Zephaniah 3:5 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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 3:5

The just Lord is in the midst thereof - He sees, marks down, and will punish all these wickednesses. Every morning doth he bring his judgment to light - The sense is, says Bp. Newcome, "Not a day passes but we see instances of his goodness to righteous men, and of his vengeance on the wicked." read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 3:5

Verse 5 Here the Prophet throws back against hypocrites what they were wont to pretend, when they sought wickedly to reject every instruction and all warnings; for they said, that God dwelt in the midst of them, like the Papists at the present day, who raise up this as their shield against us,—that the Church is the pillar of the truth. Hence they think that all their wicked deeds are defended by this covering. So the Jews at that time had this boast ever on their lips,—We are notwithstanding... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-5

§ 6. The prophet turns to Jerusalem, and warns her that, if God punishes the heathen, he will not spare the hardened sinners in Judah. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-5

"Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God," etc. "To give still greater emphasis to his exhortation to repentance, the prophet turns to Jerusalem again, that he may once more hold up before the hardened sinners the abominations of this city in which Jehovah daily proclaims his right, and shows the necessity for the judgment, as the only way that is left by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-8

Having taken a mental survey of the surrounding heathen nations, the seer returns again in thought to his own people. It was, indeed, in their interest that he had been led to take this wide review of God's dealings with men. He desired to make very real to them the Divine law that sin cannot go unpunished, and that national guilt must inevitably be followed by chastisement; yea, more, that if this law operated in heathen lands, much more might they expect to come under it who had enjoyed the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-8

Zephaniah 3:1-8 . - Jerusalem the rebellious and polluted; or, the wickedness and woe of a degenerate city. I. THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF HER SINS . 1 . Rebellion. This, marking her attitude towards God, is amplified and detailed as consisting in four transgressions. 2 . Pollution. This declares what the city was in herself. The completeness of her defilement discovered itself in the wickedness of all classes of her population, but more especially of her... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:5

In the midst of this congregation of sinners God is continually manifesting his righteousness; he leaves not himself without witness; and therefore their iniquities are without excuse. The just Lord is in the midst thereof; or, the Lord in the midst of her is righteous ( Deuteronomy 32:4 ). His presence was associated with the temple; his moral government was always being manifested. He would not be "just" if he left sinners unpunished. Every morning; Hebrew," in the morning, in the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zephaniah 3:5

But, beside these “evening wolves in the midst of her,” there standeth Another “in the midst of her,” whom they knew not, and so, very near to them although they would not draw near to Him. But He was near, to behold all the iniquities which they did in the very city and place called by His Name and in His very presence; He was in her to protect, foster her with a father’s love, but she, presuming on His mercy, had cast it off. And so He was near to punish, not to deliver; as a Judge, not as a... read more

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 3:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zephaniah 3:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Zephaniah 3:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zephaniah 3:5

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