The day of the LORD
Zephaniah's signature phrase, clustered densely in chapter 1 — ‘a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress’ (1:15).
Old Testament · Book 36 of 66
Zephaniah
A great-great-grandson of Hezekiah prophesying in Josiah's day. Judgment on Judah, judgment on the nations, and a closing song of the LORD singing over his people.
3
Chapters
Royal lineage
Hezekiah's descendant
The LORD will sing
3:17
“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.”
- Author
- Zephaniah, son of Cushi, four generations from Hizkiah (Hezekiah) — 1:1
- Date
- During Josiah's reign, c. 640–609 BC
- Audience
- Judah on the edge of reform and exile
- Position
- Old Testament · Book 36 of 66
Structure
- Day of the LORD — judgment on Judah1
‘I will utterly consume all things from off the land.’ The day of wrath announced.
- Judgment on the nations; call to seek2
Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush, Assyria. ‘Seek the LORD, all ye meek of the earth.’
- Jerusalem's hope restored3
Woe to the filthy city; yet ‘the LORD thy God in the midst of thee … he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing’ (3:17).
Section pages
Each section is one focused part of Zephaniah — purpose, key movements, key verses, Christ-in-this-section. Roughly five minutes each.
Themes
The LORD rejoices over his people
The book's ending turns — ‘he will joy over thee with singing’ (3:17). The judge is also the covenant husband who sings over his bride.