Zephaniah 3:16

16 On that day Jerusalem will be told, "Don't be afraid, city of Jerusalem. Don't give up.

Zephaniah 3:16 Meaning and Commentary

Zephaniah 3:16

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, fear thou not,
&c.] Do not be afraid of any enemies; neither outward ones, the armies of Gog and Magog, the Turk, who will threaten, and will attempt to dispossess them of their land, now returned to it; nor inward and spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, death, and hell, being all vanquished and subdued by Christ: this will be said, not by the enemies themselves, who will confess they have no power to stand before the mighty God, as Aben Ezra; but either by the prophets of the Lord, or by the people themselves, encouraging one another, every man his neighbour, as Kimchi; or rather by the Lord himself, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions supply it,

``the Lord shall say to Jerusalem;''
this will be said at the time of the Jews' conversion, when reinstated in their own land, and shall be threatened with another remove from it, which they will have no reason to fear: [and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack;
weak, remiss, hang down through fear of mind, and fainting of spirit; and so unfit to meet the enemy, or perform duty; but, on the contrary, pluck up a good heart, be of good courage, fear not the enemy, be vigorous, active, and diligent, in the performance of the service of the Lord, animated by the following considerations:

Zephaniah 3:16 In-Context

14 Sing, Jerusalem. Israel, shout for joy! Jerusalem, be happy and rejoice with all your heart.
15 The Lord has stopped punishing you; he has sent your enemies away. The King of Israel, the Lord, is with you; you will never again be afraid of being harmed.
16 On that day Jerusalem will be told, "Don't be afraid, city of Jerusalem. Don't give up.
17 The Lord your God is with you; the mighty One will save you. He will rejoice over you. You will rest in his love; he will sing and be joyful about you."
18 "I will take away the sadness planned for you, which would have made you very ashamed.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.