Zephaniah3
New Living Translation
1What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime!
2No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction. It does not trust in the Lord or draw near to its God.
3Its leaders are like roaring lions hunting for their victims. Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time, who by dawn have left no trace of their prey.
4Its prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain. Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God’s instructions.
5But the Lord is still there in the city, and he does no wrong. Day by day he hands down justice, and he does not fail. But the wicked know no shame.
6“I have wiped out many nations, devastating their fortress walls and towers. Their streets are now deserted; their cities lie in silent ruin. There are no survivors— none at all.
7I thought, ‘Surely they will have reverence for me now! Surely they will listen to my warnings. Then I won’t need to strike again, destroying their homes.’ But no, they get up early to continue their evil deeds.
8Therefore, be patient,” says the Lord. “Soon I will stand and accuse these evil nations. For I have decided to gather the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them. All the earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy.
9“Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the Lord together.
10My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will come to present their offerings.
11On that day you will no longer need to be ashamed, for you will no longer be rebels against me. I will remove all proud and arrogant people from among you. There will be no more haughtiness on my holy mountain.
12Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.
13The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will never tell lies or deceive one another. They will eat and sleep in safety, and no one will make them afraid.”
14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster.
16On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!
17For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
18“I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more.
19And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed.
20On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
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