Zephaniah 1:1
“The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Zephaniah names himself and his moment: a prophet carrying the LORD's word to Judah during the reign of Josiah.
What Does Zephaniah 1:1 Mean?
The book opens by anchoring its message in a person and a time. Zephaniah traces his line back four generations to Hizkiah, and he prophesies in the days of Josiah, the young king who would lead Judah's last great turning back to God. This was a nation that had drifted far into idolatry, and the word about to come was not gentle.
Before a single warning is spoken, the source is declared: this is the word of the LORD. Zephaniah does not invent his message or polish his own opinion; he receives and delivers. That is the posture of every true messenger of God, and it points forward to the One who would say, the words I speak are not mine but the Father's. When God speaks into a particular life and a particular season, He means to be heard and obeyed.
In the Original Language
dabar (דָּבָר), 'word' -- means both a spoken word and the matter or event it accomplishes, so the LORD's word is never merely sound but a thing that comes to pass.