4
ForכִּיGazaעַזָּהwill be abandoned,עֲזוּבָה תִהְיֶהand Ashkelonוְאַשְׁקְלוֹןa desolation;לִשְׁמָמָהAshdod,אַשְׁדּוֹדat noonבַּצָּהֳרַיִםthey will drive her out,יְגָרְשׁוּהָand Ekronוְעֶקְרוֹןwill be uprooted.תֵּעָקֵר
Zephaniah 2:4
Study it in the app“For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod, at noon they will drive her out, and Ekron will be uprooted.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Zephaniah 2:4, word by word
- Gazaעַזָּהaza
Gaza
See it on the mapWhere else “aza” appears- will be abandonedעֲזוּבָהazuva
forsake
To turn one's back on YHWH, someone or a place.
Where else “azuva” appears- will be abandonedתִהְיֶהtihye
be
To be: "I will be their Elohim".
Where else “tihye” appears- and Ashkelonאַשְׁקְלוֹןashklon
Ashkelon
See it on the mapWhere else “ashklon” appears- a desolationשְׁמָמָהshemama
desolation
Desolation: a land left empty and uncultivated; also horror.
Where else “shemama” appears- Ashdodאַשְׁדּוֹדashdod
Ashdod
See it on the mapWhere else “ashdod” appears- at noonצָּהֳרַיִםtsahorayim
noon
When the sun is highest; or full light.
Where else “tsahorayim” appears- they will drive her outיְגָרְשׁוּyegarshu
drive out
To force someone out of their home or land.
Where else “yegarshu” appears- and Ekronעֶקְרוֹןekron
Ekron
See it on the mapWhere else “ekron” appears- will be uprootedתֵּעָקֵרteaker
uproot
To pull a plant or a people up by the roots.
Where else “teaker” appears
Translation note
In Hebrew, “Gaza” sounds like “abandoned,” and “Ekron” like “uprooted.”
Places in this verse
1Gaza
Today: Gaza City, Gaza Strip
A Philistine city on the Mediterranean coast, at the far southwest of Israel.
There the Philistines blinded Samson and made him grind grain (Judg 16:21); he died there pulling down the temple (Judg 16:30).
2Ashkelon
Today: Ashkelon, Israel
A Philistine city on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Jerusalem.
Samson killed thirty men there to pay a bet (Judg 14:19). It was one of the five main Philistine cities (1 Sam 6:17).
3Ashdod
Today: Ashdod, Israel
A Philistine city near the Mediterranean coast, about 34 miles (55 km) west of Jerusalem.
The Philistines brought the ark of God there, and their god Dagon fell before it (1 Sam 5:1-4).
4Ekron
Today: Tel Miqne (Ekron) ruins, Israel
A Philistine city on the plain, about 22 miles (35 km) west of Jerusalem.
The ark was taken there and the people were afraid (1 Sam 5:10). King Ahaziah sent to ask its god instead of the God of Israel (2 Kgs 1:2).
The context
3Seek YHWH, all the humble of the earth, who practice his justice; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be hidden on the day of the anger of YHWH.
4 · This verse (above)
5Woe to the inhabitants of the strip of the sea, nation of the Cherethites! The word of YHWH is against you: “Canaan, land of the Philistines, I will destroy you until there is no inhabitant.”