Zephaniah 3:3 (GNV)

Passage

Her princes within her are as roaring lyons: her iudges are as wolues in the euening, which leaue not the bones till the morow.

Nearby Context

Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to her that is filthie and polluted, to the robbing citie.

Zephaniah 3:2 She heard not the voyce: she receiued not correction: she trusted not in the Lord: she drew not neere to her God.

Zephaniah 3:3 Her princes within her are as roaring lyons: her iudges are as wolues in the euening, which leaue not the bones till the morow.

Zephaniah 3:4 Her prophets are light, and wicked persons: her priests haue polluted the Sanctuarie: they haue wrested the Lawe.

Zephaniah 3:5 The iust Lord is in the middes thereof: he will doe none iniquitie: euery morning doeth hee bring his iudgement to light, he faileth not: but the wicked will not learne to be ashamed.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "princes", "within", "roaring", "lyons", "iudges", "wolues", "euening", and "leaue". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "princes" and "within", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "She heard not the voyce she receiued..." into verse 4's "Her prophets are light and wicked persons...", so "princes" and "within" belong inside that flow. In Zephaniah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "princes" and "within" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.