Thu, 21 Nov 2024 03:05:09 -0600 Yom Chamishi, Chodesh Teshi'i 18, 6024 — יום חמישי חדש תשעי יח ו׳כד

Tanakh
Book of Zephaniah, Chapter: 1 2 3

Zephaniah

Chapter 1

דְּבַר־יְהוָה ׀ אֲשֶׁר הָיָה אֶל־צְפַנְיָה בֶּן־כּוּשִׁי בֶן־גְּדַלְיָה בֶּן־אֲמַרְיָה בֶּן־חִזְקִיָּה בִּימֵי יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ בֶן־אָמוֹן מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃	א	1	The word of Yehovah which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
אָסֹף אָסֵף כֹּל מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃	ב	2	I will utterly consume all things from off the face of the earth, saith Yehovah.
אָסֵף אָדָם וּבְהֵמָה אָסֵף עוֹף־הַשָּׁמַיִם וּדְגֵי הַיָּם וְהַמַּכְשֵׁלוֹת אֶת־הָרְשָׁעִים וְהִכְרַתִּי אֶת־הָאָדָם מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃	ג	3	I will consume man and beast, I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the face of the earth, saith Yehovah.
וְנָטִיתִי יָדִי עַל־יְהוּדָה וְעַל כָּל־יוֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלִָם וְהִכְרַתִּי מִן־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה אֶת־שְׁאָר הַבַּעַל אֶת־שֵׁם הַכְּמָרִים עִם־הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃	ד	4	And I will stretch out My hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Yerushalam; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the idolatrous priests with the priests;
וְאֶת־הַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוִים עַל־הַגַּגּוֹת לִצְבָא הַשָּׁמָיִם וְאֶת־הַמִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים הַנִּשְׁבָּעִים לַֽיהוָה וְהַנִּשְׁבָּעִים בְּמַלְכָּֽם׃	ה	5	And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship, that swear to Yehovah and swear by Malcam;
וְאֶת־הַנְּסוֹגִים מֵאַחֲרֵי יְהוָה וַאֲשֶׁר לֹֽא־בִקְשׁוּ אֶת־יְהוָה וְלֹא דְרָשֻֽׁהוּ׃	ו	6	Them also that are turned back from following Yehovah; and those that have not sought Yehovah, nor inquired after Him.
הַס מִפְּנֵי אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה כִּי קָרוֹב יוֹם יְהוָה כִּֽי־הֵכִין יְהוָה זֶבַח הִקְדִּישׁ קְרֻאָֽיו׃	ז	7	Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD [Adonai Yehovi]; for the day of Yehovah is at hand, for Yehovah hath prepared a sacrifice, He hath consecrated His guests.
וְהָיָה בְּיוֹם זֶבַח יְהוָה וּפָקַדְתִּי עַל־הַשָּׂרִים וְעַל־בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְעַל כָּל־הַלֹּבְשִׁים מַלְבּוּשׁ נָכְרִֽי׃	ח	8	And it shall come to pass in the day of Yehovah's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's sons, and all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.
