Zephaniah 3

Zephaniah 3 is the third (and last) chapter of the Book of Zephaniah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.^[1][2] This book contains the prophecies spoken by the prophet Zephaniah, and is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets.^[3][4]

Text

• The original text is written in Hebrew language.
• This chapter is divided into 20 verses.

Textual versions

Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter in Hebrew language:

• Masoretic Text (10th century)
• Dead Sea Scrolls: (2nd century BC)^[5]
  • 4Q77 (4QXII^b): extant: verses 19‑20^[5]
  • 4Q78 (4QXII^c): extant: verses 2^[5]
  • 4Q82 (4QXII^g): extant: verses 3‑5^[5]
  • Naḥal Ḥever (8ḤevXII^gr): extant: verses 6‑7^[5]
  • Wadi Murabba’at Minor Prophets (MurXII): extant: verses 1‑6, 8‑20^[5]

Ancient translations in Koine Greek:

• Septuagint (3rd century BC)
• Theodotion version (~AD 180)

Structure

This chapter can be grouped (with cross references to other parts of the Bible):

• Zephaniah 3:1-7 = The Wickedness of Jerusalem
• Zephaniah 3:8-13 = A Faithful Remnant
• Zephaniah 3:14-20 = Joy in God’s Faithfulness

Verse 16

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

“Do not fear;

Zion, let not your hands be weak.^[6]

• "Let not your hands be weak" - "Let not thine hands be slack" (KJV) — cited (paraphrased) in Hebrews 12:12).

Verse 17

The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.”^[7]

• "The Mighty One, will save" is translated from Hebrew: גבור יושיע gib-bōr yō-shî-a‘. The word "gibbor" (= "mighty"), here as an attribute of God, is used in Isaiah 9:6 as one of the attributes of Messiah, who "has all power in heaven and earth"; whereas the word "yoshia" has the same root verb "yasha" (="to save") as "Jesus" (="he saves" or "savior"), for Jesus Christ, who will be in the midst of His people, and at the head of them, will save them from the enemies (evil ones); to which salvation this passage has chiefly a respect.^[8]

See also

• Ethiopia
• Jerusalem
• Judah
• Zion
• Related Bible parts: Deuteronomy 32, Jeremiah 29, Hebrews 12

References

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Zephaniah

Look up Zephaniah in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Jewish translations:
  • Zephaniah (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Zephaniah public domain audiobook at LibriVox Various versions