Lexical Summary arzah: To the ground, to the earth, landward Original Word: אַרְזה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cedar work Fem of 'erez; cedar wainscoating -- cedar work. see HEBREW 'erez NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of erez Definition cedar panels, cedar work NASB Translation cedar work (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַרְזָה noun feminine collective cedar-panels, cedar-work Zephaniah 2:14. Topical Lexicon Scope of the WordArzeh designates cedar timber, appearing only once in the Hebrew canon in Zephaniah 2:14. Though rare in form, it stands within the well-attested biblical theme of cedar—an emblem of majesty, durability, and, when misused, of human pride awaiting divine exposure. Zephaniah 2:14—Exposed Cedar in Nineveh Zephaniah depicts the collapse of the Assyrian capital: “Flocks and herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind… rubble will lie in the doorways, for the cedar beams will be exposed.” (Zephaniah 2:14) Assyria’s palatial cedar panelling, once hidden behind costly overlay, is stripped bare. Arzeh therefore becomes a prophetic picture of God uncovering the pretensions of a godless empire. The splendour imported from Lebanon could not shield Nineveh from judgment; what seemed incorruptible is left to decay under the open sky. Cedar in Israel’s Memory 1. Royal Construction 2. Liturgical Fragrance Cedar was burned with the red heifer (Numbers 19:6), associating the wood with purification. 3. Prophetic Symbolism Historical Background Ancient Near Eastern kings prized Lebanese cedar for its straight grain and resistance to rot. Assyrian annals mention expeditions to Lebanon to harvest these trees. Palace reliefs from Nimrud show cedar logs floating down the Euphrates toward Nineveh. Zephaniah’s audience would recognize that exposing cedar beams meant stripping a palace to its skeleton. Theological Insights • Divine sovereignty: God controls the rise and fall of nations (Zephaniah 2:13). Ministry Application 1. Preaching and Teaching Arzeh offers a vivid illustration for sermons on hidden sin. Just as Nineveh’s cedar panels were laid bare, so God “will bring to light what is hidden in darkness” (1 Corinthians 4:5). 2. Discipleship Encourage believers to build their lives with materials that endure divine scrutiny—faith, obedience, and love—rather than outward show (1 Corinthians 3:12–15). 3. Missions and Culture Zephaniah’s oracle warns modern societies whose cultural achievements resemble cedar-lined halls: no civilization is beyond accountability. The gospel confronts every nation with Christ the King (Matthew 28:18–20). Typological Glimpse While Nineveh’s cedar collapses, the true house that the Son builds “shall never be destroyed” (Hebrews 3:3–6). The contrast magnifies the glory of the greater Solomon, whose temple of living stones cannot be exposed to shame. Summary Arzeh, though occurring only once, draws the reader into a sweeping biblical motif. Cedar symbolizes both the height of human accomplishment and the certainty that all such glory stands before the searching eyes of the LORD. In Zephaniah’s vision the revealed cedar beams of Nineveh become a prophetic signpost, directing hearts to the only kingdom whose splendor will never be stripped away. Forms and Transliterations אַרְזָ֖ה ארזה ’ar·zāh ’arzāh arZahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Zephaniah 2:14 HEB: בַּסַּ֔ף כִּ֥י אַרְזָ֖ה עֵרָֽה׃ NAS: For He has laid bare the cedar work. KJV: for he shall uncover the cedar work. INT: the threshold for the cedar has laid |
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