1. Zephaniah 1:14 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is the “sound” that is heard?

Zephaniah 1:14 (ESV)

14 The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there.

The second half of Zephaniah 1:14 connects the sound of the day of the Lord with a cry from a mighty man (גבור). So it is important to consider first the identity of this mighty man. He could be a particularly strong person, the valiant soldier, who is able to surpass others in doing great deeds. In that case, the sound is him crying in defeat. The warrior’s cries of fear and distress would show how great the anguish of that day, when not even the strongest could stand against the onslaught.1

Alternately, the mighty man is God. In Zephaniah 1:14–18 it is the Lord who is offended by sin (Zephaniah 1:17) and it is the Lord with whom sinners have to do (Zephaniah 1:18b).2 Further, 1:17 uses the same term for the Lord.