Zeph 3:1
ה֥וֹי מֹרְאָ֖ה וְנִגְאָלָ֑ה הָעִ֖יר הַיּוֹנָֽה׃
Zeph 3:2
לֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעָה֙ בְּק֔וֹל לֹ֥א לָקְחָ֖ה מוּסָ֑ר בַּֽיהוָה֙ לֹ֣א בָטָ֔חָה אֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֖יהָ לֹ֥א קָרֵֽבָה׃
Zeph 3:3
שָׂרֶ֣יהָ בְקִרְבָּ֔הּ אֲרָי֖וֹת שֹֽׁאֲגִ֑ים שֹׁפְטֶ֙יהָ֙ זְאֵ֣בֵי עֶ֔רֶב לֹ֥א גָרְמ֖וּ לַבֹּֽקֶר׃
Zeph 3:4
נְבִיאֶ֙יהָ֙ פֹּֽחֲזִ֔ים אַנְשֵׁ֖י בֹּֽגְד֑וֹת כֹּהֲנֶ֙יהָ֙ חִלְּלוּ־קֹ֔דֶשׁ חָמְס֖וּ תּוֹרָֽה׃
Zeph 3:5
יְהוָ֤ה צַדִּיק֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ לֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה עַוְלָ֑ה בַּבֹּ֨קֶר בַּבֹּ֜קֶר מִשְׁפָּט֨וֹ יִתֵּ֤ן לָאוֹר֙ לֹ֣א נֶעְדָּ֔ר וְלֹֽא־יוֹדֵ֥עַ עַוָּ֖ל בֹּֽשֶׁת׃
Zeph 3:6
הִכְרַ֣תִּי גוֹיִ֗ם נָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ פִּנּוֹתָ֔ם הֶחֱרַ֥בְתִּי חֽוּצוֹתָ֖ם מִבְּלִ֣י עוֹבֵ֑ר נִצְדּ֧וּ עָרֵיהֶ֛ם מִבְּלִי־אִ֖ישׁ מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃
Zeph 3:7
אָמַ֜רְתִּי אַךְ־תִּירְאִ֤י אוֹתִי֙ תִּקְחִ֣י מוּסָ֔ר וְלֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֣ת מְעוֹנָ֔הּ כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־פָּקַ֖דְתִּי עָלֶ֑יהָ אָכֵן֙ הִשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ הִשְׁחִ֔יתוּ כֹּ֖ל עֲלִילוֹתָֽם׃
Zephaniah 3:8
לָכֵ֤ן חַכּוּ־לִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לְי֖וֹם קוּמִ֣י לְעַ֑ד כִּ֣י מִשְׁפָּטִי֩ לֶאֱסֹ֨ף גּוֹיִ֜ם לְקָבְצִ֣י מַמְלָכ֗וֹת לִשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם זַעְמִי֙ כֹּ֚ל חֲר֣וֹן אַפִּ֔י כִּ֚י בְּאֵ֣שׁ קִנְאָתִ֔י תֵּאָכֵ֖ל כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Therefore, wait for Me, an oracle of YHWH, for the day of My rising for the prey because My judgment is to gather the nations that I may collect the kingdoms to pour on them My anger, all the heat of My Nose because with the fire of My jealousy, all the land will be consumed.
Paraphrase: So Israel did not get the point. The terrible judgments which I brought on her neighbors, did not lead her to reflect and to consider her own ways. Israel has not repented but has returned to her sin like dogs to their vomit. (Proverbs 26:11; 2 Peter 2:22) Therefore, it is time for Me to act again. This time, I will pour out My judgements on all lands, Israel included. Here is My oracle, to my servant Zephaniah. Tell those of My people who are still faithful to Me (Zephaniah 3:11) that I am no longer going to exclude My people from My judgments. I am going to gather up all the nations including My people. I will assemble them all in a single place. Then, I will pour out on them the full heat of My righteous indignation and anger. My justice demands satisfaction, and now it will receive it. I gave them opportunity to repent, but they can’t help themselves. They are addicted to idolatry. (Hosea 4:17) The other nations worship all kinds of false gods; I have no jealousy toward them. Towards My own people, however, I have a fierce jealousy. I am married to them (Isaiah 54:5; Hosea 2:19), and I will never tolerate any rival. (Exodus 20:3) My people will be completely devoted to Me, or they will no longer be My people.
Comments:
Who is God addressing here? I understand Him to be speaking to the faithful remnant which He mentions in v11.
Zephaniah 3:9
כִּֽי־אָ֛ז אֶהְפֹּ֥ךְ אֶל־עַמִּ֖ים שָׂפָ֣ה בְרוּרָ֑ה לִקְרֹ֤א כֻלָּם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה לְעָבְד֖וֹ שְׁכֶ֥ם אֶחָֽד׃
For then, I will turn to the peoples a lip of being cleansed to call all of them on the Name of YHWH to serve Him with one shoulder.
