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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE PROPHET ZEPHANIAH

CHAPTER THREE:
JERUSALEM’S REMNANT

Zephaniah 3:1-5 – Woe upon Jerusalem

ZP3:1 Woe to she who is dirty and polluting herself! That tyrannical city! 30

30	Tyrannical city: That great city Babylon the Great of Revelation 11:7-13; 18:1-24.

ZP3:2 She listened not to a single voice. She did not accept any correction. She did not trust in Y^eH^oW^aH. She refused to draw near to her God. ZP3:3 Her royalty 31 within her behaved like roaring lions. Her judges were ravenous wolves 32 who did not have to gnaw one bone throughout the night.

31	Royalty: The clergy of Christendom throughout the Gospel Age. [Compare Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-11]

32	Ravenous wolves: Compare notes on Acts 20:29, 30.

ZP3:4 Her prophets 33 were contemptuous – men of betrayal. Her priests desecrated anything sacred. They violated the Law.

33	Prophets: Like those of Luke 21:8. Those who predicted dates and claimed “The time is at hand!”

ZP3:5 The Just One, Y^eH^oW^aH, was within her. He would do nothing unjust. Day after day he continued to provide enlightening and judicious reasoning. However, the lawless knew no shame.

Zephaniah 3:6, 7 – Jerusalem Punished

ZP3:6 “I have cut off entire nations. 34 Their watchtowers are deserted. I wrecked their streets so that no one traveled through. Their cities were ruined without anyone important, with no inhabitants at all.

34	I have cut off entire nations: As an example to Jerusalem, God has destroyed other nations, and He hopes Jerusalem will respond to her own discipline.

ZP3:7 I said, ‘Surely you will show reverence to Me – You will accept correction – so that her abode not be cut off. 35 However, I punished her. But in reality they were quick to deal destructively. 36

35	Her abode not be cut off: That is Babylon the Great [= an apostate Jerusalem]. Compare Revelation 11:7-13; Revelation chapter 18.

36	Quick to deal destructively: Evidenced by the historical Church through the Gospel Age. [Revelation 18:24]

Zephaniah 3:8, 9 – Earth Consumed

ZP3:8 “‘So, continue to wait on Me,’ is the pronouncement of Y^eH^oW^aH, ‘until the day I rise as a Testimony. 37 Because My lawful judgment is to assemble nations 38 – to gather kingdoms – to pour out on them my righteous indignation, all my inflamed rage. For by the fire of my jealousy the entire earth will be consumed.

37	Rise as a Testimony: Or, JPS: arise as an accuser; KJV: rise up to the prey; LXX: rise up for a witness

38	Assemble nations: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Revelation 16:14, 16. To Armageddon.

ZP3:9 For a certainty I will then give unto the peoples 39 a purified speech 40 so that they will all call upon the name of Y^eH^oW^aH 41 with one consent.’ 42

39	The peoples: Likely that “remnant” of Revelation 12:17. Compare their speech at Zephaniah 3:13 and Revelation 14:5.

40	A purified speech: Or, RHM: lips made pure; NJB: purge the lips of the peoples; KJV: a pure language; JPS: make the peoples pure of speech. Likely the same as Zephaniah 3:13.

41	Call upon the name of YeHoWaH: The remnant of Israel [Revelation 7:4; 12:17] will be characterized by their use and familiarity with the Divine Name – Yehowah. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 6:9. [Compare Revelation 15:1-4.]

42	With one consent: Or, JPS: one accord; NJB: shoulder to shoulder; LXX: serve Him under one yoke. This is a unified people.

Zephaniah 3:10-13 – A Truthful Remnant

ZP3:10 “From the Ethiopian river delta those entreating me – the daughter of my scattered ones – will bear a gift for me. ZP3:11 In that day, you [Woman], 43 will you pale in embarrassment because of your transgressions against Me? For at that time I will remove from among you 44 your arrogantly proud. Never again will you behave haughtily in my holy mountain.

43	You [Woman]: That is Babylon the Great. [Revelation 18]

44	Remove from among you: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 13:40-42.

ZP3:12 So for a certainty I will let remain in you a people oppressed and poor. 45 They will, indeed, take refuge in the name of Y^eH^oW^aH.

