Zephaniah 1:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-6

Here is, I. The title-page of this book (Zeph. 1:1), in which we observe, 1. What authority it has, and who gave it that authority; it is from heaven, and not of men: It is the word of the Lord. 2. Who was the instrument of conveying it to the church. His name was Zephaniah, which signifies the servant of the Lord, for God revealed his secrets to his servants the prophets. The pedigree of other prophets, whose extraction we have an account of, goes no further back than their father, except... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1

The word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi ,.... This is the title of the book, which expresses the subject matter of it, the word of the Lord; the word of prophecy from the Lord, as the Targum; and shows the divine authority of it; that it was not of himself, nor from any man, but was of God; as well as describes the penman of it by his descent: who or what this his father was; whether a prophet, according to the rule the Jews give, that, when the name of a prophet and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:1

The word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah - Though this prophet has given us so large a list of his ancestors, yet little concerning him is known, because we know nothing certain relative to the persons of the family whose names are here introduced. We have one chronological note which is of more value for the correct understanding of his prophecy than the other could have been, how circumstantially soever it had been delivered; viz., that he prophesied in the days of Josiah, son of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 1:1

Verse 1 Zephaniah first mentions the time in which he prophesied; it was under the king Josiah. The reason why he puts down the name of his father Amon does not appear to me. The Prophet would not, as a mark of honor, have made public a descent that was disgraceful and infamous. Amon was the son of Manasseh, an impious and wicked king; and he was nothing better than his father. We hence see that his name is recorded, not for the sake of honor, but rather of reproach; and it may have been that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1

§ 1. Title and inscription. The word of the Lord (see note on Micah 1:1 ). Zephaniah, "Whom the Lord shelters" (see Introduction, § II .). The son of, etc. The genealogy thus introduced shows that the prophet was of illustrious descent; or it may be inserted to distinguish him from others who bore the same name. Hizkiah . The same name which is elsewhere written in our version Hezekiah. Whether the great King of Judah is here meant may well be questioned (see Introduction). Other... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-3

I. HIS PEDIGREE . ( Zephaniah 1:1 .) This is the solitary instance in which the lineage of a prophet is traced back in Scripture four generations. The reason would seem to be in order to indicate his relationship to Hezekiah, the pious King of Judah. Note: 1 . The honour connected with a pious ancestry. 2 . The perpetuity of the influence of a good life. II. HIS AUTHORITY . This was not derived from his royal descent, but from his being under the inspiration of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-6

I. MEANING OF HIS NAME . Zephaniah, "One whom Jehovah hides." Hiding in the day of calamity a blessing promised to them that fear Go( Psalms 31:19 , Psalms 31:20 ), who are therefore styled God's hidden ones ( Psalms 83:4 ), and may confidently reckon upon God's extending to them his protecting care in the midst of peril ( Psalms 27:5 ), yea, may even boldly flee unto him to hide them ( Psalms 143:9 ). II. THE DIGNITY OF HIS PERSON . The scion of a kingly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-6

"The word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amen, King of Judah. I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the Lord. I will consume man and beast," etc. Of Zephaniah we have no information but what is contained in his prophecy. His genealogy is given in the first verse of this chapter. He prophesied in the reign of Josiah, probably between the twelfth and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-18

Part I. THE JUDGMENT UPON ALL THE WORLD , AND UPON JUDAH IN PARTICULAR . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 1:1-18

We learn from ver. 1 that Zephaniah received from the Lord his message to Judah in the days of Josiah, the last of the godly and reforming kings, who, after the gross corruption of the preceding reigns of Manasseh and Amon, restored to a large extent the purity of the worship of God, and was the means of bringing about a certain kind and degree of repentance and amendment in the people. Probably, however, the major part of Zephaniah's prophecy belongs to the early part of Josiah's reign,... read more

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