וּפָקַדְתִּי עַל כָּל־הַדּוֹלֵג עַל־הַמִּפְתָּן בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא הַֽמְמַלְאִים בֵּית אֲדֹנֵיהֶם חָמָס וּמִרְמָֽה׃ ס	ט	9	In the same day also will I punish all those that leap over the threshold, that fill their master's house with violence and deceit.
וְהָיָה בַיּוֹם הַהוּא נְאֻם־יְהוָה קוֹל צְעָקָה מִשַּׁעַר הַדָּגִים וִֽילָלָה מִן־הַמִּשְׁנֶה וְשֶׁבֶר גָּדוֹל מֵהַגְּבָעֽוֹת׃	י	10	And in that day, saith Yehovah, Hark! a cry from the fish gate, and a wailing from the second quarter, and a great crashing from the hills.
הֵילִילוּ יֹשְׁבֵי הַמַּכְתֵּשׁ כִּי נִדְמָה כָּל־עַם כְּנַעַן נִכְרְתוּ כָּל־נְטִילֵי כָֽסֶף׃	יא	11	Wail, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are undone; all they that were laden with silver are cut off. {S}
וְהָיָה בָּעֵת הַהִיא אֲחַפֵּשׂ אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִַם בַּנֵּרוֹת וּפָקַדְתִּי עַל־הָאֲנָשִׁים הַקֹּֽפְאִים עַל־שִׁמְרֵיהֶם הָאֹֽמְרִים בִּלְבָבָם לֹֽא־יֵיטִיב יְהוָה וְלֹא יָרֵֽעַ׃	יב	12	And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Yerushalam with lamps; and I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart: 'Yehovah will not do good, neither will He do evil.'
וְהָיָה חֵילָם לִמְשִׁסָּה וּבָתֵּיהֶם לִשְׁמָמָה וּבָנוּ בָתִּים וְלֹא יֵשֵׁבוּ וְנָטְעוּ כְרָמִים וְלֹא יִשְׁתּוּ אֶת־יֵינָֽם׃	יג	13	Therefore their wealth shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation; yea, they shall build houses, but shall not inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine thereof.
קָרוֹב יוֹם־יְהוָה הַגָּדוֹל קָרוֹב וּמַהֵר מְאֹד קוֹל יוֹם יְהוָה מַר צֹרֵחַ שָׁם גִּבּֽוֹר׃	יד	14	The great day of Yehovah is near, it is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of Yehovah, wherein the mighty man crieth bitterly.
יוֹם עֶבְרָה הַיּוֹם הַהוּא יוֹם צָרָה וּמְצוּקָה יוֹם שֹׁאָה וּמְשׁוֹאָה יוֹם חֹשֶׁךְ וַאֲפֵלָה יוֹם עָנָן וַעֲרָפֶֽל׃	יה	15	That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
יוֹם שׁוֹפָר וּתְרוּעָה עַל הֶעָרִים הַבְּצֻרוֹת וְעַל הַפִּנּוֹת הַגְּבֹהֽוֹת׃	יו	16	A day of the horn and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high towers.
וַהֲצֵרֹתִי לָאָדָם וְהָֽלְכוּ כַּֽעִוְרִים כִּי לַֽיהוָה חָטָאוּ וְשֻׁפַּךְ דָּמָם כֶּֽעָפָר וּלְחֻמָם כַּגְּלָלִֽים׃	יז	17	And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against Yehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung.
גַּם־כַּסְפָּם גַּם־זְהָבָם לֹֽא־יוּכַל לְהַצִּילָם בְּיוֹם עֶבְרַת יְהוָה וּבְאֵשׁ קִנְאָתוֹ תֵּאָכֵל כָּל־הָאָרֶץ כִּֽי־כָלָה אַךְ־נִבְהָלָה יַֽעֲשֶׂה אֵת כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ס	יח	18	Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of Yehovah's wrath; but the whole earth shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy; for He will make an end, yea, a terrible end, of all them that dwell in the earth. {S}

