Zephaniah 3:6-9

Jerusalem Remains Unrepentant

6 “I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty.
7 Of Jerusalem I thought, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge[a] would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon[b] her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.
8 Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD, “for the day I will stand up to testify.[c]I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.

Restoration of Israel’s Remnant

9 “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORDand serve him shoulder to shoulder.

Zephaniah 3:6-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZEPHANIAH 3

In this chapter the character of the city of Jerusalem, and its inhabitants in general, is drawn, as it would be, and as it was, in the times of Christ and his apostles, Zep 3:1,2 and of the principal persons of it in particular, its princes, judges, prophets, and priests, Zep 3:3,4. The hardness, impenitence, and shamelessness of this people, are exposed and aggravated by the just Lord being among them; who, by his example and doctrine, taught them otherwise; yet they were not amended or made ashamed, Zep 3:5 nor received instruction, nor took warning by the judgments of God on other nations, Zep 3:6,7 wherefore the followers of God are called upon to wait his time, who would gather many people together, and destroy the whole land of Judea, Zep 3:8 at which time he would send his Gospel among the Gentiles, who should thereby be brought to the true worship and service of God, Zep 3:9,10 though there should be a remnant among the Jews, according to the election of grace, that should be saved from that general calamity, Zep 3:11-13 and the spiritual Israel are encouraged with promises of better times, when the Jews in general should be converted and gathered into the church of God, have the presence and protection of God with them, and deliverance from all their enemies, and be a praise among all people of the earth, Zep 3:14-20.

Cross References 12

  • 1. S Leviticus 26:31
  • 2. S Jeremiah 7:28
  • 3. S Hosea 9:9
  • 4. S Psalms 27:14
  • 5. S Joel 3:11
  • 6. S Isaiah 2:3; Joel 3:2
  • 7. Psalms 79:6; Revelation 16:1
  • 8. S Jeremiah 10:25; S Lamentations 4:11
  • 9. S Zephaniah 1:18
  • 10. S Zephaniah 2:11
  • 11. S Genesis 4:26
  • 12. S Isaiah 19:18

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or "her sanctuary"
  • [b]. Or "all those I appointed over"
  • [c]. Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew "will rise up to plunder"
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