Zephaniah3
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city!
2She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in Jehovah; she drew not near to her God.
3Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow.
4Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
5Jehovah in the midst of her is righteous; he will not do iniquity; every morning doth he bring his justice to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
6I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.
7I said, Only fear thou me; receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings.
8Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9For then will I turn to the peoples of a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent.
10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
11In that day shalt thou not be put to shame for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain.
12But I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Jehovah.
13The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more.
16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.
17Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.
18I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; to whom the burden upon her was a reproach.
19Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save that which is lame, and gather that which was driven away; and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth.
20At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Zephaniah 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Further reproofs for sin. (1–7). Encouragement to look for mercy. (8–13). Promises of future favour and prosperity. (14–20).
vv1-7
The holy God hates sin most in those nearest to him. A sinful state is, and will be, a woful state. Yet they had the tokens of God's presence, and all the advantages of knowing his will, with the strongest reasons to do it; still they persisted in disobedience. Alas, that men often are more active in doing wickedness than believers are in doing good.
vv8-13
The preaching of the gospel is predicted, when vengeance would be executed on the Jewish nation. The purifying doctrines of the gospel, or the pure language of the grace of the Lord, would teach men to use the language of humility, repentance, and faith. Purity and piety in common conversation is good. The pure and happy state of the church in the latter days seems intended. The Lord will shut out boasting, and leave men nothing to glory in, save the Lord Jesus, as made of God to them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Humiliation for sin, and obligations to the Redeemer, will make true believers upright and sincere, whatever may be the case among mere professors.
vv14-20
After the promises of taking away sin, follow promises of taking away trouble. When the cause is removed, the effect will cease. What makes a people holy, will make them happy. The precious promises made to the purified people, were to have full accomplishment in the gospel. These verses appear chiefly to relate to the future conversion and restoration of Israel, and the glorious times which are to follow. They show the abundant peace, comfort, and prosperity of the church, in the happy times yet to come. He will save; he will be Jesus; he will answer the name, for he will save his people from their sins. Before the glorious times foretold, believers would be sorrowful, and objects of reproach. But the Lord will save the weakest believer, and cause true Christians to be greatly honoured where they had been treated with contempt. One act of mercy and grace shall serve, both to gather Israel out of their dispersions and to lead them to their own land. Then will God's Israel be made a name and a praise to eternity. The events alone can fully answer the language of this prophecy. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but they may rejoice in God's love. Surely our hearts should honour the Lord, and rejoice in him, when we hear such words of condescension and grace. If now kept from his ordinances, it is our trial and grief; but in due time we shall be gathered into his temple above. The glory and happiness of the believer will be perfect, unchangeable, and eternal, when he is freed from earthly sorrows, and brought to heavenly bliss.
Key Words
הוֹי: oh!
מָרָא: to rebel; hence (through the idea of maltreating) to whip, i.e. lash (self with wings, as the ostrich in running)
גָּאַל: to soil or (figuratively) desecrate
יָנָה: to rage or be violent; by implication, to suppress, to maltreat
עִיר: a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
קוֹל: a voice or sound
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
מוּסָר: properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint
Cross References
Zephaniah 3Direct thematic parallel to 'The just Lord... he will not do iniquity,' echoing Deuteronomy's description of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Echoes the characterization of wicked rulers within Jerusalem as roaring lions and ravenous beasts.
Supported by JFB
Explicitly parallels 'evening wolves,' a rare and distinct prophetic description of rapacious, hungry judges.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels Jerusalem refusing to receive correction or obey the voice of her God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbal link showing Jerusalem refused to receive correction even when stricken.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the false prophets as 'light' and 'treacherous' in their unstable, deceptive ministries.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts the corrupt leaders' false boast ('Is not the Lord among us?') with God's actual presence for judgment.
Supported by JFB
Parallels 'the unjust knoweth no shame' with Jeremiah's description of Jerusalem's unblushing impudence.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the divine grief over Jerusalem's failure to recognize her day of visitation and instruction.
Supported by JFB
The phrase 'corrupted all their doings' directly echoes the language of universal degeneracy before the flood.
Supported by JFB
Parallels God's frustrated expectation of fruit and repentance after taking meticulous care of His people.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the call to the daughter of Zion to sing and rejoice because Jehovah dwells within.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Echoes God's intense delight in his people, promising to rejoice over them with singing and goodness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the condemnation of the 'oppressing city' that crushes the needy and lives in luxury.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels priests violating the law, profaning holy things, and offering no distinction between clean and unclean.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Fulfillment of the promise to leave 'an afflicted and poor people' who receive the gospel.
Supported by Matthew Henry