Zephaniah 2:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-3

Here we see what the prophet meant in that terrible description of the approaching judgments which we had in the foregoing chapter. From first to last his design was, not to drive the people to despair, but to drive them to God and to their duty?not to frighten them out of their wits, but to frighten them out of their sins. In pursuance of that he here calls them to repentance, national repentance, as the only way to prevent national ruin. Observe, I. The summons given them to a national... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1

Gather yourselves together ,.... This is said to the people of the Jews in general; that whereas the judgments of God were coming upon them, as predicted in the preceding chapter Zephaniah 1:1 , it was high time for them to get together, and consider what was to be done at such a juncture; it was right to call a solemn assembly, to gather the people, priests, and elders, together, to some one place, as Joel directs, Joel 1:14 the inhabitants of Jerusalem to the temple, and the people of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:2

Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff ,.... Which was like a woman big with child, ready to be delivered. The decree of God concerning the people of the Jews was pregnant with wrath and ruin for their sins, and just ripe for execution; and therefore, before it was actually executed, they are exhorted as above; not that the decree of God which was gone forth could be frustrated and made void by anything done by them; only that, when it was put into execution, such... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zephaniah 2:3

Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth ,.... Or "of the land", of the land of Judea. In this time of great apostasy, there was a remnant according to the election of grace, whom the Lord reserved for himself, and bestowed his grace upon; and it is for the sake of these that the general exhortations to repentance and reformation are given out, to whom alone they were to be useful, that they might be protected and preserved from the general ruin; for such as are here described are persons... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

Gather yourselves - Others, sift yourselves. Separate the chaff from the wheat, before the judgments of God fall upon you. O nation not desired - unlovely, not delighted in; hated because of your sin. The Israelites are addressed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:3

Ye meek of the earth - ענוי anavey , ye oppressed and humbled of the land. It may be ye shall be hid - The sword has not a commission against you. Ask God, and he will be a refuge to you from the storm and from the tempest. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:1

Verse 1 The Prophet, after having spoken of God’s wrath, and shown how terrible it would be, and also how near, now exhorts the Jews to repentance, and thus mitigates the severity of his former doctrine, provided their minds were teachable. We hence learn that God fulminates in his word against men, that he may withhold his hand from them. The more severe, then, God is, when he chastises us and makes known our sins, and sets before us his wrath, the more clearly he testifies how precious and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 2:3

Verse 3 Here the Prophet turns his discourse to a small number, for he saw that he could produce no effect on the promiscuous multitude. For had his doctrine been addressed in common to the whole people, there were very few who would have attended. We would therefore have been discouraged had he not believed that some seed remained among the people, and that the office of teaching and exhorting had not been in vain committed to him by God. But he shows at the same time that the greater part... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1

Gather yourselves together . So the versions; and this rendering is probably correct. The prophet calls upon his nation to assemble themselves together in order to take mutual counsel or to make general confession and supplication to God. Another rendering, based on some alteration of letters, is, "Set yourselves to be ashamed; yea, be ashamed" (comp. Isaiah 46:8 ). Yea, gather together. The LXX . renders the two words, συνάχθητε καὶ συνδέθητε , "be ye gathered and bound... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 2:1-2

Having declared fully and faithfully the Divine judgments, the prophet changed his tone, and, turning, to another aspect of truth and blending compassion with severity, he tenderly entreated those who had become so estranged from God to return to him with all their hearts. This is how he appeals to his godless fellow countrymen. "Gather yourselves," etc. ( Zephaniah 2:1 , Zephaniah 2:2 ). Notice — I. THE HARDENING EFFECT OF SIN . Evil hardens those who indulge in it, even as... read more

Group of Brands