Who Is the Prophet Zephaniah in the Bible?
Who Is the Prophet Zephaniah in the Bible? Zephaniah warned of a coming 'day of the LORD' of universal judgment but also promised that God would rejoice over a restored remnant with singing.
Key verse: Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)
Zephaniah warned of a coming 'day of the LORD' of universal judgment but also promised that God would rejoice over a restored remnant with singing.
Zephaniah warned of a coming 'day of the LORD' of universal judgment but also promised that God would rejoice over a restored remnant with singing.
"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." — Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
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The Biblical Answer
Zephaniah prophesied during King Josiah's reign, before Josiah's great reforms. He warned of sweeping judgment coming on Judah and the surrounding nations for idolatry and complacency, describing the 'day of the LORD' in terrifying terms: 'a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress' (Zephaniah 1:15). Yet the book ends with one of the most tender passages in all of Scripture: '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' (3:17). Zephaniah balances severe warning with extraordinary hope.
Key Scripture References
"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."
"That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
Who Are the Minor Prophets in the Bible?
The twelve Minor Prophets—Hosea through Malachi—are called 'minor' not because of lesser importance but because of the shorter length of their books.
What Is the Day of the Lord?
The Day of the Lord refers to a future time when God will intervene dramatically in human history to judge the wicked and deliver the righteous.
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Who Was Moses?
Moses was the great deliverer and lawgiver of Israel who led the Exodus from Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Zephaniah. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Zephaniah on day 212 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “Who Is the Prophet Zephaniah in the Bible?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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