“Introduction to the Book of Zephaniah,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2014)
Zephaniah prophesied of “the day of the Lord” (Zephaniah 1:7, 8, 14, 18; 2:2,3), or the Lord’s impending judgment upon Judah and other nations (see Bible Dictionary, “Zephaniah”). Zephaniah explained that on this day God would punish the proud and mighty and reward the righteous. Zephaniah pleaded, “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth…; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zephaniah 2:3). By studying the book of Zephaniah, students can learn that they do not need to follow the sinful customs of the societies in which they live and that they can seek the Lord regardless of what others around them choose to do.
Studying the book of Zephaniah can also help students prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is also referred to as “the day of the Lord.” Students can learn that if they prepare for the Second Coming by repenting of their sins and turning to Jesus Christ, they can obtain peace in this life and joyfully look forward to the Second Coming.
The book is attributed to a prophet named Zephaniah, who prophesied in Judah during the seventh century B.C. (see Bible Dictionary, “Zephaniah”). Zephaniah may have been a contemporary of other Old Testament prophets such as Jeremiah and Nahum and the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi (see Bible Chronology). Zephaniah’s name means “the Lord hides” (Bible Dictionary, “Zephaniah”).
When and where was it written?
Zephaniah ministered in Judah during the reign of King Josiah, which lasted from about 639 to 608B.C. (see Zephaniah 1:1; Bible Dictionary, “Zephaniah”). However, we do not know when and where the prophecies were recorded.
What are some distinctive features of this book?
Like many ancient prophecies, the words of Zephaniah can apply to both his day and the future. At the time Zephaniah was prophesying, a foreign army was threatening to destroy Judah. This threatened destruction can be compared to the destruction of the wicked that will occur before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Additionally, the blessings the Lord promised to the righteous inhabitants of Jerusalem can foreshadow the blessings the righteous will receive at the Second Coming (see Zephaniah 3:12–20).
Zephaniah1 Zephaniah prophesies that God will destroy the people of Judah if they do not repent.
Zephaniah2 Zephaniah encourages Judah and the meek people of the earth to seek righteousness. He also warns some of Judah’s antagonistic neighbors of God’s judgments that will come upon them.
Zephaniah3 Zephaniah prophesies of the wickedness of Jerusalem’s leaders and the blessings that the humble inhabitants of Jerusalem will receive after the Lord removes the proud from their city. Zephaniah explains that the Lord will pour out judgment on all nations. Zephaniah reveals that the Lord will give His people a pure language, renew His relationship with them, and reign in the midst of Zion.
FAQs
The dominant theme of the book is the “day of the Lord,” which the prophet sees approaching as a consequence of the sins of Judah. A remnant will be saved (the “humble and lowly”) through purification by judgment. It is not clear whether the day of judgment is conceived of as historical or eschatological.
What is the main message of the book of Zephaniah? ›
The central theme of the book of Zephaniah is the Day of the Lord. ' Zephaniah elucidates two major aspects of this central theme, judgment and restoration, and in both of these aspects Zephaniah evinces many parallels to the books of the eighth-century prophets.
What is the brief outline of Zephaniah? ›
Zephaniah is divided into three parts. Chapters 1:1-2:3 detail God's judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. Chapters 2:4-3:8 look at God's judgment of other nations and Jerusalem. Chapters 3:9-20 explore hope for the nations and Jerusalem after judgment.
What is the main lesson from Zephaniah? ›
Zephaniah explains that the Lord will pour out judgment on all nations. Zephaniah reveals that the Lord will give His people a pure language, renew His relationship with them, and reign in the midst of Zion.
Who is Jesus in the book of Zephaniah? ›
Jesus is revealed in Zephaniah as the Restorer of the Remnant. MESSAGE BIBLE INTRODUCTION: We humans keep looking for a religion that will give us access to God without having to bother with people…
What is the main message of the book of Zechariah? ›
The recurring theme of the book is restoration. If the remnant returning from exile obeys the Lord, the prosperity of the land will be restored (1:16-17; 2:10; 3:6-7; 8:3-8; 9:14-17). Throughout the book, passages of judgment for disobedience alternate with promises of restoration for those who follow the Lord.
What is the central message of the prophet Zephaniah what is near? ›
Zephaniah warns Israel and the surrounding nations that the Day of the Lord is near.
What is the background of the book of Zephaniah? ›
If Zephaniah was largely composed during the monarchic period, then its composition was occasioned by Judah's refusal to obey its covenant obligations toward Yahweh despite having seen Israel's exile a generation or two previously—an exile that the Judahite literary tradition attributed to Yahweh's anger against ...
What was Zephaniah prophesying about? ›
He predicts the down fall of the Assyrian empire but, unlike Isaiah, he does not anticipate the resurgence of peace and righteousness in Jerusalem. He predicts a day of judgment that will sweep across the face of the entire earth (1:2, 14-18) like a fire-storm and purge it of evil.
What was Zephaniah famous for? ›
“Poet, writer, lyricist, musician and naughty boy,” is how Benjamin Zephaniah, who died today aged 65, described himself on his website. He was the author of 30 books of poetry, stories for adults, teens and children, and nonfiction, as well as several plays. Then there was his work as a musician and sometime actor.
Origin:Hebrew. Meaning:Hidden by God. Zephaniah is a masculine name of Hebrew origin that means "hidden by God." This is a biblical name shared with minor prophet in the Hebrew Bible and its meaning is symbolic of God's protection.
What are the inspirational verses from Zephaniah? ›
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." "The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you; they are a burden and a reproach to you.
What did Zephaniah prophecy about? ›
He predicts the down fall of the Assyrian empire but, unlike Isaiah, he does not anticipate the resurgence of peace and righteousness in Jerusalem. He predicts a day of judgment that will sweep across the face of the entire earth (1:2, 14-18) like a fire-storm and purge it of evil.
What did Zephaniah write about? ›
Career. Zephaniah performed his poetry at different venues around England. In 1980 he published his first book of poetry, called Pen Rhythm. He wrote about the many social problems that people were facing in the early 1980s, such as unemployment and homelessness.
What topics does Benjamin Zephaniah write about? ›
Zephaniah has said that he 'lives in two places, Britain and the world', and his collections highlight domestic issues from institutional racism ( Unexpectedly perhaps, for a poet associated with protest literature, many of Zephaniah's poems are tempered by hope, humour and laughter.
What does the name Zephaniah mean in the Bible? ›
Origin:Hebrew. Meaning:Hidden by God. Zephaniah is a masculine name of Hebrew origin that means "hidden by God." This is a biblical name shared with minor prophet in the Hebrew Bible and its meaning is symbolic of God's protection.