Paraphrase: Now this final judgment will be the destruction of the wicked in both the Gentile nations and those who are among My people. The destruction of the wicked, however, will be the salvation of the righteous. This also is part of that mighty work which I will do on the day of YHWH. I will make a difference with some of these people. To them, I will turn in mercy; I will give them a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) cleansed from wickedness (Isaiah 6:5-7); I will give them a new ruling disposition (Hosea 4:16) with the result that they will now begin to call on My Name. (Hosea 14:3) Their sons and daughters will prophesy, their old men will dream dreams, and the young men will see visions. (Joel 2:28) They will now join the faithful remnant of My people and put their own shoulders to the work of advancing My kingdom. They will run in the way of My commandments. (Psalm 119:32)
Comments:
See the opposite of a purified lip in Isaiah 6:5.
Zephaniah 3:10
מֵעֵ֖בֶר לְנַֽהֲרֵי־כ֑וּשׁ עֲתָרַי֙ בַּת־פוּצַ֔י יוֹבִל֖וּן מִנְחָתִֽי׃
From the region beyond the river of Cush, My incense, the daughter of My dispersed will bring My offering.
Paraphrase: No matter where they may have fled or in what direction, I will find them. Even those who have fled beyond the land of Egypt are not out of My reach. Listen! Do you hear it? The scattered peoples are worshipping Me! They are lifting up their voices and singing praise! The smell of their incense is wafting up to My throne mixed in with their prayers and petitions (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8) Oh how pleasing all this is to Me! (Leviticus 2:2) Now, they are coming to My temple and bringing with them the prescribed offering. This is the worship that is so acceptable to Me. I receive them gladly and rejoice over them. (Jeremiah 32:41)
Comments:
Lowth (p265): What are the rivers of Cush, whether the eastern branches of the lower Nile, the boundary of Egypt towards Arabia, or the parts of the upper Nile towards Ethiopia, it is not easy to determine. The word מעבר signifies either on this side or on the further side.
Zephaniah 3:11
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא לֹ֤א תֵב֙וֹשִׁי֙ מִכֹּ֣ל עֲלִילֹתַ֔יִךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר פָּשַׁ֖עַתְּ בִּ֑י כִּי־אָ֣ז׀ אָסִ֣יר מִקִּרְבֵּ֗ךְ עַלִּיזֵי֙ גַּאֲוָתֵ֔ךְ וְלֹֽא־תוֹסִ֧פִי לְגָבְהָ֛ה ע֖וֹד בְּהַ֥ר קָדְשִֽׁי׃
In that day, you will not feel shame from all your sinful practices by which you rebelled against Me, for then I will cause to turn away from within you, the exultant ones of arrogance among you and you will not again be high again in the mountain of My holiness.
Paraphrase: Nor will you look back at your previous lifestyle and be paralyzed by all the sin and rebellion which you committed against Me. As far as the east is from the west, so far will I remove all memory of your previous sins. (Psalm 103:12) Your guilt is covered; I don’t have any memory of it. (Jeremiah 31:34) Furthermore, the proud idolaters who live among you and who cause you so much pain and irritation (Psalm 139:21), will be purged out of your communities by My righteous judgments. (Psalm 37:9-10) You might wonder about your own pride which also held you in such a tight grip. How will you ever be free of it? Don’t be afraid of this either. When you return to the holy city, the place over which My Name is called, you will not see or hear from your pride ever again. I will make sure of that.
Comments:
Note the resumptive בִּי.
Zephaniah 3:12
וְהִשְׁאַרְתִּ֣י בְקִרְבֵּ֔ךְ עַ֥ם עָנִ֖י וָדָ֑ל וְחָס֖וּ בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃
and I will cause to be left among you a people, afflicted and poor and they will take refuge in the Name of YHWH.
Paraphrase: In fact, all the people, who will be left behind after My terrible judgments, will be the afflicted and the poor of the land. Those who are humble and meek will find a place in My holy city; the destruction of the wicked will be their salvation. Not a hair of their head will be touched. (Luke 21:18) When My awful judgments come, they will not flee away from Me. On the contrary, they will flee to Me and will take refuge in Me as their fortress and protector. (Psalm 61:3; Proverbs 18:10) They will say to the LORD, “You are My refuge and my fortress, My God, the One in whom I trust!” (Psalm 91:2)
Comments:
Zephaniah 3:13
שְׁאֵרִ֨ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לֹֽא־יַעֲשׂ֤וּ עַוְלָה֙ וְלֹא־יְדַבְּר֣וּ כָזָ֔ב וְלֹֽא־יִמָּצֵ֥א בְּפִיהֶ֖ם לְשׁ֣וֹן תַּרְמִ֑ית כִּֽי־הֵ֛מָּה יִרְע֥וּ וְרָבְצ֖וּ וְאֵ֥ין מַחֲרִֽיד׃ס
The rest of Israel will not do injustice, and they will not speak lies, and a tongue of deceit will not be found in their mouth because they will pasture and they will lie down and there is no anxiety.
