11
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Isaiah 45:22-23
Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. / By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Psalm 86:9
All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.

Isaiah 2:2-3
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. / And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Micah 4:1-2
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. / And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14:9
On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.

Isaiah 11:9
They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water.

Psalm 22:27-28
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him. / For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.

Isaiah 66:18-19
“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory. / I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.

Jeremiah 16:19-21
O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all. / Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!” / “Therefore behold, I will inform them, and this time I will make them know My power and My might; then they will know that My name is the LORD.

Revelation 15:4
Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Philippians 2:10-11
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 14:11
It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

John 4:21-24
“Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. / You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. / But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. ...

Treasury of Scripture

The LORD will be terrible to them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

for.

Deuteronomy 32:38
Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

Hosea 2:17
For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.

Zechariah 13:2
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

famish.

Psalm 2:8-12
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession…

Psalm 22:27-30
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee…

Psalm 72:8-11,17
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth…

the isles.

Genesis 10:5
By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Isaiah 24:14-16
They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea…

Isaiah 42:4,10
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law…

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Zephaniah 2

1. An exhortation to repentance.
4. The judgment of the Philistines,
8. of Moab and Ammon,
12. of Ethiopia,
13. and of Assyria.

Berean Study Bible

The LORD will be terrifying to them
The phrase "The LORD" refers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, whose name signifies His eternal existence and unchanging nature. The Hebrew root for "terrifying" is "yare," which conveys a sense of awe and fear. This fear is not merely emotional but is a recognition of God's supreme power and authority. Historically, the nations surrounding Israel often underestimated Yahweh's power, but this verse prophesies a time when His might will be undeniable and fearsome to those who oppose Him.

when He starves all the gods of the earth
The term "starves" comes from the Hebrew root "raza," meaning to make lean or famish. This imagery suggests that God will render the false gods powerless and ineffective, stripping them of their influence and sustenance. In the ancient Near Eastern context, gods were often associated with specific territories and peoples, and their power was believed to be tied to the prosperity of their worshippers. By "starving" these gods, Yahweh demonstrates His sovereignty over all creation, emphasizing that He alone is the true source of life and provision.

Then the nations of the coastlands
The "nations of the coastlands" refers to the distant peoples and regions along the Mediterranean Sea. In biblical times, these areas were often seen as remote and culturally distinct from Israel. The mention of "coastlands" highlights the universal scope of God's dominion, extending beyond Israel to encompass all nations. This reflects the biblical theme of God's plan for all peoples to recognize His lordship, as seen in the Abrahamic promise that all nations would be blessed through his descendants (Genesis 12:3).

will bow in worship
The act of bowing signifies submission and reverence. The Hebrew word "shachah" is used here, which means to prostrate oneself in worship. This physical act represents an acknowledgment of God's supremacy and a willing submission to His authority. The prophetic vision here is one of global recognition of Yahweh's sovereignty, where even those who once served other gods will turn to worship Him.

each in its own place
This phrase underscores the personal and individual nature of worship. While the nations collectively recognize God's power, each person and community will worship "in its own place," indicating that worship is not confined to a single location or culture. This anticipates the New Testament revelation that worship is not about a specific place but about spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). It also suggests a future where diverse cultures and peoples maintain their unique identities while united in the worship of the one true God.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - § 4. Before passing to the judgment on the nations of the south and north, the prophet shows the object of all these chastisements: God destroys idolatry in order that pure religion may reign over all the earth. The Lord will be terrible unto them. The Lord shows himself as a terrible God over the Moabites and Ammonites, but only as parts of the heathen world, and with a view to a universal result This is the purpose of the revelation of himself as Judge. Septuagint, Ἐπιφανήσεται Κύριος ἐπ αὐτούς, "The Lord will appear against them." For he will famish all the gods of the earth. The verb means literally, "to make lean," and then "to destroy;" hence the LXX., ἐξολοθρεύσει. The word may be chosen in order to express the idea that worshippers will no more be found to offer sacrifices and drink offerings to the gods (see Bel and the Dragon 6, 12). The nations being destroyed, the gods reverenced by them would vanish and be heard of no more. Men shall worship him. Idolatry abolished, men shall learn to worship Jehovah. Every one from his place. Every one shall worship God in his own place and country; the Lord shall be universally recognized, and his worship shall no longer be confined to one temple or one land, but wherever men dwell there shall they offer their homage and adoration (comp. Isaiah 19:18, 19; Malachi 1:11, where the same truth is signified). Such passages as Micah 4:1 and Zechariah 14:16, which seem to imply that all nations are to come up to the material Jerusalem to pay their devotions, require evidently a spiritual interpretation, and denote that the heathen converted to Christ shall be received into the Church, and join in the worship of the true Israel. The isles of the heathen; or, coasts of the nations; the most distant countries that lie across the seas (Genesis 10:5; Psalm 72:10; Isaiah 11:11, etc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

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

will be terrifying
נוֹרָ֤א (nō·w·rā)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

to them
עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

when
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

He starves
רָזָ֔ה (rā·zāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7329: To emaciate, make, thin

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the gods
אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of the earth.
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

Then the nations
הַגּוֹיִֽם׃ (hag·gō·w·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

of every
כֹּ֖ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

shore
אִיֵּ֥י (’î·yê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 339: A habitable spot, dry land, a coast, an island

will bow in worship
וְיִשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־ (wə·yiš·ta·ḥă·wū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

to Him,
לוֹ֙ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

each
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

in their own place.
מִמְּקוֹמ֔וֹ (mim·mə·qō·w·mōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

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OT Prophets: Zephaniah 2:11 Yahweh will be awesome to them (Zeph. Zep Zp)