Zephaniah3
English Standard Version
1 to her who and , the !
2She to ; she . She does not in the Lord; she does not draw to her .
3Her her are ; her are that till the .
4Her are , ; her what is ; they do to the .
5The Lord her is ; he ; he forth his ; each he does ; but the .
6I have ; their are in ; I have waste their so that one in them; their have been , a , an .
7I , you will me; you will . Then your would be according to I have you. all the more they to make their .
8 for me, the Lord, for the when I rise to seize the . For my is to , to , to out them my , all my ; in the of my the shall be .
9 at that I will the speech of the to a , that of them may upon the of the Lord and him with .
10From the of my , the of my ones, shall my .
11On that you shall be of the by which you have against me; I will from your your ones, and you shall be in my .
12But I will in your a and . They shall seek in the of the Lord,
13those who are in ; they shall and , shall there be in their a . they shall and , and shall .
14 aloud, O of ; , O ! and your , O of !
15The Lord has away the against you; he has away your . The of , the Lord, is in your ; you shall never again .
16On that it shall be to : , O ; let your grow .
17The Lord your is in your , a one who will ; he will you with ; he will you by his ; he will over you with loud .
18I will those of you for the , so that you will no .
19 , at that I will with all your . And I will the and the , and I their into and in the .
20At that I will you in, at the when I you together; I will you and among the of the , when I your before your , the Lord.
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