New English Translation
Zephaniah 3:16
16On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion! Your hands must not be paralyzed from panic!
Zephaniah 3:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
- New International Version (NIV)On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
- English Standard Version (ESV)On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
- New King James Version (NKJV)In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.
Context of Zephaniah 3:16
14Shout for joy, Daughter Zion! Shout out, Israel! Be happy and boast with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15The Lord has removed the judgment against you; he has turned back your enemy. Israel’s king, the Lord, is in your midst! You no longer need to fear disaster. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion! Your hands must not be paralyzed from panic! 17The Lord your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.” 18“As for those who grieve because they cannot attend the festivals – I took them away from you; they became tribute and were a source of shame to you.
Read all of Zephaniah 3Zephaniah 3:16 word by word
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא יֵאָמֵ֥ר לִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אַל־תִּירָ֑אִי צִיּ֖וֹן אַל־יִרְפּ֥וּ יָדָֽיִךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Zephaniah 3:16
- Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the hands that have gone limp, steady the knees that shake!
- Isaiah 40:9Go up on a high mountain, O herald Zion! Shout out loudly, O herald Jerusalem! Shout, don’t be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”
- Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you – yes, I help you – yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!
- Isaiah 43:1Now, this is what the Lord says, the one who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: “Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you. I call you by name, you are mine.
- Isaiah 44:2This is what the Lord, the one who made you, says – the one who formed you in the womb and helps you: “Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen!
- Isaiah 54:4Don’t be afraid, for you will not be put to shame! Don’t be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated! You will forget about the shame you experienced in your youth; you will no longer remember the disgrace of your abandonment.
- Jeremiah 46:27“You descendants of Jacob, my servants, do not be afraid; do not be terrified, people of Israel. For I will rescue you and your descendants from the faraway lands where you are captives. The descendants of Jacob will return to their land and enjoy peace. They will be secure and no one will terrify them.
- Haggai 2:4Even so, take heart, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord. ‘Take heart, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you citizens of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and begin to work. For I am with you,’ says the Lord who rules over all.
- Zechariah 8:15so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah – do not fear!
- John 12:12The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
- Hebrews 12:12Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees,
- 2 Corinthians 4:1Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged.
- Galatians 6:9So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.
- Ephesians 3:13For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
- Hebrews 12:3Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.
- Revelation 2:3I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary.
Commentaries on Zephaniah 3:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Fear thou not - Thou shalt have no more captivities nor national afflictions. Let not thine hands be slack - This may refer, first, to the rebuilding of the temple of God, after the return from Babylon; and, secondly, to their diligence and zeal in the Christian Church.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not - For “perfect love casteth out fear” John 4:18; from where he saith, “Fear not, little flock; it is your Father‘s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” Luke 12:32. Who then and what should the Church or the faithful soul fear, since “mightier is He that is in her, than he that is in the world? And to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack,” through faint-heartedness (see Hebrews 12:12), but work with…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-20Verses 14-20 After the promises of taking away sin, follow promises of taking away trouble. When the cause is removed, the effect will cease. What makes a people holy, will make them happy. The precious promises made to the purified people, were to have full accomplishment in the gospel. These verses appear chiefly to relate to the future conversion and restoration of Israel, and the glorious times which are to follow. They show the abundant peace…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-20God shows his plans for a humble and pure group of his people (Zephaniah 3:9–13). He encourages them to rejoice in the coming abundant blessings from their saving Lord (Zephaniah 3:14–20).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Let not thine hands be slack--(He 12:12). Do not faint in the work of the Lord.Read the comment
Topics related to Zephaniah 3:16
In the dictionaries
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries