For all these mercies the church is enjoined to be thankful, and to rejoice, and it is trebled, Sing, shout, and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, Israel, and daughter of Jerusalem: the same persons, the same duty, but differently expressed, but the whole heart required in all. read more
The Lord; who kills and makes alive, acquits or condemns, and none can reverse the judgment. Hath taken away thy judgments; abolished and put an end to thy sufferings, the judgments thy sins brought upon thee; he hath pardoned thy sins and ended thy sorrows. He hath cast out; cast the Babylonian out of the throne, and placed the Persian in it. Thine enemy; the Babylonian who held thee captive; and placed in his room Cyrus mine anointed, and thy friend, who shall let thee go free, Ezra 1:1. The... read more
In that day; the day or time of restitution, when the captivity returned shall be settled in their land. It shall be said; by prophets, or by friends, congratulating them, or by each to other. To Jerusalem; inhabitants of Jerusalem, the place being put for the people. Fear thou not; disquiet not yourselves with fears, though you may apprehend some dangers from Sanballat and Tobiah, &c., though troublous times. as Nehemiah 4:1,Nehemiah 4:2; Daniel 9:25. Let not thine hands be slack, in the... read more
The Lord; the everlasting One, who changeth not. Thy God; thine in covenant, never to be forgotten or repealed. Is mighty; can do all he will, can restrain and destroy enemies, can support and defend his own people. He will save, from thy fears, and thine enemies’ rage. Will rejoice over thee with joy; will greatly rejoice in thee. Will rest in his love; will take content and satisfaction in this his love. The love he showeth to thee shall be rest to him; not thy loveliness, but his own love... read more
CRITICAL NOTES.] Zephaniah 3:9. For] The reason for judgment, lip purity of language, “effusions of devotion,” springing from renewed hearts. Consent] Shoulder; a metaphor from burden-bearers with even shoulders (Jeremiah 32:39); one accord, i.e. unanimity. Zephaniah 3:10. From] most distant countries Jews will be presented to God by converted Gentiles as a meat-offering (cf. Isaiah 66:20). Rejected Israelites will be benefited by Gentiles entering into the kingdom of God. Zephaniah 3:11.... read more
CRITICAL NOTES.] Zephaniah 3:14.] Fulness of joy indicated by repetition of words. Zephaniah 3:15.] The reasons given for exultation. Evil removed, enemies destroyed, full enjoyment of God’s presence. Zephaniah 3:16.] Therefore no cause for fear, but reason for diligence. Slack] Faint not (Hebrews 12:12) through alarm and anxiety (Isaiah 13:7). Zephaniah 3:17.] Jehovah within is mighty to help and save, and rejoices over his rescued people (Isaiah 62:5; Isaiah 65:19). Rest] Be silent in his... read more
Zephaniah 3:17 Those who have ever known that sense of repose too deep for words the thought which feels that, by any expression of itself it would only mar its own intensity would understand the beauty of the fact, that the sentence which we have translated, "He will rest in His love," is more literally still, "He will be silent in His love." For there is rest beyond language, whose very eloquence it is that it cannot choose but to be silent. I. Notice, on what the love of God really lies. It... read more
DISCOURSE: 1230THE POOR LIVING BY FAITHZephaniah 3:12. I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people; and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.THE Lord’s people have in every age been a mere remnant, in comparison of the great mass of mankind. At the time of the deluge they were confined to Noah and his family. In the patriarchal age, from the call of Abraham to the descent of his posterity into Egypt, they were still a very “little flock:” and though they afterwards... read more
DISCOURSE: 1231THE DUTY OF THANKFULNESS FOR GOD’S MERCIESZephaniah 3:14-15. Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.THE prophets are chiefly occupied with reproving the evils which prevailed in their day, and with denouncing, both on Israel and the surrounding... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Zephaniah 3:13
The remnant of Israel, preserved in captivity and dispersion, purified in the furnace of affliction, and now returned to their own land, shall not do iniquity; shall not commit the sins they formerly committed, not provoke God with their abominations as before; it is not a prediction of a sinless, but of a reformed state; they shall be righteous, and taught of God, no more idolaters. Nor speak lies; they shall love truth, and speak truth, or, in a larger sense, shall be honest and upright... read more