Zephaniah 3:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:8

Therefore . Because of the outrage done to God's "long suffering," he must needs punish. Wait ye upon me; wait ye for me. The exhortation is addressed to the pious among the Jews, as in Zephaniah 2:3 , and is used in a good sense ( Psalms 33:20 ; Isaiah 8:17 ), urging them not to despair, but to be patient under the affliction, in the assured hope of salvation. The same expression is used in Habakkuk 2:3 . I rise up to the prey. This is a phrase denoting effort and the effecting of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:9

Will I turn to the people ( peoples ) a pure language ( lip ) . When his judgments have done their work, God will bring the heathen to the knowledge of him. He will purify their lips, which have been polluted with the names of idols and the worship offered to false gods ( Psalms 16:4 ; Hosea 2:17 ); the confusion of Babel shall be done away, and all shall speak the language of faith in one God. This, of course, points to Messianic times. For "pure lip," the Vulgate has, labium... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:9-10

§ 1. The heathen shall be converted, and shall help in the restoration of Israel. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:9-20

Part III . PROMISE OF THE CONVERSION OF THE WORLD AND THE HAPPINESS OF ISRAEL . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:9-20

Very remarkable is the way in which the most gracious promises are in this book interwoven, and, as it were, wrapped up in threatenings of judgment. This appears in Zephaniah 2:11 , where it is declared that the Lord shall be terrible to the nations that magnified themselves against his people, and shall famish all the gods of the earth, so depriving these nations of their fancied support and confidence; and then it is added that men shall worship him every one from his place, even all the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zephaniah 3:8

Therefore wait ye upon - (for) Me God so willeth not to punish, but that all should lay hold of His mercy, that He doth not here even name punishment. Judah had slighted His mercies; He was ready to forgive all they had sinned, if they would “now” receive instruction; they in return set themselves to corrupt “all” their doings. They had wholly forsaken Him. “Therefore” - we should have expected, as elsewhere, “Therefore I will visit all your iniquities upon you.” But not so. The chastisement is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zephaniah 3:9

For then - In the order of God’s mercies. The deliverance from Babylon was the forerunner of that of the Gospel, which was its object. The spread of the Gospel then is spoken of in the connection of God’s Providence and plan, and time is overlooked. Its blessings are spoken of, as “then” given when the earnest was given, and the people, from whom according to the flesh Christ was to be born, were placed anew in the land where He was to be born. Lap.: “The prophet springs, as is his wont, to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zephaniah 3:8

Zephaniah 3:8. Therefore Rather, Nevertheless, wait ye upon me, saith the Lord “Notwithstanding these provocations, saith God, I exhort the godly among you to expect the fulfilment of the promises I have made, of restoring the Jewish nation to my wonted favour in the latter ages of the world: in order to which great crisis, I will execute remarkable judgments upon the unbelievers and disobedient.” Thus Lowth. It is very common with the prophets to subjoin the most comfortable promises to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zephaniah 3:9

Zephaniah 3:9. For then Or, afterward, as the particle אז seems to signify here, will I turn, or restore, to the people a pure language I will turn them from their idolatries, and other wickedness, (see Zephaniah 3:13,) to glorify me with one mind and one mouth. The same thing is expressed by speaking the language of Canaan, Isaiah 19:18. This promise seems primarily to respect the Jewish captives in Babylon, and to imply that God would, by the captivity, and other methods of his... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-8

More sins of Jerusalem (3:1-8)Zephaniah now returns to consider further the sins of Jerusalem. Injustice and oppression are widespread, and people who are guilty of such evils take no notice of the prophet’s rebukes (3:1-2). Officials and judges are corrupt. More savage than lions and greedier than wolves, they favour only those who pay them well. Religious leaders are just as bad, and use their position to gain benefits for themselves (3-4).Daily, God has showed the people what is right, but... read more

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