Zephaniah 3:9

Zephaniah 3:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him with one accord.

Context of Zephaniah 3:9

7I said, ‘Most certainly you will [reverently] fear Me; Accept correction.’ So Jerusalem’s dwelling will not be cut off In accordance with all that I have appointed concerning her [punishment], But they were eager [even rising early] to make all their deeds corrupt. 8“Therefore [you of the godly remnant of Judah, patiently] wait for Me,” declares the Lord, “[Wait] for the day when I rise up as a witness [against the nations]. For it is My decision and My right to gather the nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All [the heat of] My burning anger; For [in that day] all the earth shall be consumed By the fire of My zeal. Then I will give to the peoples [clear and pure speech from] purified lips [which reflect their purified hearts], That all of them may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder (united). 10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, [the descendants of] My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings. 11On that day you [Israel] will feel no shame Because of all your acts By which you have rebelled and sinned against Me; Then I will remove from among you Your rejoicing ones who delight in their pride; And you will never again behave arrogantly On My holy mountain [Mount Zion].

Zephaniah 3:9 word by word

כִּֽי־אָ֛ז אֶהְפֹּ֥ךְ אֶל־עַמִּ֖ים שָׂפָ֣ה בְרוּרָ֑ה לִקְרֹ֤א כֻלָּם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה לְעָבְד֖וֹ שְׁכֶ֥ם אֶחָֽד׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For then will I turnהָפַךְhâphak · to overturnH2015
• to the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• a pureבָּרַרbârar · to purifyH1305
• languageשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lip: wordsH8193
• that they may all callקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• upon the nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• to serveעָבַד‛âbad · to serve: ministerH5647
• him with oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• consentשְׁכֶםshekem · shoulderH7926

Cross-references for Zephaniah 3:9

• Isaiah 19:18In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of [the Hebrews of] Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One [of them] will be called the City of Destruction.
• Matthew 12:35The good man, from his [inner] good treasure, brings out good things; and the evil man, from his [inner] evil treasure, brings out evil things.
• Ephesians 4:29Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].
• Genesis 11:1Now the whole earth spoke one language and used the same words (vocabulary).
• 1 Kings 8:41“Moreover, concerning a foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, but comes from a far (distant) country for the sake of Your name [to plead with You]
• Psalms 22:27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will bow down and worship before You,
• Psalms 86:9All nations whom You have made shall come and kneel down in worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name.
• Psalms 113:3From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the Lord is to be praised [with awe-inspired reverence].
• Jeremiah 16:19[Then said Jeremiah] “O Lord, my Strength and my Stronghold, And my Refuge in the day of distress and need, The nations will come to You From the ends of the earth and say, ‘Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies and illusion, [Worthless] things in which there is no benefit!’
• Habakkuk 2:14But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.
• Zechariah 2:11“Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day and shall be My people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.
• Zechariah 8:20“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘It will come to pass that peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will come [to Jerusalem].
• Zechariah 14:9And the Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord shall be the only one [worshiped], and His name the only one.
• Acts 2:4And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].
• Romans 15:6so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Revelation 11:15Then the seventh angel sounded [his trumpet]; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom (dominion, rule) of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”

Commentaries on Zephaniah 3:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Will I turn to the people - This promise must refer to the conversion of the Jews under the Gospel. That they may all call - That the whole nation may invoke God by Christ, and serve him with one consent; not one unbeliever being found among them. The pure language, ברורה שפה saphah berurah, may here mean the form of religious worship. They had been before idolaters: now God promises to restore his pure worship among them. The word has certainly this…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9For then - In the order of God‘s mercies. The deliverance from Babylon was the forerunner of that of the Gospel, which was its object. The spread of the Gospel then is spoken of in the connection of God‘s Providence and plan, and time is overlooked. Its blessings are spoken of, as “then” given when the earnest was given, and the people, from whom according to the flesh Christ was to be born, were placed anew in the land where He was to be born. Lap.: “The…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 The preaching of the gospel is predicted, when vengeance would be executed on the Jewish nation. The purifying doctrines of the gospel, or the pure language of the grace of the Lord, would teach men to use the language of humility, repentance, and faith. Purity and piety in common conversation is good. The pure and happy state of the church in the latter days seems intended. The Lord will shut out boasting, and leave men nothing to glory in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9God plans for the blessings promised to the faithful remnant in Zephaniah 3:9–13 to reach people from every nation. Not just Israel, but all people will transform, call on the Lord (see Isaiah 55:5), and serve him (see Isaiah 59:19–21; Zechariah 14:16). Spreading the good news to all nations helped fulfill this vision (Matthew 28:19–20; Romans 10:9–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. For--The blessed things promised in this and Zep 3:10 are the immediate results of the punishment inflicted on the nations, mentioned in Zep 3:8 (compare Zep 3:19). turn to the people a pure language--that is, changing their impure language I will give to them again a pure language (literally, "lip"). Compare for this Hebrew idiom, 1Sa 10:9, Margin. The confusion of languages was of the penalty sin, probably idolatry at Babel (Ge 11:1-6, Margin, where…Read the comment

Topics related to Zephaniah 3:9

• Church

In the dictionaries

• Pride
• Zephaniah, Book of
• Ethiopia, Ethiopian

Commentaries on Zephaniah 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings