Zephaniah 3

Chapter context

What is happening in Zephaniah 3?

day of the Lordjudgmenthumilitypurification

Zephaniah 3 belongs to the closing movement of the book, especially the section often described as purification and joy in Zion. Zephaniah combines severe day-of-the-Lord judgment with a tender closing vision of God rejoicing over a purified people. Read this chapter with the wider themes of day of the Lord, judgment, and humility in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

¹ Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! ² She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. ³ Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. ⁴ Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. ⁵ The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. ⁶ I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. ⁷ I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. ⁸ Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, 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. ⁹ For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. ¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. ¹¹ In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. ¹² I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. ¹³ The 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. ¹⁴ Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. ¹⁵ The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. ¹⁶ In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. ¹⁷ The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. ¹⁸ I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. ¹⁹ Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. ²⁰ At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

Study helps

Glossary

City People v. 1: The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain ( Gen. 4:17 ). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12).
Jerusalem Place v. 1, 7, 11, 14, 16: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
Cush Place v. 10: Country of burnt faces; the Greek word by which the Hebrew Cush is rendered. Modern identification: Meroe.
Zion Place v. 14, 16, 18: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.