Zephaniah

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Easton's Bible Dictionary - Zephaniah

Zephaniah [N] [H] [S]

Jehovah has concealed, or Jehovah of darkness.

  • The son of Cushi, and great-grandson of Hezekiah, and the ninth in the order of the minor prophets. He prophesied in the days of Josiah, king of Judah (B.C. 641-610), and was contemporary with Jeremiah, with whom he had much in common. The book of his prophecies consists of:

    (a) An introduction ( 1:1-6 ), announcing the judgment of the world, and the judgment upon Israel, because of their transgressions.

    (b) The description of the judgment ( 1:7-18 ).

    (c) An exhortation to seek God while there is still time ( 2:1-3 ).

    (d) The announcement of judgment on the heathen ( 2:4-15 ).

    (e) The hopeless misery of Jerusalem ( 3:1-7 ).

    (f) The promise of salvation ( 3:8-20 ).

  • The son of Maaseiah, the "second priest" in the reign of Zedekiah, often mentioned in Jeremiah as having been sent from the king to inquire ( Jeremiah 21:1 ) regarding the coming woes which he had denounced, and to entreat the prophet's intercession that the judgment threatened might be averted ( Jeremiah 29:25 Jeremiah 29:26 Jeremiah 29:29 ; 37:3 ; 52:24 ). He, along with some other captive Jews, was put to death by the king of Babylon "at Riblah in the land of Hamath" ( 2 Kings 25:21 ).

  • A Kohathite ancestor of the prophet Samuel ( 1 Chronicles 6:36 ).

  • The father of Josiah, the priest who dwelt in Jerusalem when Darius issued the decree that the temple should be rebuilt ( Zechariah 6:10 ).

    These dictionary topics are from
    M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
    published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
    [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
    [H] indicates this entry was also found in Hitchcock's Bible Names
    [S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
    Bibliography Information

    Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for Zephaniah". "Easton's Bible Dictionary". .

    • Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary - Zephaniah

    Zephaniah [N] [E] [S]

    the Lord is my secret
    Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names. Public Domain. Copy freely.
    [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
    [E] indicates this entry was also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary
    [S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
    Bibliography Information

    Hitchcock, Roswell D. "Entry for 'Zephaniah'". "An Interpreting Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names". . New York, N.Y., 1869.

    Smith's Bible Dictionary - Zephaniah

    Zephaniah [N] [E] [H]

    (hidden by Jehovah ).

    1. The ninth in order of the twelve minor prophets. His pedigree is traced to his fourth ancestor, Hezekiah, ( Zephaniah 1:1 ) supposed to be the celebrated king of that name. The chief characteristics of this book are the unity and harmony of the composition, the grace, energy and dignity of its style, and the rapid and effective alternations of threats and promises. The general tone of the last portion is Messianic, but without any specific reference to the person of our Lord. The date of the book is given in the inscription--viz, the reign of Josiah, from 642 to 611 B.C. It is most probable moreover, that the prophecy was delivered before the eighteenth year of Josiah.
    2. The son of Maaseiah, ( Jeremiah 21:1 ) and sagan or second priest in the reign of Zedekiah. (B.C. 588.) He succeeded Jehoida, ( Jeremiah 29:25 Jeremiah 29:26 ) and was probably a ruler of the temple, whose office it was, among others, to punish pretenders to the gift of prophecy. ( Jeremiah 29:29 ) On the capture of Jerusalem he was taken and slain at Riblah. ( Jeremiah 52:24 Jeremiah 52:27 ; 2 Kings 25:18 2 Kings 25:21 )
    3. Father of Josiah, 2, ( Zechariah 6:10 ) and of Hen, according to the reading of the received text of ( Zechariah 6:14 )
    [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
    [E] indicates this entry was also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary
    [H] indicates this entry was also found in Hitchcock's Bible Names
    Bibliography Information

    Smith, William, Dr. "Entry for 'Zephaniah'". "Smith's Bible Dictionary". . 1901.

    International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Zephaniah

    ZEPHANIAH

    zef-a-ni'-a (tsephanyah, tsephanyahu, "Yah hath treasured"):

    (1) The prophet.

    See ZEPHANIAH, BOOK OF.

    (2) A Levite or priest (1 Chronicles 6:36 (Hebrew 6:21)), called in some genealogies "Uriel" (1 Chronicles 6:24; 15:5,11).

    (3) Judean father or fathers of various contemporaries of Zechariah, the prophet (Zechariah 6:10,14).

    (4) A priest, the second in rank in the days of Jeremiah. He was a leader of the "patriotic" party which opposed Jeremiah. Nevertheless, he was sent to the prophet as a messenger of King Zedekiah when Nebuchadnezzar was about to attack the city (Jeremiah 21:1) and at other crises (Jeremiah 37:3; compare 29:25,29; 2 Kings 25:18). That he continued to adhere to the policy of resistance against Babylonian authority is indicated by the fact that he was among the leaders of Israel taken by Nebuzaradan before the king of Babylon, and killed at Riblah (2 Kings 25:18 parallel Jeremiah 52:24).

    Nathan Isaacs

    Copyright Statement
    These files are public domain.

    Bibliography Information
    Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'ZEPHANIAH'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.