1.
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
Woe = Alas for! See note on "For", Zephaniah 2:4 .
her: i.e. Jerusalem. See the Structure, p. 1272.
filthy = rebellious.
polluted. Hebrew. ga'al, (1) to redeem: (2) to make or deem common or unclean. A Homonym, with two meanings. Not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:4 .
2.
She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
she received not. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "neither hath she accepted".
correction = discipline.
trusted = confided. Hebrew. batah. App-69 . Not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:12 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
she drew not near, &c. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "neither unto her God hath she drawn near".
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
3.
Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
gnaw not: or, reserve not.
4.
Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
light = reckless.
treacherous persons = men (Hebrew. 'enosh, App-14 .) of treacheries; placing the emphasis on the treachery.
polluted = profaned. Hebrew. halal. Not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:1 . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:8 ; Leviticus 21:23 ; Leviticus 22:15 .Numbers 18:32; Numbers 18:32 ). App-92 .
done violence, &c. Compare Jeremiah 2:8 . Ezekiel 22:26 .
5.
The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
in the midst thereof. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 5:3 .Deuteronomy 7:21; Deuteronomy 7:21 ). App-92 . Compare Zephaniah 3:15 .
iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .
every morning = morning by morning. See Psalms 101:8 .
unjust = perverse. Hebrew. 'aval. See App-44 .
6.
I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.
towers. See note on Zephaniah 1:16 .
7.
I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
corrupted, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 6:12 , same word). App-92 .
8.
Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Therefore, &c. The Massorah ( App-30 and App-93 ) calls attention to the fact that this verse (Zephaniah 3:8 ) contains all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, including the five final letters. This implies that the verse takes in the whole purpose of Jehovah concerning Israel.
upon: or, for.
saith the Lord = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
to the prey. Septuagint and Syriac read "as a witness", reading 'ed instead of 'ad. Compare Micah 2:2 .
gather = gather in. Not the same word as in Zephaniah 2:1 .
assemble = gather out.
for all the earth. See Zephaniah 1:18 ; and compare the Structure, p. 1272.
the fire of My jealousy. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:24 ).
9.
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
then: i.e. after all that is implied in Zephaniah 3:8 . Note the order of the blessings in "9, 10": Gentiles first, and Israel after; But in "18-20-", Israel first, and Gentiles after.
people = peoples.
a pure language = a lip purified: i.e. a clean lip in contrast with "unclean" lips (Isaiah 6:5 ).
pure = separated from that which is impure or unclean. Hebrew. barar, as in Ezekiel 20:38 . Isaiah 52:11 .Daniel 11:35 ; Daniel 12:10 . The reference is, to being made fit for the worship of Jehovah, as the next clause shows. Compare Zephaniah 1:4 , Zephaniah 1:5 .
that they may. Some codices, with Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and may".
consent. Hebrew shoulder. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the service rendered by it. It is not the Figure of speech Metaphor as alleged.
10.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
suppliants = worshippers. Hebrew. 'athar. Occurs in this sense nowhere else. From 'ath ar = to burn incense (Ezekiel 8:11 ); hence to pray or worship.
the daughter of My dispersed: i.e. My dispersed People [Israel].
11.
In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
transgressed. Hebrew. pasha' . App-44 .
because of = in.
12.
I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
trust = flee for refuge to. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 . Not the same word as in Zephaniah 3:2 .
the name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
13.
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
for they shall feed, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:5 , Leviticus 26:6 ). App-92 .
14.
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
Sing, &c. Figure of speech Poeonismus. App-6 .
15.
The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
enemy. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "foes" (plural)
in the midst, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:21 ).
see. The Codex Hillel, quoted in the Massorah, ( App-30 and App-93 ) with some codices, three early printed editions (one Rabbinic, marg), Aramaean, and Vulgate, read, "fear"; but other codices, with nine early printed editions, Septuagint (?), and Vulgate, read "see", as in Authorized Version.
evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
16.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
Fear thou not. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:21 ).
be slack = hang down.
17.
The 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.
is mighty; He will save. The Hebrew accents place the chief pause or emphasis on "save", implying not that He will save at some future time, but that He is an ever-present Saviour. Read "Jehovah thy Elohim is in the midst of thee, mighty to save [at all times]". Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 10:17 ).
He will rejoice, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 30:9 ). App-92 .
will rest. Hebrew will be silent. Septuagint reads "will renew thee"
over thee. The Hebrew accent places the emphasis on these two words.
18.
I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
sorrowful for. Supply the Ellipsis = "sorrowful for [the cessation of]".
solemn assembly = appointed season.
a burden. Some codices, with one early printed edition (Rabbinic, margin), Aramaean, and Syriac, read "aburden on thee".
19.
Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 .
undo = deal with.
gather = gather out, bring together what has been dispersed. Hebrew. kabaz, as in Zephaniah 3:20 . Not the same word as in verses: Zep 8:18 , or as in Zephaniah 2:1 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 30:3 , Deuteronomy 30:4 ). App-92 .
I will get them, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 26:19 ).
20.
At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
for I will make you, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 26:19 ). App-92 .
turn back your captivity. Hebrew, plural. Idiom for restoring blessings as aforetime. See note on Deuteronomy 30:3 ,
saith = hath said.