Paraphrase: This humble remnant will not commit all the injustice that I have come to expect from My people, Israel. They will not lie, cheat, and defraud others. (Proverbs 20:23; Micah 6:11) They will not speak deceitful and manipulative words. They will graze like sheep in lush pastures without any fear or anxiety about their safety.
Comments:
Zephaniah 3:14
רָנִּי֙ בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן הָרִ֖יעוּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל שִׂמְחִ֤י וְעָלְזִי֙ בְּכָל־לֵ֔ב בַּ֖ת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
Shout for joy, oh daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, oh Israel! Rejoice and be jubilant with all the heart, oh daughter Jerusalem.
Paraphrase: Shout for joy, oh daughter Zion! Yes, you are afflicted and poor (Zephaniah 3:12), but God Himself will be your protection. When you flee to Him for refuge, you will find perfect safety. (Psalm 60:11-12) Shout in triumph; rejoice and be jubilant with all your heart; lay aside all your sorrow and grief, oh daughter Jerusalem.
Comments:
Daughter here represents Israel as tender, vulnerable, and delicate; cf Isaiah 47:1.
Zephaniah 3:15
הֵסִ֤יר יְהוָה֙ מִשְׁפָּטַ֔יִךְ פִּנָּ֖ה אֹֽיְבֵ֑ךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל׀ יְהוָה֙ בְּקִרְבֵּ֔ךְ לֹא־תִֽירְאִ֥י רָ֖ע עֽוֹד׃
YHWH has caused your judgments to turn away; He has cleared away your enemies. The king of Israel, YHWH, is in your midst; you will not fear evil again.
Paraphrase: YHWH has wiped your record clean. The guilty verdict, which was justly handed down against you (Micah 6), has been cancelled. (Colossians 2:14) Atonement has been made for your guilt (Isaiah 40:2), and now it is forgotten. (Jeremiah 31:34) God will also take away the enemies which He was going to use for your punishment. (Isaiah 10:5) There is no need for punishment where there is no guilt. Now look, God has returned to you (Exodus 40:34f; 1 Kings 8:10f; Ezekiel 10:3-4; 18-19; 11:22-23); His presence can be seen; His favor is felt once more. The time for your punishment has passed.
Comments:
משׁפּט is a broad word that belongs to the court room. It can refer to the practice and concept of justice, to the decision or verdict that is made in a given situation, to a person’s case or defense, to the place of justice, to the time of justice, or to the execution of judgment. source
Zephaniah 3:16
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא יֵאָמֵ֥ר לִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אַל־תִּירָ֑אִי צִיּ֖וֹן אַל־יִרְפּ֥וּ יָדָֽיִךְ׃
On that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands sink down.”
Paraphrase: Oh what a glad day that will be! When YHWH returns to His people and enters into the city in triumph, then the peoples will say to the people of Jerusalem, to daughter Zion, “Put away your anxieties and don’t be afraid any longer. Don’t sink down in despair as you used to do. Everything has changed. Our Great King, YHWH, has returned. He has satisfied us early with His mercy; let us rejoice and be glad all our days! (Psalm 90:14)
Comments:
Zephaniah 3:17
יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהַ֛יִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ך גִּבּ֣וֹר יוֹשִׁ֑יעַ יָשִׂ֨ישׂ עָלַ֜יִךְ בְּשִׂמְחָ֗ה יַחֲרִישׁ֙ בְּאַ֣הֲבָת֔וֹ יָגִ֥יל עָלַ֖יִךְ בְּרִנָּֽה׃
Zeph 3:18
נוּגֵ֧י מִמּוֹעֵ֛ד אָסַ֖פְתִּי מִמֵּ֣ךְ הָי֑וּ מַשְׂאֵ֥ת עָלֶ֖יהָ חֶרְפָּֽה׃
Zeph 3:19
הִנְנִ֥י עֹשֶׂ֛ה אֶת־כָּל־מְעַנַּ֖יִךְ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑יא וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּ֣י אֶת־הַצֹּלֵעָ֗ה וְהַנִּדָּחָה֙ אֲקַבֵּ֔ץ וְשַׂמְתִּים֙ לִתְהִלָּ֣ה וּלְשֵׁ֔ם בְּכָל־הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּשְׁתָּֽם׃
Zeph 3:20
בָּעֵ֤ת הַהִיא֙ אָבִ֣יא אֶתְכֶ֔ם וּבָעֵ֖ת קַבְּצִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אֶתֵּ֨ן אֶתְכֶ֜ם לְשֵׁ֣ם וְלִתְהִלָּ֗ה בְּכֹל֙ עַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ בְּשׁוּבִ֧י אֶת־שְׁבוּתֵיכֶ֛ם לְעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