Zephaniah 3:9

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 3:9

Will I turn to the people - This promise must refer to the conversion of the Jews under the Gospel. That they may all call - That the whole nation may invoke God by Christ, and serve him with one consent; not one unbeliever being found among them. The pure language, ברורה שפה saphah berurah , may here mean the form of religious worship. They had been before idolaters: now God promises to restore his pure worship among them. The word has certainly this meaning in Psalm 81:6 ;... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 3:9

Verse 9 The Prophet now mitigates the asperity of his doctrine, which might have greatly terrified the godly; nay, it might have wholly disheartened them, had no consolation been applied. God then moderates here what he had previously threatened; for if the Prophet had only said this—My purpose is to gather all the nations, and thus the whole earth shall be devoured by the fire of indignation, what could the faithful have concluded but that they were to perish with the rest of the world? It was... 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 3:9

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 3:9

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

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