Zephaniah 3:19

19 Lo! I shall slay all men that tormented thee in that time, and I shall save him that halteth, and I shall gather her that was cast out; and I shall put them into praising, and into name in each land of confusion of them, (Lo! I shall kill all those who tormented thee at that time, and I shall save, or shall rescue, him who halteth, or who was lame, and I shall gather her back who was cast out; and I shall get them praise and a good, or a respected, name, in each land where they were put to shame,)

Zephaniah 3:19 Meaning and Commentary

Zephaniah 3:19

Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee
Or, "I will do" F23; their business for them; "slay" them, as the Vulgate Latin version; and make an entire destruction of them, as the Targum; bring them to utter ruin. This must be understood of antichrist, both eastern and western, the Turk and Pope, and all the antichristian states that have afflicted the Jews, or shall attempt to distress them at the time of their conversion; and will be fulfilled at the time of the pouring out of the seven vials of God's wrath upon them, which will issue in the entire undoing and ruin of them, especially the seventh and last of them; which, when poured out, will clear the world of all the enemies of Christ, his church and people; and because this will be a wonderful event, and of great moment and importance, hence the word "behold" is prefixed to it, as exciting attention, as well as a note of admiration and asseveration: "and I will save her that halteth", that has sinned, and is weak in faith, and cannot walk, at least but haltingly; which is like a lame and maimed sheep, of which there is danger of its being left behind and lost; but the Lord here promises he will take care of such, and save them from all their sins, and out of the hands of all their enemies; and bring them through all difficulties and discouragements into his church, and to their own land; they shall none of them be lost, even the meanest and weakest of them, any more than the healthful and strong: and gather her that was driven out;
even everyone that was scattered abroad in each of the nations of the world; (See Gill on Micah 4:6) (See Gill on Micah 4:7): and I will get them praise and fame in every land, where they have
been put to shame;
being converted, they shall be spoke well of everywhere; they shall be praised for their ingenuous acknowledgment of their sins; for their sincere repentance of them; and for their faith in Christ, and for their ready submission to his Gospel and ordinances; and the fame of their conversion shall be spread everywhere; and they shall be in great credit and esteem in all Christian countries, where their name has been used for a taunt and a proverb; and so, "instead of their shame", as R. Moses interprets it, they shall have glory and honour in all places.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 (hvwe) "agam", Tigurine version; "conficiam", Castalio; "ego conficiens", Calvin; "ego faciens, [vel] facio", Burkius.

Zephaniah 3:19 In-Context

17 Thy Lord God is strong in the middle of thee, he shall save [thee]; he shall make joy on thee in gladness, he shall be still in thy loving, he shall make joy withoutforth on thee in praising. (The Lord thy God is strong in thy midst, he shall save thee; he shall rejoice over thee with great happiness, he shall show you his love once again, he shall rejoice over thee with great praise, or with shouts of joy.)
18 I shall gather the fools, either vain men, that went away from the law, for they were of thee, that thou have no more shame on them. (I shall gather the fools, or the empty and useless people, who went away from the Law, for they were of thee, so that no more shalt thou have shame over them.)
19 Lo! I shall slay all men that tormented thee in that time, and I shall save him that halteth, and I shall gather her that was cast out; and I shall put them into praising, and into name in each land of confusion of them, (Lo! I shall kill all those who tormented thee at that time, and I shall save, or shall rescue, him who halteth, or who was lame, and I shall gather her back who was cast out; and I shall get them praise and a good, or a respected, name, in each land where they were put to shame,)
20 in that time in which I shall bring you, and in the time in which I shall gather you. For I shall give you into name, and into praising to all peoples of earth, when I shall convert your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord. (at that time in which I shall bring you back, and at the time in which I shall gather you. For I shall get you a good name and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I shall restore your prosperity before your eyes, saith the Lord.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.