Zephaniah 3:4-20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-7

One would wonder that Jerusalem, the holy city, where God was known, and his name was great, should be the city of which this black character is here given, that a place which enjoyed such abundance of the means of grace should become so very corrupt and vicious, and that God should permit it to be so; yet so it is, to show that the law made nothing perfect; but if this be the true character of Jerusalem, as no doubt it is (for God's judgments will make none worse than they are), it is no... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 3:8-13

Things looked very bad with Jerusalem in the Zeph. 3:1-7; she has got into a very bad name, and seems to be incorrigible, incurable, mercy-proof and judgment-proof. Now one would think it should follow, Therefore expect no other but that she should be utterly abandoned and rejected as reprobate silver; since they will not be wrought upon by prophets or providences, let them be made a desolation as their neighbours have been. But behold and wonder at the riches of divine grace, which takes... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 3:14-20

After the promises of the taking away of sin, here follow promises of the taking away of trouble; for when the cause is removed the effect will cease. What makes a people holy will make them happy of course. The precious promises here made to the purified people were to have their full accomplishment in the comforts of the gospel, in the hope, and much more in the enjoyment, of which, they are here called upon, 1. To rejoice and sing (Zeph. 3:14): Sing, O daughter of Zion! sing for joy; Shout,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:4

Her prophets are light and treacherous persons ,.... The false prophets, as the Targum and Kimchi explain it: these seem to design the lawyers spoken of in the New Testament, whose business it was to interpret the law to the people; these were "light" men, good for nothing, of no worth and value; light in knowledge, as Kimchi gives the sense of the word; men of no brains; empty headed men, that had no substantial knowledge; giddy, unstable, and inconstant, and compliant with the humours... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:5

The just Lord is in the midst thereof ,.... In the midst of the city of Jerusalem, where those princes, judges, prophets and priests, were, that behaved so ill, and saw and observed all their evil actions; and yet they were not deterred from them by his presence, even though he is the "just" and Holy One, who loves righteousness, and hates iniquity, and will punish for it; nor were they directed and allured to do what is righteous and good by his example. This character of the just Lord... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:6

I have cut off the nations ,.... Utterly destroyed them, as the Philistines, Moabites, Ethiopians, and Assyrians, as in the preceding chapters; all which were done before the coming of Christ in the flesh; and by which instances the Jews should have took warning, lest by their sins they should provoke the Lord to destroy their nation, city, and temple: their towers are desolate ; built on their frontiers, or on the walls of their cities, to defend them; these were demolished, and laid... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:7

I said, Surely thou wilt fear me ,.... This is spoken after the manner of men; as if God should say within himself, and reason in his own mind, upon a view of things, surely the people of the Jews will take notice of my judgments executed on other nations, and will stand in awe of me on account of them; and fear to offend me, lest the same calamities should come upon them; this, humanly speaking, might be reasonably thought would be the case: thou wilt receive instruction ; by these... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:8

Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord ,.... Or "nevertheless" F6 לכן , as in Hos. ii. 14. See Noldius. : this is said to the disciples and followers of Christ among the Jews; for there were some few that did fear the Lord, and received his doctrine, and submitted to his ordinances, and walked in his ways; and these are encouraged to wait upon the Lord; upon the Word of the Lord, as the Targum; or for him, and to expect that he would appear, and work salvation and deliverance for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:9

For then will I turn to the people a pure language ,.... That is, at or about the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; when the Jews, both in their own land, and in the Gentile world, would have the Gospel first preached to them, but would reject it; upon which the apostles and first ministers of the word would turn to the Gentiles, as the Lord commanded them; when he would turn or change his speech and language towards them, and their speech and language towards him would be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:10

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia ,.... Either the African Ethiopia, or Arabia Chusea, which lay between Judea and Egypt: here some particular places and people are mentioned, in whom the preceding prophecy would be fulfilled. If these rivers of Ethiopia are such as ran in the midst of the country, and so point at some parts of it, though on the other side of them, then this prophecy might have its accomplishment, at least when the Evangelist Matthew went thither, and preached the Gospel,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 3:8-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 3:14-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 3:10

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