Zephaniah 3:1-5

Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations

1 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, 1the oppressing city!
2 She listens to no voice; 2she accepts no correction. 3She does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God.
3 4Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are 5evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning.
4 6Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; 7her priests 8profane what is holy; they do violence to the law.
5 The LORD within her 9is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but 10the unjust knows no shame.

Zephaniah 3:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZEPHANIAH 3

In this chapter the character of the city of Jerusalem, and its inhabitants in general, is drawn, as it would be, and as it was, in the times of Christ and his apostles, Zep 3:1,2 and of the principal persons of it in particular, its princes, judges, prophets, and priests, Zep 3:3,4. The hardness, impenitence, and shamelessness of this people, are exposed and aggravated by the just Lord being among them; who, by his example and doctrine, taught them otherwise; yet they were not amended or made ashamed, Zep 3:5 nor received instruction, nor took warning by the judgments of God on other nations, Zep 3:6,7 wherefore the followers of God are called upon to wait his time, who would gather many people together, and destroy the whole land of Judea, Zep 3:8 at which time he would send his Gospel among the Gentiles, who should thereby be brought to the true worship and service of God, Zep 3:9,10 though there should be a remnant among the Jews, according to the election of grace, that should be saved from that general calamity, Zep 3:11-13 and the spiritual Israel are encouraged with promises of better times, when the Jews in general should be converted and gathered into the church of God, have the presence and protection of God with them, and deliverance from all their enemies, and be a praise among all people of the earth, Zep 3:14-20.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Jeremiah 6:6
  • 2. Jeremiah 5:3
  • 3. [ver. 12]
  • 4. Ezekiel 22:27; [Micah 3:9, 10]
  • 5. Habakkuk 1:8
  • 6. Jeremiah 23:11; Hosea 9:7
  • 7. Jeremiah 23:11; Hosea 9:7
  • 8. Ezekiel 22:26
  • 9. [Jeremiah 12:1]
  • 10. [Zephaniah 2:1]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.