D. On Jerusalem (3:1–7)
I. Superscription (1:1) II. The Lord's Judgment (1:2–3:8)
A. On the Whole Earth (1:2–3)
B. On Judah (1:4–2:3) C. On the Surrounding Nations (2:4–15)
1. Philistia (2:4–7) 2. Moab/Ammon (2:8–11) 3. Ethiopia (2:12) 4. Assyria (2:13–15) D. On Jerusalem (3:1–7)
E. On All Nations (3:8) III. The Lord's Blessing (3:9–20)
A. For the Nations (3:9–10)
B. For Judah (3:11–20)
Zephaniah
ZEPHANIAH 1 †The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
The Coming Judgment on Judah
2‡†"I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth," declares the LORD. 3†"I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble [1] with the wicked.
I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth," declares the LORD. 4‡†"I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, 5†those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the LORD
and yet swear by Milcom, 6†those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him."
The Day of the LORD Is Near
7†Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and
consecrated his guests. 8†And on the day of the LORD's sacrifice— "I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. 9†On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master's [2] house with violence and fraud. 10‡"On that day," declares the LORD, "a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. 11Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders [3] are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off.
12†At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, [4]
those who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.' 13Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses,
they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards,
they shall not drink wine from them." 14‡The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. 15A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation,
a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16†a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. 17‡†I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. 18†Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealousy,
all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end
he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
Judgment on Judah's Enemies
ZEPHANIAH 2 ‡†Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, 2before the decree takes effect [1] —before the day passes away like chaff— before there comes upon
you the burning anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD. 3†Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; [2] seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden
on the day of the anger of the LORD. 4‡‡For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted. 5†Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and
I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left. 6And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures, with meadows [3] for shepherds and folds for flocks. 7†The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall graze, and in the houses of Ashkelon
they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes. 8‡"I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory. 9Therefore, as I live," declares the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Moab shall become like Sodom,
and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever. The remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the survivors of my
nation shall possess them." 10This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the LORD of hosts. 11†The LORD will be awesome against them; for he will famish all the gods
of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations. 12†You also, O Cushites, shall be slain by my sword. 13‡And he will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria, and he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert. 14Herds shall lie down in her midst, all kinds of beasts; [4] even the owl and the hedgehog [5]
shall lodge in her capitals; a voice shall hoot in the window;
devastation will be on the threshold; for her cedar work will be laid
bare. 15†This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart,
"I am, and there is no one else." What a desolation she has become,
a lair for wild beasts! Everyone who passes by her
hisses and shakes his fist.
Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations
ZEPHANIAH 3 ‡Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city! 2†She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God. 3‡Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves
that leave nothing till the morning. 4Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law. 5The LORD within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail;
but the unjust knows no shame. 6‡"I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets
so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without a man, without an inhabitant. 7I said, 'Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your [1] dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have
appointed against you.' [2] But all the more they were eager
to make all their deeds corrupt. 8†"Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD, "for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy
all the earth shall be consumed.
The Conversion of the Nations
9‡†"For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD
and serve him with one accord. 10†From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering. 11‡"On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by
which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. 12But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, 13those who are left in
Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid."
Israel's Joy and Restoration
14‡Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15‡The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear
evil. 16On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17†The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. 18†I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. [3] 19‡Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes," says the LORD.
Footnotes
Footnotes for Zephaniah, Chapter 1
[1] 1:3 Or stumbling blocks (that is, idols) [2] 1:9 Or their Lord's
[3] 1:11 Or all the people of Canaan
[4] 1:12 Hebrew are thickening on the dregs [of their wine]
Footnotes for Zephaniah, Chapter 2
[1] 2:2 Hebrew gives birth
[2] 2:3 Or who carry out his judgment
[3] 2:6 Or caves
[4] 2:14 Hebrew beasts of every nation
[5] 2:14 The identity of the animals rendered owl and hedgehog is uncertain
Footnotes for Zephaniah, Chapter 3
[1] 3:7 Hebrew her
[2] 3:7 Hebrew her
[3] 3:18 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
Study Notes
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:1 Hezekiah . . . Josiah. Zephaniah traced his royal lineage back to his great-great-grandfather Hezekiah (c. 715–686 B.C.) and placed his ministry contemporaneous with Josiah (c. 640–609 B.C.).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:2–3 The prophet began by noting the far fulfillment of the day of the Lord, when even animal and physical creation will be affected by his judgment of the earth (cf. Gen. 3:17–19; Ex. 12:29; Josh. 7:24–25; Rom. 8:22).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:2 face of the earth. Generally translated "ground," the term is used in reference to the whole earth (1:18). The phraseology is reminiscent of the Noahic flood (Gen. 6:7, 17; 7:21–23).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:3 Comparisons with the Genesis flood continue with "man and beast" and "birds of the heavens" (Gen. 6:7; 7:23). The prophet also alluded to the creation, pairing man and beast (sixth day of creation) and birds with fish (fifth day of creation). rubble. An alternate translation is "stumbling blocks." Whatever alienates man from God will be removed.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:4–9 The Lord narrowed his words of judgment to specifically focus on Judah, specifying the causes of judgment as apostasy and idolatry (vv. 4–6), as always coupled with moral and ethical corruption (vv. 7–9).
