Zephaniah 3:1

 Zephaniah 3:1

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

a. ASV: Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city!  [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT: Wo to the rebellious and polluted, The oppressing city!  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified: Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city [Jerusalem]!  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: Woe to the filthy and polluted one, the City of Oppression.  [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

e. Peshitta Eastern Text: OH, the famous city, the saved city; the city of Jonah!   [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT.Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

f. The Israel Bible: Ah, sullied, polluted, Overbearing city!  [The English Translation was adapted by Israel 365 from the JPS Tanakh. Copyright Ⓒ 1985 by the Jewish Publication Society. All rights reserved.]

g. Torah, Judaism and Jewish information on the web: www.chabad.org:  Online English Translation of the Tanakh (Jewish Bible):  Woe to her who is filthy and polluted-the dove-like city. [English Translation, Ⓒ Copyright The Judaica Press All rights reserved.]

1. “Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!”

a. Woe [Strong: 1945 howy hoh'ee a prolonged form of 1930 (akin to 188); oh!:--ah, alas, ho, O, woe.

 b. [to her that is] filthy [Strong: 4754 mara' maw-raw' a primitive root; to rebel; hence (through the idea of maltreating) to whip, i.e. lash (self with wings, as the ostrich in running):--be filthy, lift up self.]

c. [and] polluted [Strong: 1351 ga'al gaw-al' a primitive root, (rather identified with 1350, through the idea of freeing, i.e. repudiating); to soil or (figuratively) desecrate:--defile, pollute, stain.]

d. [to the] oppressing [Strong: 3238 yanah yaw-naw' a primitive root; to rage or be violent: by implication, to suppress, to maltreat:--destroy, (thrust out by) oppress(-ing, -ion, -or), proud, vex, do violence.]

e. city [Strong: 5892 `iyr eer or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4) {aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.]

1). J. Vernon McGee: Jerusalem was the city in which the temple was located. The Priests were there, and the scribes had the word of God. When wise men came from the east, seeking the King of the Jews, the scribes had no problem in telling them where the Messiah was to be born, but they simply did not manifest any interest in checking to see if the wise men had any valid information about the Messiah. The scribes knew the letter of the Law, but that is all they knew. They did not know the Author of the Book, and they  were far from Him. God’s condemnation of Jerusalem is on the basis of all the light they had.