Bible Commentaries
Zephaniah 3

Verse 1

Woe = Alas for! See note on "For", Zephaniah 2:4 .

her: i.e. Jerusalem. See the Structure, p. 1272.

filthy = rebellious.

polluted. Hebrew. ga'al, (1) to redeem: (2) to make or deem common or unclean. A Homonym, with two meanings. Not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:4 .

Verse 2

she received not. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "neither hath she accepted".

correction = discipline.

trusted = confided. Hebrew. batah. App-69 . Not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:12 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

she drew not near, &c. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "neither unto her God hath she drawn near".

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 3

gnaw not: or, reserve not.

Verse 4

light = reckless.

treacherous persons = men (Hebrew. 'enosh, App-14 .) of treacheries; placing the emphasis on the treachery.

polluted = profaned. Hebrew. halal. Not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:1 . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:8 ; Leviticus 21:23 ; Leviticus 22:15 .Numbers 18:32; Numbers 18:32 ). App-92 .

done violence, &c. Compare Jeremiah 2:8 . Ezekiel 22:26 .

Verse 5

in the midst thereof. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 5:3 .Deuteronomy 7:21; Deuteronomy 7:21 ). App-92 . Compare Zephaniah 3:15 .

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .

every morning = morning by morning. See Psalms 101:8 .

unjust = perverse. Hebrew. 'aval. See App-44 .

Verse 6

towers. See note on Zephaniah 1:16 .

Verse 7

corrupted, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 6:12 , same word). App-92 .

Verse 8

Therefore, &c. The Massorah ( App-30 and App-93 ) calls attention to the fact that this verse (Zephaniah 3:8 ) contains all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, including the five final letters. This implies that the verse takes in the whole purpose of Jehovah concerning Israel.

upon: or, for.

saith the Lord = [is] Jehovah's oracle.

to the prey. Septuagint and Syriac read "as a witness", reading 'ed instead of 'ad. Compare Micah 2:2 .

gather = gather in. Not the same word as in Zephaniah 2:1 .

assemble = gather out.

for all the earth. See Zephaniah 1:18 ; and compare the Structure, p. 1272.

the fire of My jealousy. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:24 ).

Verse 9

then: i.e. after all that is implied in Zephaniah 3:8 . Note the order of the blessings in "9, 10": Gentiles first, and Israel after; But in "18-20-", Israel first, and Gentiles after.

people = peoples.

a pure language = a lip purified: i.e. a clean lip in contrast with "unclean" lips (Isaiah 6:5 ).

pure = separated from that which is impure or unclean. Hebrew. barar, as in Ezekiel 20:38 . Isaiah 52:11 .Daniel 11:35 ; Daniel 12:10 . The reference is, to being made fit for the worship of Jehovah, as the next clause shows. Compare Zephaniah 1:4 , Zephaniah 1:5 .

that they may. Some codices, with Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and may".

consent. Hebrew shoulder. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the service rendered by it. It is not the Figure of speech Metaphor as alleged.

Verse 10

suppliants = worshippers. Hebrew. 'athar. Occurs in this sense nowhere else. From 'ath ar = to burn incense (Ezekiel 8:11 ); hence to pray or worship.

the daughter of My dispersed: i.e. My dispersed People [Israel].

Verse 11

transgressed. Hebrew. pasha' . App-44 .

because of = in.

Verse 12

trust = flee for refuge to. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 . Not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:2 .

the name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .

Verse 13

for they shall feed, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:5 , Leviticus 26:6 ). App-92 .

Verse 14

Sing, &c. Figure of speech Poeonismus. App-6 .

Verse 15

enemy. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "foes" (plural)

in the midst, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:21 ).

see. The Codex Hillel, quoted in the Massorah, ( App-30 and App-93 ) with some codices, three early printed editions (one Rabbinic, marg), Aramaean, and Vulgate, read, "fear"; but other codices, with nine early printed editions, Septuagint (?), and Vulgate, read "see", as in Authorized Version.

evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

Verse 16

Fear thou not. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:21 ).

be slack = hang down.

Verse 17

is mighty; He will save. The Hebrew accents place the chief pause or emphasis on "save", implying not that He will save at some future time, but that He is an ever-present Saviour. Read "Jehovah thy Elohim is in the midst of thee, mighty to save [at all times]". Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 10:17 ).

He will rejoice, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 30:9 ). App-92 .

will rest. Hebrew will be silent. Septuagint reads "will renew thee"

over thee. The Hebrew accent places the emphasis on these two words.

Verse 18

sorrowful for. Supply the Ellipsis = "sorrowful for [the cessation of]".

solemn assembly = appointed season.

a burden. Some codices, with one early printed edition (Rabbinic, margin), Aramaean, and Syriac, read "aburden on thee".

Verse 19

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 .

undo = deal with.

gather = gather out, bring together what has been dispersed. Hebrew. kabaz, as in Zephaniah 3:20 . Not the same word as in verses: Zep 8:18 , or as in Zephaniah 2:1 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 30:3 , Deuteronomy 30:4 ). App-92 .

I will get them, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 26:19 ).

Verse 20

for I will make you, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 26:19 ). App-92 .

turn back your captivity. Hebrew, plural. Idiom for restoring blessings as aforetime. See note on Deuteronomy 30:3 ,

saith = hath said.