Chapter 2

הִֽתְקוֹשְׁשׁוּ וָקוֹשּׁוּ הַגּוֹי לֹא נִכְסָֽף׃	א	1	Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O shameless nation;
בְּטֶרֶם לֶדֶת חֹק כְּמֹץ עָבַר יוֹם בְּטֶרֶם ׀ לֹא־יָבוֹא עֲלֵיכֶם חֲרוֹן אַף־יְהוָה בְּטֶרֶם לֹא־יָבוֹא עֲלֵיכֶם יוֹם אַף־יְהוָֽה׃	ב	2	Before the decree bring forth the day when one passeth as the chaff, before the fierce anger of Yehovah come upon you, before the day of Yehovah's anger come upon you.
בַּקְּשׁוּ אֶת־יְהוָה כָּל־עַנְוֵי הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר מִשְׁפָּטוֹ פָּעָלוּ בַּקְּשׁוּ־צֶדֶק בַּקְּשׁוּ עֲנָוָה אוּלַי תִּסָּתְרוּ בְּיוֹם אַף־יְהוָֽה׃	ג	3	Seek ye Yehovah, all ye humble of the earth, that have executed His ordinance; seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be ye shall be hid in the day of Yehovah's anger.
כִּי עַזָּה עֲזוּבָה תִֽהְיֶה וְאַשְׁקְלוֹן לִשְׁמָמָה אַשְׁדּוֹד בַּֽצָּהֳרַיִם יְגָרְשׁוּהָ וְעֶקְרוֹן תֵּעָקֵֽר׃ ס	ד	4	For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation; they shall drive out Ashdod at the noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up. {S}
הוֹי יֹֽשְׁבֵי חֶבֶל הַיָּם גּוֹי כְּרֵתִים דְּבַר־יְהוָה עֲלֵיכֶם כְּנַעַן אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים וְהַאֲבַדְתִּיךְ מֵאֵין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃	ה	5	Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea-coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of Yehovah is against you, O Canaan, the land of the Philistines; I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
וְֽהָיְתָה חֶבֶל הַיָּם נְוֺת כְּרֹת רֹעִים וְגִדְרוֹת צֹֽאן׃	ו	6	And the sea-coast shall be pastures, even meadows for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
וְהָיָה חֶבֶל לִשְׁאֵרִית בֵּית יְהוּדָה עֲלֵיהֶם יִרְעוּן בְּבָתֵּי אַשְׁקְלוֹן בָּעֶרֶב יִרְבָּצוּן כִּי יִפְקְדֵם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וְשָׁב שְׁבִיתָֽם שבותם׃	ז	7	And it shall be a portion for the remnant of the house of Judah, whereon they shall feed; in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for Yehovah their God will remember them, and turn their captivity.
שָׁמַעְתִּי חֶרְפַּת מוֹאָב וְגִדּוּפֵי בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן אֲשֶׁר חֵֽרְפוּ אֶת־עַמִּי וַיַּגְדִּילוּ עַל־גְּבוּלָֽם׃	ח	8	I have heard the taunt of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, wherewith they have taunted My people, and spoken boastfully concerning their border.
לָכֵן חַי־אָנִי נְאֻם יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּֽי־מוֹאָב כִּסְדֹם תִּֽהְיֶה וּבְנֵי עַמּוֹן כַּֽעֲמֹרָה מִמְשַׁק חָרוּל וּמִכְרֵה־מֶלַח וּשְׁמָמָה עַד־עוֹלָם שְׁאֵרִית עַמִּי יְבָזּוּם וְיֶתֶר גּוֹיִי גוי יִנְחָלֽוּם׃	ט	9	Therefore as I live, saith Yehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding-place of nettles, and saltpits, and a desolation, for ever; the residue of My people shall spoil them, and the remnant of My nation shall inherit them.
זֹאת לָהֶם תַּחַת גְּאוֹנָם כִּי חֵֽרְפוּ וַיַּגְדִּלוּ עַל־עַם יְהוָה צְבָאֽוֹת׃	י	10	This shall they have for their pride, because they have taunted and spoken boastfully against the people of Yehovah of hosts.
נוֹרָא יְהוָה עֲלֵיהֶם כִּי רָזָה אֵת כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הָאָרֶץ וְיִשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־לוֹ אִישׁ מִמְּקוֹמוֹ כֹּל אִיֵּי הַגּוֹיִֽם׃	יא	11	Yehovah will be terrible unto them; for He will famish all the gods of the earth; then shall all the isles of the nations worship Him, every one from its place.
גַּם־אַתֶּם כּוּשִׁים חַֽלְלֵי חַרְבִּי הֵֽמָּה׃	יב	12	Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by My sword.
וְיֵט יָדוֹ עַל־צָפוֹן וִֽיאַבֵּד אֶת־אַשּׁוּר וְיָשֵׂם אֶת־נִֽינְוֵה לִשְׁמָמָה צִיָּה כַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃	יג	13	And He will stretch out His hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like the wilderness.
וְרָבְצוּ בְתוֹכָהּ עֲדָרִים כָּל־חַיְתוֹ־גוֹי גַּם־קָאַת גַּם־קִפֹּד בְּכַפְתֹּרֶיהָ יָלִינוּ קוֹל יְשׁוֹרֵר בַּֽחַלּוֹן חֹרֶב בַּסַּף כִּי אַרְזָה עֵרָֽה׃	יד	14	And all beasts of every kind shall lie down in the midst of her in herds; both the pelican and the bittern shall lodge in the capitals thereof; voices shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the posts; for the cedar-work thereof shall be uncovered.
זֹאת הָעִיר הָעַלִּיזָה הַיּוֹשֶׁבֶת לָבֶטַח הָאֹֽמְרָה בִּלְבָבָהּ אֲנִי וְאַפְסִי עוֹד אֵיךְ ׀ הָיְתָה לְשַׁמָּה מַרְבֵּץ לַֽחַיָּה כֹּל עוֹבֵר עָלֶיהָ יִשְׁרֹק יָנִיעַ יָדֽוֹ׃ ס	יה	15	This is the joyous city that dwelt without care, that said in her heart: 'I am, and there is none else beside me'; how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. {P}

