Zephaniah

American  

[zef-uh-nahy-uh] / ˌzɛf əˈnaɪ ə /

noun

1. a Minor Prophet of the 7th century b.c.

2. a book of the Bible bearing his name. Zeph., Zp.

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Zephaniah British  

/ ˌzɛfəˈnaɪə /

noun

1. Douay spelling: Sophonias.  Old Testament

   1. a Hebrew prophet of the late 7th century _bc

   2. the book containing his oracles, which are chiefly concerned with the approaching judgment by God upon the sinners of Judah

2. Benjamin . born 1958, British poet, writer, and activist, born in Jamaica. His poetry collections include The Dread Affair (1985) and Too Black, Too Strong (2001)

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Etymology

Origin of Zephaniah

From Hebrew Ṣəphanyāh “God has hidden”

Example Sentences

The late poet Benjamin Zephaniah rejected an OBE in 2003 because of the association with the British Empire and its history of slavery.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2025

Conservative councillor Darius Sandhu said Zephaniah "was a force that never forgot where he came from".

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2025

Trailblazing poet and Peaky Blinders actor Benjamin Zephaniah, who was born in Handsworth, is also being considered for the honour.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2025

They quoted postcolonial theorist Frantz Fanon, Black liberation activist Marcus Garvey, the late poet Benjamin Zephaniah, and comedian Romesh Ranganathan, who has frequently joked that his mum calls him a coconut for not speaking Tamil.

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2024

In Zephaniah and Isaiah we read: "On that day I will turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent."

From Creed And Deed A Series of Discourses by Adler, Felix