Zephaniah 3:9-13

The Conversion of the Nations

9 "For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to 1a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.
10 2From beyond the rivers 3of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.
11 4"On that day 5you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then 6I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and 7you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.
12 But I will leave in your midst a people 8humble and lowly. 9They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD,
13 10those who are left in Israel; they 11shall do no injustice and speak no lies, 12nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. 13For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid."

Zephaniah 3:9-13 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 13

  • 1. Isaiah 19:18
  • 2. Psalms 68:31; Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 60:4
  • 3. [Zephaniah 2:12]
  • 4. Isaiah 2:11
  • 5. [Isaiah 54:4]
  • 6. [Malachi 4:1]
  • 7. Jeremiah 7:4; [Matthew 3:9]
  • 8. Isaiah 14:32; [Matthew 5:3]
  • 9. [ver. 2]
  • 10. [Zephaniah 2:7]
  • 11. Isaiah 60:21
  • 12. [Revelation 14:5]
  • 13. See Micah 5:4
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.