Groves Center Legend For Leningrad Codex Notes

C	We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.
c	We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS. Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

Chapter 3

הוֹי מֹרְאָה וְנִגְאָלָה הָעִיר הַיּוֹנָֽה׃	א	1	Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
לֹא שָֽׁמְעָה בְּקוֹל לֹא לָקְחָה מוּסָר בַּֽיהוָה לֹא בָטָחָה אֶל־אֱלֹהֶיהָ לֹא קָרֵֽבָה׃	ב	2	She hearkened not to the voice, she received not correction; she trusted not in Yehovah, she drew not near to her God.
שָׂרֶיהָ בְקִרְבָּהּ אֲרָיוֹת שֹֽׁאֲגִים שֹׁפְטֶיהָ זְאֵבֵי עֶרֶב לֹא גָרְמוּ לַבֹּֽקֶר׃	ג	3	Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the desert, they leave not a bone for the morrow.
נְבִיאֶיהָ פֹּֽחֲזִים אַנְשֵׁי בֹּֽגְדוֹת כֹּהֲנֶיהָ חִלְּלוּ־קֹדֶשׁ חָמְסוּ תּוֹרָֽה׃	ד	4	Her prophets are wanton and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned that which is holy, they have done violence to the Torah.
יְהוָה צַדִּיק בְּקִרְבָּהּ לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה עַוְלָה בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר מִשְׁפָּטוֹ יִתֵּן לָאוֹר לֹא נֶעְדָּר וְלֹֽא־יוֹדֵעַ עַוָּל בֹּֽשֶׁת׃	ה	5	Yehovah who is righteous is in the midst of her, He will not do unrighteousness; every morning doth He bring His right to light, it faileth not; but the unrighteous knoweth no shame.
הִכְרַתִּי גוֹיִם נָשַׁמּוּ פִּנּוֹתָם הֶחֱרַבְתִּי חֽוּצוֹתָם מִבְּלִי עוֹבֵר נִצְדּוּ עָרֵיהֶם מִבְּלִי־אִישׁ מֵאֵין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃	ו	6	I have cut off nations, their corners are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.
אָמַרְתִּי אַךְ־תִּירְאִי אוֹתִי תִּקְחִי מוּסָר וְלֹֽא־יִכָּרֵת מְעוֹנָהּ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־פָּקַדְתִּי עָלֶיהָ אָכֵן הִשְׁכִּימוּ הִשְׁחִיתוּ כֹּל עֲלִילוֹתָֽם׃	ז	7	I said: 'Surely thou wilt fear Me, thou wilt receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, despite all that I have visited upon her'; but they betimes corrupted all their doings.
לָכֵן חַכּוּ־לִי נְאֻם־יְהוָה לְיוֹם קוּמִי לְעַד כִּי מִשְׁפָּטִי לֶאֱסֹף גּוֹיִם לְקָבְצִי מַמְלָכוֹת לִשְׁפֹּךְ עֲלֵיהֶם זַעְמִי כֹּל חֲרוֹן אַפִּי כִּי בְּאֵשׁ קִנְאָתִי תֵּאָכֵל כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃	ח	8	Therefore wait ye for Me, saith Yehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all My fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.
כִּֽי־אָז אֶהְפֹּךְ אֶל־עַמִּים שָׂפָה בְרוּרָה לִקְרֹא כֻלָּם בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה לְעָבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָֽד׃	ט	9	For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Yehovah, to serve Him with one consent.
מֵעֵבֶר לְנַֽהֲרֵי־כוּשׁ עֲתָרַי בַּת־פוּצַי יוֹבִלוּן מִנְחָתִֽי׃	י	10	From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia shall they bring My suppliants, even the daughter of My dispersed, as Mine offering.
בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֹא תֵבוֹשִׁי מִכֹּל עֲלִילֹתַיִךְ אֲשֶׁר פָּשַׁעַתְּ בִּי כִּי־אָז ׀ אָסִיר מִקִּרְבֵּךְ עַלִּיזֵי גַּאֲוָתֵךְ וְלֹֽא־תוֹסִפִי לְגָבְהָה עוֹד בְּהַר קָדְשִֽׁי׃	יא	11	In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against Me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in My holy mountain.
וְהִשְׁאַרְתִּי בְקִרְבֵּךְ עַם עָנִי וָדָל וְחָסוּ בְּשֵׁם יְהוָֽה׃	יב	12	And I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Yehovah.
שְׁאֵרִית יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹֽא־יַעֲשׂוּ עַוְלָה וְלֹא־יְדַבְּרוּ כָזָב וְלֹֽא־יִמָּצֵא בְּפִיהֶם לְשׁוֹן תַּרְמִית כִּֽי־הֵמָּה יִרְעוּ וְרָבְצוּ וְאֵין מַחֲרִֽיד׃ ס	יג	13	The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. {P}
רָנִּי בַּת־צִיּוֹן הָרִיעוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שִׂמְחִי וְעָלְזִי בְּכָל־לֵב בַּת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃	יד	14	Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Yerushalam.
הֵסִיר יְהוָה מִשְׁפָּטַיִךְ פִּנָּה אֹֽיְבֵךְ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל ׀ יְהוָה בְּקִרְבֵּךְ לֹא־תִֽירְאִי רָע עֽוֹד׃	יה	15	Yehovah hath taken away thy judgments, He hath cast out thine enemy; The King of Israel, even Yehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more. {P}
בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יֵאָמֵר לִירֽוּשָׁלִַם אַל־תִּירָאִי צִיּוֹן אַל־יִרְפּוּ יָדָֽיִךְ׃	יו	16	In that day it shall be said to Yerushalam: 'Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.
יְהוָה אֱלֹהַיִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּך גִּבּוֹר יוֹשִׁיעַ יָשִׂישׂ עָלַיִךְ בְּשִׂמְחָה יַחֲרִישׁ בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ יָגִיל עָלַיִךְ בְּרִנָּֽה׃	יז	17	Yehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a Mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over thee with joy, He will be silent in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.'
נוּגֵי מִמּוֹעֵד אָסַפְתִּי מִמֵּךְ הָיוּ מַשְׂאֵת עָלֶיהָ חֶרְפָּֽה׃	יח	18	I will gather them that are far from the appointed season, who are of thee, that hast borne the burden of reproach.
הִנְנִי עֹשֶׂה אֶת־כָּל־מְעַנַּיִךְ בָּעֵת הַהִיא וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּי אֶת־הַצֹּלֵעָה וְהַנִּדָּחָה אֲקַבֵּץ וְשַׂמְתִּים לִתְהִלָּה וּלְשֵׁם בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ בָּשְׁתָּֽם׃	יט	19	Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save her that is lame, and gather her that was driven away; and I will make them to be a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth.
בָּעֵת הַהִיא אָבִיא אֶתְכֶם וּבָעֵת קַבְּצִי אֶתְכֶם כִּֽי־אֶתֵּן אֶתְכֶם לְשֵׁם וְלִתְהִלָּה בְּכֹל עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ בְּשׁוּבִי אֶת־שְׁבוּתֵיכֶם לְעֵינֵיכֶם אָמַר יְהוָֽה׃	כ	20	At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you to be a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I turn your captivity before your eyes, saith Yehovah. {P}

