Zephaniah

About Zephaniah

Zephaniah warns that the great Day of the LORD is coming, a day of judgment on Judah's idolatry and on the proud nations around her. Yet the book does not end in darkness: God promises to preserve a humble remnant and, in one of the warmest scenes in the prophets, to rejoice over His restored people with singing. In the Bible's story, Zephaniah gathers up the themes of judgment and hope and points ahead to a purified people from every nation who call on the LORD together.

Written by

The book names Zephaniah as its author and traces his family line back four generations to Hezekiah, likely the king of Judah.

When

Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of King Josiah, around 640 to 609 BC, probably before Josiah's reforms took full effect.

Themes

• The Day of the LORD
• Judgment on pride and idolatry
• A humble remnant
• God rejoicing over His people

Key verses

• Zephaniah 1:14The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
• Zephaniah 2:3Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.
• Zephaniah 3:17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.