Zephaniah
Zep 1:11 Zephaniah
[ par. 1 2 ]
Zep 1:11 [1] Meaning Jah hides, or Jah treasures; Jah being a shortened form of Jehovah. The name probably signifies being hidden by Jehovah as His treasure in the day of His anger (2:3). As the son of Cushi, Zephaniah was a royal descendant who was related to two good kings of Judah, Hezekiah and Josiah.
Zep 1:11 [2] The central thought of this book is that Jehovah is the judging and saving God both to Israel and to the nations, issuing in His reigning among Israel (3:15b) and in Israel’s singing and rejoicing in their restoration (3:14). Jehovah judges Israel as well as the nations, and He saves the nations as well as Israel. His judgment and His salvation are universal. Jehovah’s judgment on Israel and on the nations and His salvation to the Gentiles and to Israel have a particular order: His judgment is first on Israel and then on the nations (cf. 1 Pet. 4:17a), but His salvation is first to the Gentiles and then to Israel (Rom. 11:11, 25-26).
Zep 1:1a Josiah 2 Kings 22:1; 2 Chron. 34:1; Jer. 1:2
Zep 1:3b stumbling Ezek. 7:19; 14:3-4, 7; Matt. 13:41
Zep 1:4a Baal 2 Kings 23:4-5
Zep 1:5a host Jer. 19:13; Acts 7:42
Zep 1:51 Malcam
See note 12 in Jer. 49.
Zep 1:7a silent Hab. 2:20; Zech. 2:13; Rev. 8:1
Zep 1:71b day Isa. 13:6
See note 151 in Joel 1.
Zep 1:72c sacrifice Isa. 34:6; Jer. 46:10; Ezek. 39:17
God had prepared His sinful elect as His sacrifice to offer to the invading army of the Chaldeans (Ezek. 39:19-20; Jer. 25:9), whom He had called and consecrated (sanctified). The Chaldean army, as the locusts (Joel 1:4), would destroy Israel, and this destruction would be their eating of the sacrifice.
Zep 1:73 consecrated
Or, sanctified.
Zep 1:12a settled Jer. 48:11
Zep 1:13a build Deut. 28:30; Amos 5:11
Zep 1:13b vineyards Deut. 28:39
Zep 1:14a great Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11; Acts 2:20; Rev. 6:17; 16:14
Zep 1:15a day Zeph. 1:18; Isa. 22:5; Jer. 30:7
Zep 1:15b darkness Joel 2:2; Mark 13:24
Zep 1:17a blind Deut. 28:29; Isa. 59:10; 2 Pet. 1:9
Zep 1:18a silver Prov. 11:4; Ezek. 7:19; 1 Pet. 1:18
Zep 1:18b fire Deut. 4:24; Psa. 79:5; Ezek. 38:19; Zeph. 3:8; Heb. 10:27
Zep 2:11a Gather Joel 2:16
Verses 1-3 are the prophet’s admonition to the shameless people of Israel to gather themselves together to repent to Jehovah before His burning anger would come upon them.
Zep 2:3a Seek Psa. 105:4; Amos 5:6; Matt. 6:33
Zep 2:4a Gaza Isa. 14:29-32; Jer. 47:4-5; Ezek. 25:15-17; Amos 1:6-8
Zep 2:7a remnant Zeph. 2:9; Isa. 11:11; Micah 4:7; 5:7-8
Zep 2:8a Moab Isa. 15:1–16:14; Jer. 48:1-47; Ezek. 25:8-11; Amos 2:1-3
Zep 2:8b Ammon Jer. 49:1-6; Ezek. 25:1-7; Amos 1:13-15
Zep 2:121a Cushites Isa. 18:1-7; 20:4; Jer. 46:9
I.e., Ethiopians.
Zep 2:13a Assyria Isa. 10:12; Ezek. 31:3, 10-14
Zep 2:13b Nineveh Nahum 1:1; 2:10
Zep 3:11 rebellious
The degradation of Jerusalem mentioned in vv. 1-7 was the cause of God’s coming in to judge, correct, and chastise them.
Zep 3:5a midst Zeph. 3:15, 17; Deut. 32:4
Zep 3:5b brings cf. 1 Cor. 4:5
Zep 3:8a wait Psa. 27:14; 37:34; Prov. 20:22
Zep 3:8b fire Zeph. 1:18; Heb. 10:27
Zep 3:91 pure
The changing of the peoples’ language into a pure language refers to Jehovah’s salvation of the Gentiles in the time of restoration (Matt. 19:28; Acts 3:21). To change a people’s language is to change their culture, for culture is wrapped up with language. The original language of any people is dirty and impure. A people’s language becoming pure indicates that they have been thoroughly saved.
Zep 3:9a language cf. Isa. 19:18; Acts 2:7-11
Zep 3:9b serve Psa. 86:9; Zech. 8:20-23; Acts 2:46
Zep 3:92 accord
Lit., shoulder.
Zep 3:101 Cush
I.e., Ethiopia.
Zep 3:14a ringing Isa. 12:5-6; 54:1; Zech. 2:10; 9:9
Zep 3:151 enemy
Some MSS read, enemies.
Zep 3:152 King
Jehovah’s salvation of Israel is for Christ to be the King of Israel in the restoration. In this salvation Jehovah’s deliverance (vv. 10-13, 15-20) issues in Israel’s singing and rejoicing (v. 14).
Zep 3:15a midst Zeph. 3:5, 17; Ezek. 48:35
Zep 3:153 see
Others read, fear.
Zep 3:17a rejoicing Deut. 30:9; Isa. 62:5; 65:19; Jer. 32:41
Zep 3:181 them
Lit., her.
Zep 3:20a turn Isa. 11:12; 27:12; Jer. 29:14; Ezek. 28:25; Amos 9:14