Groves Center Legend For Leningrad Codex Notes

Q	Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.
U	We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.
n	Marks an anomalous form.
p	We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

Tanakh
Book of Zephaniah, Chapter: 1 2 3

TRANSLATION / PUBLICATION NOTES:

Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures) :

Leningrad Codex Based Tanakh (aka Hebrew Scriptures) derived from:
"Electronic" Leningrad Codex obtained from www.tanach.us
Source for the Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC) — Groves Center:
Maintained by the J.Alan Groves Center For Advanced Biblical Research.
(WLC) Unicode Conversion to Hebrew Font Encoding For Web Pages:
Written In C++ Programming Language
By Robert M. Pill
Copyright © 2005–2023 By Robert M. Pill, All Rights Reserved.

QERE — KETIV
(What is Read —What is Written) :

Qere and Ketiv, from the Aramaic qere or q're, קְרֵי‎ ("[what is] read") and ketiv, or ketib, kethib, kethibh, kethiv, כְּתִיב‎ ("[what is] written"), also known as "keri uchesiv" or "keri uchetiv," refers to a system for marking differences between what is written in the consonantal text of the Hebrew Bible, as preserved by scribal tradition, and what is read. In such situations, the Qere is the technical orthographic device used to indicate the pronunciation of the words in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew language scriptures (Tanakh), while the Ketiv indicates their written form, as inherited from tradition.
SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qere_and_Ketiv

Q. What is the Qere and Ketiv and how does it relate to the Masoretes?
( see: http://jbtc.org/v08/Graves2003.html )

For PDF Of Above Link Click This Line!

A. Qere and Ketiv are orthographic devices that were used by the Masoretes,
i.e., Jewish scribes from the 6-10th centuries.

Qere means, "what is read," and ketiv means, "what is written".

It is found in existing Masoretic manuscripts dating to the 9th and 10th centuries, CE.

There are several forms of Qere / Ketiv, including:
ordinary, vowel, omitted, added, euphemistic, split, and qere perpetuum.

The ketiv that is most relevant is the vowel qere. In this case, the consonants are unchanged,
but different vowel signs are added and only the qere, i.e., what is read, is vocalized. ...

I Challenge The Rabbinic QERE–KETIV System!

In January 2022, beginning with the "Accented" (Full Trop and Vowels), rendering I chose to repair defects in the html encodings which occurred with my mechanical conversion of the unicode multi-wide encoding from http://tanach.us. I also decided to rearrange the Qere–Ketiv "system" with what I consider was the Masoretic intent in the first place!

The New KETIV–qere Hebrew Rendering (ACCENTS)!

Thus, this current version uses the Ketiv, what is written, as the predominant rendering, while making the Qere, what the "rabbis" have commanded as Must Be Read instead, to be a minimalist secondary format (much as rabbis appear to have intended the Ketiv to be!).

One of the reasons I decided to take on this new rendering effort is that in my efforts to understand the nature of the rabbinic Qere–Ketiv system I have not truly found a satisfactory explanation of why the "Qere" should always take precedence over the "Ketiv" in reading the Tanakh.

In fact, as I understand it, rabbinic "scribes", in examining the actual Aleppo and Leningrad Codices, appear to have taken upon themselves to adding the consonant only Qere in the margins upon the original manuscripts, where, in their "infinite wisdom" they have presumed themselves to be the greater authority!

Moreover, as rabbinic sources seem to indicate that the "Ketiv" should never be uttered, I have found instances, such as in Exodus 21:8, where I believe the "Qere" is blatantly INCORRECT — and that the "Ketiv" should be the preferred "reading", as if the Masoretes actually knew what they were doing all along!

In my own regular reading (Stone Edition Tanakh, Koren Publications Tanakh), my preference has been to read the "Ketiv" (what is written) and pretty much minimize the "Qere"! This is not easy to do because the predominant Qere is rendered as if it is the normative form, and the Ketiv follows, typically within brackets, as if it is the offensive variant (Stone Edition Tanakh)! In the Koren Publications Tanakh, the "Ketiv" is what is rendered in the margin, while the "Qere" is found in the regular text! Obviously, normal reading will typically ignore what the Masoretes wrote, the "Ketiv"!

As of January, 2022, and going forward, I intend to render the rabbinic additions of Qere in their current KETIV–qere form found in the accented version. I consider this as to convey the intent of the Masoretes. However, I acknowledge that rabbis (talmudists) have expended much effort to obscure the written Torah as part of their regular practice; as they appear, to me, to view themselves collectively as אֱלֹהִ֔ים Elohim. That is, I believe that those talmudists (rabbis), consider themselves collectively to be God!!! They certainly demand that their edicts (tachanot) are followed as if they are divinely inspired law!

If you find this of interest, please view the page on KETIV–QERE Variants

English Scripture Passages From:
"The Holy Scriptures Tanakh 1917 edition
According To The Masoretic Text (JPS 1917 Edition)"

The Jewish Publication Society of America "The Holy Scriptures According To The Masoretic Text (JPS 1917)" is in the public domain, and may be freely copied.

Notable Modifications
To The JPS 1917 Based English Scripture
In The-Iconoclast.org's Hebrew–English Tanakh:

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!

