Zephaniah2
English Standard Version
1 together, yes, , O ,
2 the effect —before the away like — there upon you the of the Lord, there you the of the of the Lord.
3 the Lord, you of the , his commands; ; ; you may be on the of the of the Lord.
4For shall be , and shall become a ; people shall out at , and shall be .
5 to you of the , you of the ! The of the Lord is you, O , of the ; and I will you until is .
6And you, O , shall be , with for and for .
7The shall become the possession of the of the of , on which they shall , and in the of they shall at . For the Lord their will be of them and their .
8I have the of and the of the , they have my and made against their .
9 , as I , the Lord of , the of , shall become like , and the like , a land and pits, and a . The of my shall them, and the of my shall them.
10 shall be their lot in for their , they and the of the Lord of .
11The Lord will be them; for he the of the , and to him shall down, in its , the of the .
12You , O , shall be by my .
13And he will his against the and , and he will a , a waste like the .
14 shall in her , of ; the and the shall in her ; a shall in the ; will be on the ; for her work will be laid .
15 is the that , that in her , am, and there is one . a she has become, a for wild ! who by her and his .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Zephaniah 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: An exhortation to repentance. (1–3). Judgments upon other nations. (4–15).
vv1-3
The prophet calls to national repentance, as the only way to prevent national ruin. A nation not desiring, that has not desires toward God, is not desirous of his favour and grace, has no mind to repent and reform. Or, not desirable, not having any thing to recommend them to God; to whom God might justly say, Depart from me; but he says, Gather together to me that you may seek my face. We know what God's decree will bring against impenitent sinners, therefore it highly concerns all to repent in the accepted time. How careful should we all be to seek peace with God, before the Holy Spirit withdraws from us, or ceases to strive with us; before the day of grace is over, or the day of life; before our everlasting state is determined! Let the poor, despised, and afflicted, seek the Lord, and seek to understand and keep his commandments better, that they may be more humbled for their sins. The chief hope of deliverance from national judgments rests upon prayer.
vv4-15
Those are really in a woful condition who have the word of the Lord against them, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. God will restore his people to their rights, though long kept from them. It has been the common lot of God's people, in all ages, to be reproached and reviled. God shall be worshipped, not only by all Israel, and the strangers who join them, but by the heathen. Remote nations must be reckoned with for the wrongs done to God's people. The sufferings of the insolent and haughty in prosperity, are unpitied and unlamented. But all the desolations of flourishing nations will make way for the overturning Satan's kingdom. Let us improve our advantages, and expect the performance of every promise, praying that our Father's name may be hallowed every where, over all the earth.
Key Words
קָשַׁשׁ: to forage for straw, stubble or wood; figuratively, to assemble
גּוֹי: a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
טֶרֶם: properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before
חֹק: an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)
יָלַד: to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
עָבַר: to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
מֹץ: chaff (as pressed out, i.e. winnowed or (rather) threshed loose)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
חָרוֹן: a burning of anger
Cross References
Zephaniah 2Parallel judgment on the same four Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron) omitting Gath.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Deuteronomy details the 'salt and burning' of Sodom and Gomorrah, echoed in the doom of Moab.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Nineveh's proud boast, 'I am, and there is none beside me,' matches Babylon's boast in Isaiah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The hopeful 'it may be' of escaping God's anger matches Joel's call to repentance.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Jeremiah's doom on the Philistines, naming Gaza, Ashkelon, and the remnant of the valley.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel explicitly targets the Cherethites and the sea coast of the Philistines with vengeance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Detailed parallel of wild beasts, pelicans, and bitterns inhabiting ruined, desolated cities.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The call to 'gather together' in a solemn national assembly to avert impending wrath.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God rising to judgment to save all the meek of the earth.
Supported by JFB
The sudden attack at 'noon day' matches military raids when defenders are off guard.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Zechariah's matching sequence of judgment on Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Philistia.
Supported by JFB
Ezekiel's prophecy against Moab and Ammon for their pride and insolence against Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, serving as the archetype for Moab's ruin.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Gentiles worshipping Yahweh, 'every one from his place,' reflecting global monotheistic worship.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Ezekiel's extensive description of Assyria's greatness falling to utter desolation.
Supported by JFB