"Day of the Lord" Fulfillments
"Day of the Lord" Fulfillments Near Far Obadiah 1–14 Obadiah 15–21 Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11 Joel 2:31 (3:1); 3:14 Amos 5:18–20 ——— ——— Isaiah 2:12 Isaiah 13:6 Isaiah 13:9 Zephaniah 1:7 Zephaniah 1:14 Ezekiel 13:5; 20:3 ——— ——— Zechariah 14:1
——— Malachi 4:5 ©1997 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:4 cut off . . . the remnant of Baal. The worship of Baal, the Canaanite god of fertility, was a constant source of temptation to Israel (cf. Num. 25:1–5; Judg. 2:13), as people tried worshiping him alongside the worship of the Lord (Jer. 7:9; 23:25–29). This mix became a primary cause for judgment (2 Kings 17:16–20; Jer. 11:13–17; Hos. 2:8) which would forever excise the worship of Baal from Israel.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:5 bow down . . . to the host of the heavens. Astrology was also a prominent part of Israel's idolatrous practices; they worshiped the host of heaven from as early as the exodus (cf. Deut. 4:19; Amos 5:25–26; Acts 7:40–43). God warned them repeatedly, but they rebelled (2 Kings 23:5–6; Jer. 7:17–18; 8:2; 44:17–25). Altars were often erected on housetop roofs to provide a clear view of the sky (Jer. 8:2; 19:13; 32:29). swear by Milcom. Judah's syncretistic worship was reflected in swearing by the Lord and, at the same time, by Milcom, who may be either the Ammonite deity of 1 Kings 11:5, 33, or Molech, the worship of whom included child sacrifice, astrology, and sacred prostitution (cf. Lev. 18:21; 2 Kings 17:16–17; Ezek. 23:37; Amos 5:25–26; Acts 7:40–43).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:6 Zephaniah lastly mentioned those who had at first heeded calls to repentance but later had willfully turned away.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:7 Be silent. In view of the just judgment, there was no defense to be spoken and in view of the devastation only shocked and mute wonder (cf. Hab. 2:20; Zech. 2:13). day of the Lord. See notes on Joel 1:15. prepared a sacrifice . . . consecrated his guests. God's judgment on Israel was viewed as his sacrifice. The guests were the dreaded Babylonians, who as "priests" were invited to slay the sacrifice, i.e., Judah (cf. Isa. 13:3; 34:6; Jer. 46:10; Ezek. 39:17; Hab. 1:6; Rev. 19:17–18).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:8 the officials . . . king's sons. Judgment began with the royal house. Lacking commitment to God's covenant, they had adopted the customs and idolatrous practices of the heathen. Since Josiah was only eight years old when he assumed rulership (c. 640 B.C.), the reference would not be to his sons but to the princes of the royal house or to the children of the king who would be ruling when the prophecy was fulfilled (cf. 2 Kings 25:7; Jer. 39:6).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:9 leaps over the threshold. This describes the eagerness with which the rich hurried from the temple to plunder the poor.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:10–11 The merchants, made wealthy from dishonest gain (cf. v. 9), were singled out to depict the anguish of the coming judgment. The Fish Gate, known today as the Damascus Gate, is located on the north side. The Second Quarter was a district within the city walls. "Mortar" was a name applied to the Valley of Siloam from its shape; it was a district where merchants carried on business.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:12 I will search. None would escape the punishment of the Lord (Amos 9:1–4). complacent. See esv footnote. With this term referring to a thickened crust that forms on wine when left undisturbed for a long period of time, the prophet described the people's indifference and slothfulness toward God. Their indifference led them to regard God as morally indifferent.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:14–18 Zephaniah vividly described the day of the Lord in staccato fashion, rehearsing the ominous conditions characterizing that day. This section seems to point to the near fulfillment when Babylon subdued Judah (vv. 4–13), as well as a far fulfillment that will involve the whole earth (v. 18).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:16 day of trumpet blast and battle cry. In accordance with God's instructions, a trumpet was fashioned for sounding an alarm (Num. 10:1–10).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:17–18 As though worthless, their blood and flesh were discarded as dust. Their silver and gold, corruptly gained (cf. vv. 9–13), would be of no avail to protect them from the wrath of Holy God (cf. Jer. 46:28).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:17 walk like the blind. As blind men, they would grope unsuccessfully for escape routes (Deut. 28:29).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 1:18 all the inhabitants of the earth. The discussion expands to include the whole earth as in vv. 2–3.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:1–3 With the announcement of coming judgment, God mercifully invited his people to repent. They were to assemble to entreat the favor of the Lord and avert his wrath (cf. Joel 2:16).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:1 shameless nation. No longer sensitive to God's call to
