Verses 1:2-18 refer to Yahweh's judgment. Verses 1:4-16 describe Yahweh's judgment on the people of Judah.
# I will reach out with my hand over Judah
This is an idiom that means God will punish. AT: "I will punish Judah" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
# I will cut off every remnant ... the names of the idolatrous people among the priests ... the people who on the housetops ... the people who worship and swear
The verb "cut off" applies to each of these phrases, but has been used only once to avoid repetition. AT: "I will cut off every remnant ... I will cut off the names of the idolatrous people among the priests ... I will cut off the people who on the housetops ... I will cut off the people who worship and swear" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])
# cut off
Destroying is spoken of as if it were cutting something off from what it was a part of. See how you translated this in [Zephaniah 1:3](./01.md). AT: "destroy" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# cut off ... the names of the idolatrous people among the priests
Here "cut off ... the names" is an idiom that means to cause people to forget them. AT: "cause everyone ... to forget the priests who are idolatrous" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
# by their king
See the footnote about the possible rendering of this as "by Milcom."
Seeking Yahweh represents either 1) asking God for help or 2) thinking about God and obeying him. AT: "do not think about Yahweh or ask him to guide them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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