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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zephaniah 3:1

The “woe,” having gone round the pagan nations, again circles round where it began, the “Jerusalem that killed the prophets and stoned those that were sent unto her” Matthew 23:37. Woe upon her, and joy to the holy Jerusalem, the “new Jerusalem Revelation 3:12; Revelation 21:10, the Jerusalem which is from above, the mother of us all,” close this prophecy; both in figure; destruction of her and the whole earth, in time, the emblem of the eternal death; and the love of God, the foretaste of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zephaniah 3:2

She obeyed not the Voice - Of God, by the law or the prophets, teaching her His ways; and when, disobeying, He chastened her, “she received not correction,” and when He increased His chastisements, she, in the declining age of the state and deepening evil, turned not unto Him, as in the time of the judges, nor ceased to do evil.In the Lord she trusted not - But in Assyria or Egypt or her idols. Our practical relation to God is summed up in the four words, “Mis-trust self; trust God.” Man... read more

Albert Barnes

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

The prophet having declared the wickedness of the whole city, rehearses how each in Church and state, the ministers of God in either, who should have corrected the evil, themselves aggravated it. Not enemies, without, destroy her, butHer princes within her - In the very midst of the flock, whom they should in God’s stead “feed with a true heart,” destroy her as they will, having no protection against them. “Her judges are evening wolves” (see Habakkuk 1:8); these who should in the Name of God... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zephaniah 3:4

Her prophets are light - , boiling and bubbling, up, like water boiling over , empty boasters claiming the gift of prophecy, which they have not; “boldly and rashly pouring out what they willed as they willed;” promising good things which shall not be. So they are “her” prophets, to whom they “prophesy smooth things” (see Micah 2:11), “the prophets of this people” not the prophets of God; “treacherous persons” (literally, men of treacheries) wholly given to manifold treacheries against God in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zephaniah 3:1-2

Zephaniah 3:1-2. Wo to her that is filthy (Bishop Newcome reads, rebellious, and the Vulgate, provoking,) and polluted That is, defiled with various crimes; to the oppressing city It is well deserving of our notice, that the oppression of the poor is always ranked by God among those things which are most offensive to him. She obeyed not the voice Namely, of God’s messengers, the prophets. She received not correction Or instruction, as מוסר may be rendered: she did not attend... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zephaniah 3:3-4

Zephaniah 3:3-4. Her princes are roaring lions Are like devouring lions, who roar in the act of seizing their prey. Her judges are evening wolves Like so many beasts of prey. The princes and judges devour the people by injustice and oppression. They gnaw not the bones till the morrow That is, they greedily devour every thing immediately, as soon as they lay hold on it. This expresses very forcibly the violence and oppression of which the great men in Jerusalem were guilty toward the... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Zephaniah 3:1

Woe = Alas for! See note on "For", Zephaniah 2:4 . her: i.e. Jerusalem. See the Structure, p. 1272. filthy = rebellious. polluted. Hebrew. ga'al, (1) to redeem: (2) to make or deem common or unclean. A Homonym, with two meanings. Not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:4 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Zephaniah 3:2

she received not. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "neither hath she accepted". correction = discipline. trusted = confided. Hebrew. batah. App-69 . Not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:12 . the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . she drew not near, &c. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "neither unto her God hath she drawn near". God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . read more

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