45	Oppressed and poor: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Daniel 7:21, 25.

ZP3:13 As for the remnant of Israel 46 they will do no unrighteousness, nor speak falsehood; neither will there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. [Revelation 14:5] For a certainty they will feed and lie down 47 with no one making them afraid.”

46

The remnant of Israel: This verse is alluded to word for word at Revelation 14:5. [For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Revelation 14:5] Therefore, our Lord Jesus, from whom the Revelation comes to his slaves, we have something of an inspired interpretation of this portion of Zephaniah. This supports the prophetic truth that the 144,000 are the remnant of Israel, and not all of the new Israel of God. [Galatians 6:16; Romans 9:6] The 144,000 are out of a larger body – the Church of Christ, the spiritual Israel. [Revelation 7:4] They are the “remnant” of the heavenly Jerusalem. [Revelation 12:17] This group of end-time Saints speak no doctrinal falsehood and are characterized by a guileless and honest mouth with no hidden agendas of deception. This remnant is described in Zephaniah 3:12 as an oppressed and poor people. They are “oppressed” because of the three and a half years of persecution foretold by Daniel 7:21, 25 and Revelation 13:5, 7. The Lord will come and rescue them when he gathers or raptures them off the earth. [Zephaniah 3:17-20; Matthew 24:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2] The latter part of verse 13 – “they will feed and lie down” is echoed by Revelation 7:17.

47	They will feed and lie down: As in Revelation 7:17. [Isaiah 49:10]

Zephaniah 3:14-17 – God’s Joy over the Remnant

ZP3:14 Sing joyfully, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O Israel! 48 Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 49

48	Israel: That new “Israel of God” with its “twelve tribes.” [Galatians 6:16; Revelation 7:4]

49	Daughter of Jerusalem: That remnant on earth at Revelation 12:17.

ZP3:15 Y^eH^oW^aH has removed the judgment against you. 50 He has routed your enemy. 51 Y^eH^oW^aH, the King 52 of Israel, is among you. You will never fear calamity again.

50	Removed the judgment against you: As in Daniel 7:22.

51	Enemy: As in those within Babylon the Great. [Revelation 11:12, 13]

52	King: Compare Revelation 11:15-17.

ZP3:16 It that day it will be said in Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion! Do not let your shoulders droop! 53

53	Do not let your shoulders droop: Compare Luke 21:28.

ZP3:17 Y^eH^oW^aH your God is in your midst. Like a Mighty One He will rescue. 54 He will be jubilant over you with rejoicing. He will quietly renew His love 55 for you. He will delight over you with cries of joy.

54	Rescue: Compare Daniel 12:1 with 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Revelation 7:14; 11:12, 13.

55	He will quietly renew His love: Or, NJB: he will renew you by his love; RHM: silent in his love; LXX: refresh you with his love.

Zephaniah 3:18-20 – Gathering the Remnant

ZP3:18 “Those in grief because of missing appointed meetings I will gather together. 56 They were absent from you, Jerusalem, 57 because of bearing your reproach.

56	Gather together: Compare the gathering of the Saints at Matthew 24:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2; Revelation 11:12, 13.

57	Absent from you, Jerusalem: That is absent from the celestial Jerusalem. [Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22, 23; Revelation 3:12; 12:17; 21:3; 22:3, 4]

ZP3:19 Now I am reacting against everyone who oppressed you. 58 I will rescue her that was lame, and her that was scattered I will gather together. I will establish them as something to praise with a famous reputation in the land 59 that witnessed their shame.

58	Oppressed you: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Daniel 7:21, 25; Matthew 24:21, 22; Revelation 7:14; 11:2, 3.

59	The land: Babylon the Great. [Revelation 11:12, 13; 18:4]

ZP3:20 At that time I will guide all of you people, 60 at the very moment of My collecting all of you together. For I will cause all of you people to become famous and something to praise among all earth’s peoples when I regather your captives before your very eyes,” 61 says Y^eH^oW^aH.

60	I will guide all of you people: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Revelation 7:16, 17.

61	Before your very eyes: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Revelation 7:15, 16.

Review Questions on Chapter Three