Zephaniah 1:12

Context

1:12 At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps.

I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin,¹

those who think to themselves,²

‘The Lord neither rewards nor punishes.’³

Zephaniah 1:18

Context

1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them

in the day of the Lord’s angry judgment.

The whole earth⁴ will be consumed by his fiery wrath.⁵

Indeed,⁶ he will bring terrifying destruction⁷ on all who live on the earth.”⁸

Zephaniah 3:20

Context

3:20 At that time I will lead you –

at the time I gather you together.⁹

Be sure of this!¹⁰ I will make all the nations of the earth respect and admire you¹¹

when you see me restore you,”¹² says the Lord.

[1:12] ¹tn Heb “who thicken on their sediment.” The imagery comes from wine making, where the wine, if allowed to remain on the sediment too long, will thicken into syrup. The image suggests that the people described here were complacent in their sinful behavior and interpreted the delay in judgment as divine apathy.

[1:12] ²tn Heb “who say in their hearts.”

[1:12] ³tn Heb “The Lord does not do good nor does he do evil.”

[1:18] ⁴tn Or “land” (cf. NEB). This same word also occurs at the end of the present verse.

[1:18] ⁵tn Or “passion”; traditionally, “jealousy.”

[1:18] ⁶tn Or “for.”

[1:18] ⁷tn Heb “complete destruction, even terror, he will make.”

[1:18] ⁸tn It is not certain where the Lord’s words end and the prophet’s words begin. It is possible that Zephaniah begins speaking in the middle of v. 17 or at the beginning of v. 18 (note the third person pronouns referring to the Lord).

[3:20] ⁷tn In this line the second person pronoun is masculine plural, indicating that the exiles are addressed.

[3:20] ⁸tn Or “for.”

[3:20] ⁹tn Heb “I will make you into a name and praise among all the peoples of the earth.” Here the word “name” carries the nuance of “good reputation.”

[3:20] ¹⁰tn Heb “when I restore your fortunes to your eyes.” See the note on the phrase “restore them” in 2:7.