repentance through his many prophets, Judah had sunk to shamelessness.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:3 perhaps you may be hidden. Even the humble, those who had followed the law of the Lord, were encouraged to continue to manifest fruits of repentance, so they would be sheltered in the day of his judgment (Isa. 26:20).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:4–15 God used the heathen nations to punish his people, but he would not permit those nations to go unpunished. To illustrate this, four representative nations were chosen from the four points of the compass.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:4–7 The first nation to be judged was Philistia, to the west of Israel. Judgment was to come swiftly and unexpectedly, even at noonday when it was least expected. Of the five Philistine cities, only Gath was omitted (cf. Amos 1:6–8).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:5 Cherethites. Occasionally a synonym for Philistia, this term represented a branch from Crete (see note on Ezek. 25:16). David's bodyguard was comprised of both Cherethites and Pelethites (2 Sam. 8:18; 1 Kings 1:38, 44). See note on 1 Sam. 30:14.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:7 restore their fortunes. The Lord would initiate the physical return of Israel's exiles to occupy the land vacated by judgment on Philistia.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:8–11 To the east, the descendants of Lot by his daughters through incest, Moab and Ammon (Gen. 19:30–38), are mentioned. They had reproached and reviled God's people, incurring divine wrath (cf. Gen. 12:3). Like Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of their ancestor Lot, they too would come to ruin and desolation.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:11 to him shall bow down . . . all the lands of the nations. The final fulfillment of these predictions is yet future, depicting the millennium when all the gods of the nations will be reduced to nothing and the Lord himself will be worshiped universally (Isa. 66:18–21; Zech. 14:16; Mal. 1:11).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:12 Ethiopia lay to the south of Israel. She would be judged by his sword, fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar's invasion and conquest of Egypt (Ezek. 30:24–25).
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:13–15 Assyria, located northeast of Israel, would be desolated as well. Nineveh fell, shortly after this prophecy, to the Babylonians in 612 B.C. Famed for her irrigation system, she would be left dry.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 2:15 In language similar to that of the king of Babylon (Isa. 14:13–14; 47:8) and the prince of Tyre (Ezek. 28:2), Assyria had claimed for herself divine attributes. For this she would be brought to ruin.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 3:1–7 After pronouncing judgment on the nations, the prophet returned to again pronounce woe upon Jerusalem. Because of that city's favored position among the nations (cf. Ex. 19:5), more was expected.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 3:2 she accepts no correction. Jerusalem was soon to learn that to reject God's correction leads to destruction (Prov. 5:23). she does not draw near to her God. The Lord had taken up residence in that city, making him easily accessible (Deut. 4:7), yet they had refused to draw near to him in proper worship.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 3:3–5 Four classes of leadership were singled out for condemnation: The political leaders, i.e., the 1) princes and 2) judges; who are both likened to ravenous wolves, endlessly searching for more prey (cf. 1:8–9). The spiritual leaders, i.e., the 3) prophets and 4) priests, were unfaithful to the Lord whom they claimed to represent. By contrast, the Lord never failed to manifest a faithful standard of justice and righteousness.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 3:6–7 The desolations brought by the Lord on surrounding nations were to serve as warnings to Judah, meant to turn his people back to him. But instead, enticed by the fruits of corruption, the people rose early to zealously and deliberately pursue the way of sin.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 3:8 The prophet transitions from the historical invasion of Judah by Babylon to the future day of the Lord. He speaks of the great tribulation, when the Lord will gather all the nations for judgment (cf. Joel 3:1– 2, 12–17; Zech. 12:2–3; 14:2; Matt. 24:21). The faithful remnant, presumably the meek of Zeph. 2:1–3, are exhorted to wait in trust for him to carry out his judgment.
ZEPHANIAH—NOTE ON 3:9–20 The final section unveils the blessings of restoration for God's people and the nations.