In The-Iconoclast.org Modified Version Of the JPS 1917 Text, The Verse numbering has been altered to match the corresponding verses in the original Hebrew Scriptures of the actual Leningrad Codex for "The Ten Commandments" in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5!

For More Information Regarding 'The Ten Commandments', See the Page, Comparing The Ten Commandments Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5 In The Leningrad Codex

The Name יְהֹוָה Yehovah

"Yehovah", The Name Of G-d In The Hebrew Scripures ('YHVH': י 'Yud', ה 'He', ו 'Vav', ה 'He', aka Tetragamaton) Is Used Instead of "LORD" (note: ALL CAPITAL LETTERS) As Found In The Original JPS 1917 Tanakh.

For More Information Regarding 'The Name', See the Page, The Name יְהֹוָה [Yehovah] In The Aleppo And Leningrad Codices.

In Converting "LORD" to "Yehovah", I Counted A Total Of 5,553 Occurrences In The JPS 1917 Tanakh!

הָאָדֹ֥ן ׀ יְהוָֽה ha Adon Yehovah

The Hebrew Phrase הָאָדֹ֥ן ׀ יְהוָֽה Occurs In Only Two Places, In Exodus 23:17 and 34:23. In Those Cases, I Have Changed The Translation Wording From "Lord GOD" To "Lord GOD [ha Adon Yehovah]".

אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהֹוִֽה Adonai Yehovi

Typically Translated As "Lord GOD", It Is A Much Less Common Form Of The Divine Name, יְהֹוָה [Yehovah].

This Form אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהֹוִֽה Is, Nevertheless, Quite Important In Understanding Pronounciation For The Divine Name, Especially Since The Hebrew Form For It Has NOT Undergone The Intense Scrutiny Of rabbinic Censorship As Has "Yehovah". Accordingly, The Hebrew Text For This Form Of 'The Name' Typically HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED In Jewish Publications That Actually Keep The Vowel Pointers From The Masoretic Text!

In Converting "Lord GOD" to "Lord GOD [Adonai Yehovi]", I Counted A Total Of 284 Occurrences In The JPS 1917 Tanakh. Of All Of Its Occurrences, The Fully Voweled Form Of The Hebrew אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהֹוִֽה Appears 31 Times, And The Non–Fully Voweled Form אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה (The Same Hebrew Letters, Minus Just The One 'Oh' Sounding Character, "The Holem", Which Follows The First 'He' In ( י 'Yud', ה 'He', ו 'Vav', ה 'He' ), Make Up All Other Occurrences.

תורה Torah

The Word "Law" (Capital and lower case), As Found In The JPS 1917, Has Been Changed To "Torah" Where The Base Hebrew Letters תורה Correspond To The Matching Verse In The Leningrad Codex (Masoretic Text)!

In Converting "Law" to "Torah", I Counted A Total Of 223 Occurrences In The JPS 1917 Tanakh!

Yerushalam, Yerush'lem and Yerushalayim

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם "Yerushalam"

The Word "Jerusalem" (the name of capital city in ancient Israel), As Found In The JPS 1917, Has Been Changed To Its Transliterated Equivalent, "Yerushalam" (note the 'am' ending), In All Places Where It Corresponds To [ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם ] In The Hebrew Text.

יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם "Yerush'lem"

A Rare, Second Transliterated Form, "Yerush'lem" (note the 'em' ending), Has Been Changed From "Jerusalem" Where The Hebrew Letters Spell Out The Aramaic Form [ יְרוּשְׁלֶֽם ] Found In Aramaic Parts Of Daniel And Ezra.

ירוּשָׁלַ֙יִם֙ "Yerushalayim"

The Extremely Rare, Third Transliterated Form, "Yerushalayim" (note the 'ayim' ending), Has Been Changed From The JPS 1917 "Jerusalem" To Correspond To The Hebrew [ ירוּשָׁלַ֙יִם֙ ].

Noteworthy Is That This Rarest Form Appears In Only Four (4) Places In The Entire Hebrew Scriptures, Yet, It Is The Most Common Pronunciation For The Name Of The Ancient City! Its Four (Out Of Over 600) Appearances Are:
1) Jeremiah 26:18, 2) Esther 2:6, 3) I Chronicles 3:5, and 4) II Chronicles 25:1.

In Converting "Jerusalem" To Its Transliterated Equivalents, I Counted A Total Of 625 Occurrences In The JPS 1917 Tanakh!

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