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, ‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction.’ Then her dwelling place would not be cut off despite all for which I punished her. But they rose early to corrupt all their deeds. 8Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation— all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy. For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder. 10From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers, My scattered people, will bring Me an offering. 11On that day you will not be put to shame for any of the deeds by which you have transgressed against Me. For then I will remove from among you those who rejoice in their pride, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain.

Zephaniah 3:9 word by word

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

• Forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• thenאָז'âz · thenH227
• I will restoreהָפַךְhâphak · to overturnH2015
• pureבָּרַרbârar · to purifyH1305
• lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lip: wordsH8193
• toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• the peoplesעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• that allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• may callקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• upon the nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• of the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• and serve Himעָבַד‛âbad · to serve: ministerH5647
• shoulderשְׁכֶםshekem · shoulderH7926
• to shoulderאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259

Cross-references for Zephaniah 3:9

• Isaiah 19:18In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.
• Matthew 12:35The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
• Ephesians 4:29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
• Genesis 11:1Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech.
• 1 Kings 8:41And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name—
• Psalms 22:27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
• Psalms 86:9All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.
• Psalms 113:3From where the sun rises to where it sets, the name of the LORD is praised.
• Jeremiah 16:19O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all.
• Habakkuk 2:14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
• Zechariah 2:11“On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.
• Zechariah 8:20This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come—the residents of many cities—
• Zechariah 14:9On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.
• Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
• Romans 15:6so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Revelation 11:15Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom 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