King James Version

What Does Zephaniah 1:10 Mean?

Zephaniah 1:10 in the King James Version says “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...” — study this verse from Zephaniah chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Zephaniah 1:10 · KJV

Context

8

And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel. punish: Heb. visit upon

9

In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.

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.

11

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

12

And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil. settled: Heb. curded, or, thickened

Read Zephaniah 1 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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—Zephaniah provides an acoustic portrait of Jerusalem's coming devastation. The fish gate (sha'ar ha-dagim, שַׁעַר הַדָּגִים) stood on Jerusalem's northern wall (Nehemiah 3:3, 12:39), near the fish market where merchants from coastal regions sold seafood. This gate faced the direction from which invading armies traditionally approached—north, the route Babylon would take.

The noise of a cry (qol tza'aqah, קוֹל צְעָקָה) describes the terrified screams of citizens as enemy forces breach the wall. Tza'aqah is desperate, anguished crying—the sound of people facing death or capture. An howling from the second (yelahlah min ha-mishneh, יְלָלָה מִן־הַמִּשְׁנֶה)—yelahlah means wailing, lamentation, howling in grief. "The second" (mishneh) likely refers to Jerusalem's second quarter or new city district (2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22), indicating the invasion penetrates deeper into the city.

A great crashing from the hills (shever gadol me-ha-geva'ot, שֶׁבֶר גָּדוֹל מֵהַגְּבָעוֹת)—shever means breaking, shattering, destruction, like the sound of buildings collapsing or armies destroying fortifications. The hills surrounding Jerusalem would echo with sounds of devastation as the enemy methodically demolishes the city. This verse creates an overwhelming sensory experience—the progressive sounds of invasion from outer walls to inner districts to surrounding hills, a symphony of judgment fulfilling covenant curses warned in Deuteronomy 28:49-52.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy found precise fulfillment during Babylon's sieges and final conquest of Jerusalem (588-586 BC). Nebuchadnezzar's armies surrounded the city, built siege works, and systematically breached the walls. 2 Kings 25:1-4 describes how "the city was broken up" and "all the men of war fled by night." The northern approach Zephaniah highlights was indeed Babylon's primary route—they came through Syria and approached Jerusalem from the north, making the fish gate area a logical first breach point.

Lamentations, written by Jeremiah as eyewitness testimony, provides graphic detail of the sounds Zephaniah prophesied. "Hear my voice...the voice of their cry" (Lamentations 3:56); "he hath caused...crying and sorrow to cease" (Lamentations 2:11); "the young children ask bread" with crying (Lamentations 4:4). The archaeological record confirms widespread destruction throughout Jerusalem from this period—burned buildings, collapsed walls, destruction debris layers. Jeremiah 52:12-14 reports that Babylon "burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire."

Zephaniah's geographically specific prophecy demonstrates supernatural foreknowledge—he predicted not just general destruction but identified specific locations where crying, howling, and crashing would occur. This wasn't vague prophetic generality but detailed preview of coming judgment, giving Judah opportunity to repent before fulfillment arrived. That they didn't repent despite such specific warning demonstrates the hardness of sinful hearts—even precise prophetic knowledge doesn't produce faith without Spirit-worked regeneration.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the progression of sounds (cry → howling → crashing) teach about judgment's comprehensive, unstoppable nature once it begins?
  2. How should specific, detailed prophecy of coming judgment affect our urgency in calling others to repentance?
  3. In what ways do we become desensitized to warnings of judgment, like Judah ignored Zephaniah's geographically precise predictions?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
וְהָיָה֩1 of 15
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

בַיּ֨וֹם2 of 15

“And it shall come to pass in that day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַה֜וּא3 of 15
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

נְאֻם4 of 15

“saith”

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָ֗ה5 of 15

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

ק֤וֹל6 of 15

“that there shall be the noise”

H6963

a voice or sound

צְעָקָה֙7 of 15

“of a cry”

H6818

a shriek

מִשַּׁ֣עַר8 of 15

“gate”

H8179

an opening, i.e., door or gate

הַדָּגִ֔ים9 of 15

“from the fish”

H1709

a fish (often used collectively)

וִֽילָלָ֖ה10 of 15

“and an howling”

H3215

a howling

מִן11 of 15
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה12 of 15

“from the second”

H4932

properly, a repetition, i.e., a duplicate (copy of a document), or a double (in amount); by implication, a second (in order, rank, age, quality or loc

וְשֶׁ֥בֶר13 of 15

“crashing”

H7667

a fracture, figuratively, ruin; specifically, a solution (of a dream)

גָּד֖וֹל14 of 15

“and a great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

מֵהַגְּבָעֽוֹת׃15 of 15

“from the hills”

H1389

a hillock

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Zephaniah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Zephaniah 1:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Zephaniah 1:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 33:142 Kings 22:14Amos 8:3Nehemiah 3:3Jeremiah 4:19-21Isaiah 22:4-5

Places in This Verse

Fish GateGate · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E4 verses across 3 books
Second QuarterDistrict · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E4 verses across 4 books
View all places in Zephaniah 1 →

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