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 thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive correction; so her dwelling should not be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings. 8Therefore wait ye for 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. For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. 10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. 11In 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 thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in 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

• turnהָפַךְhâphak · to overturnH2015
• peoplesעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• pureבָּרַרbârar · to purifyH1305
• languageשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lip: wordsH8193
• allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• callקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• uponקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• serveעָבַד‛âbad · to serve: ministerH5647

Cross-references for Zephaniah 3:9

• Isaiah 19:18In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction.
• Matthew 12:35The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
• Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.
• Genesis 11:1And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech.
• 1 Kings 8:41Moreover concerning the stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name’s sake;
• Psalms 22:27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
• Psalms 86:9All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and they shall glorify thy name.
• Psalms 113:3From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.
• Jeremiah 16:19O LORD, my strength, and my strong hold, and my refuge in the day of affliction, unto thee shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Our fathers have inherited nought but lies, even vanity and things wherein there is no profit.
• Habakkuk 2:14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
• Zechariah 2:11And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
• Zechariah 8:20Thus saith the LORD of hosts: It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities:
• Zechariah 14:9And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall the LORD be one, and his name one.
• Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
• Romans 15:6that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Revelation 11:15And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever 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