What is the meaning of Zephaniah 1:4?

I will stretch out My hand against Judah

• The Lord declares personal, decisive involvement; His “hand” pictures unmistakable power and authority (Exodus 9:15; Isaiah 5:25).

• Judah, the covenant people, have drifted so far that the same hand once lifted in protection is now poised in judgment (Deuteronomy 32:36; Hebrews 10:31).

• The verse reminds us that privilege never cancels accountability (Amos 3:2); God’s standards remain unchanged for His own household.

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and against all who dwell in Jerusalem

• Judgment sweeps from the countryside right into the capital—no neighborhood is exempt (Jeremiah 25:29; 1 Peter 4:17).

• Jerusalem’s temple had become a place of mixture; God refuses to share space with idols (2 Kings 23:4–7).

• The wording underscores collective responsibility: leaders, priests, citizens, everyone is in view.

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I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal

• “Cut off” speaks of total removal—roots, branches, memories (Hosea 2:17).

• Baal worship, imported from surrounding nations, had infiltrated Judah’s heart despite Elijah’s earlier victory on Carmel (1 Kings 18:21, 40).

• The Lord is not content with partial reform; He promises a sweeping purge so thorough that no trace remains (2 Kings 23:13–14).

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the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests—

• God targets not only the idols but the influencers who sustain them (2 Kings 23:5; Hosea 10:5).

• “Names” emphasizes reputation and legacy; even their remembrance will vanish (Psalm 9:5).

• By erasing these priests, the Lord clears the way for true worship and guards future generations from their deception (Malachi 2:2).

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summary

Zephaniah 1:4 announces the Lord’s unflinching resolve to purify His people. He stretches out His hand against Judah and Jerusalem, uproots every last vestige of Baal, and erases the very memory of those who promoted idolatry. The verse assures us that God’s holiness demands a wholehearted response; He will not share His glory with another, yet His judgment is always aimed at restoring a people devoted to Him alone.