The city to which this chapter is addressed is not actually named until verse 14, but the content of the accusations made against her, especially in verse 4, makes it clear that the city is Jerusalem. This is generally agreed among commentators, and Good News Translation makes it explicit at the beginning of the paragraph by saying “Jerusalem is doomed” (compare Bible en français courant). The words “is doomed” translate a Hebrew word that means Woe to (Revised Standard Version). This sounds old fashioned in English, and Good News Translation has therefore restructured it into a more natural sentence pattern. Some translators may have a term equivalent to Woe to in current use in their own language, and they may therefore be able to remain closer to the Hebrew structure. In many languages one may say “Jerusalem will be destroyed,” “The LORD will destroy Jerusalem,” or “Enemies will destroy Jerusalem” (see comments on Nahum 3.1).

For comments on how to translate “city,” see Nahum 3.1. The city is described in Hebrew by three terms which were understood in various ways in ancient translations and commentaries. However, there is general agreement among modern translators and commentators about their meaning, as may be seen from Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. The city is rebellious, that is, disobedient to the LORD (compare verse 3); defiled by the sinful actions of its people; and oppressing, which means, as Good News Translation makes clear, that the leadership “oppresses its own people” (compare verses 3 and 4). Note that in Good News Translation the order of the first two terms reverses that of the Hebrew, which is kept by Revised Standard Version. It is not clear why this change has been made, but presumably the Good News Translation translators felt that it resulted in better English style. Translators should be alert to the possibility that such small adjustments may improve the style in their own languages so long as they do not alter the meaning. In many languages it will be necessary to make the participants in the various actions explicit.

An alternative translation model is as follows:

• “Jerusalem will be destroyed. It is a city full of rebellious and evil people whose leaders oppress their own people.”

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on the Book of Zephaniah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1989. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .