“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.” after all that is implied in Zephaniah 3:8. : “God divided the tongues at Babel, lest, understanding one another, they should form a destructive unity. from the face of the earth,” declares the L ord.. 3 “I will sweep away d man and beast;. Copyright StatementJames Burton Coffman Commentaries reproduced by permission of Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. We ever ran together, strove, laboured, fought, vanquished, and did all together, in much peace and concord. Verses 8-20. 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. And they who 'have come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb," shall be 'before the Throne of God and serve Him day and night in His Temple' Revelation 7:14-15.". (Zephaniah 3:10) From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. Hebrew. If we really love God and His law, we must also love men, and yearn that they should keep His law. Compare Isaiah 19:18; Zechariah 14:9; Romans 15:6, “with one mind and one mouth glorify God.” The Gentiles‘ lips have been rendered impure through being the instruments of calling on idols and dishonoring God (compare Psalm 16:4; Hosea 2:17). (h) "labium electum", Pagninus, Drusius. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Zephaniah, and is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets. Sooner or later self-will makes us hateful both to ourselves and to our neighbours. (Theodoret) --- All people shall know and adore the Lord, which was verified only after Christ's coming. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. They must stand and move as if they had but “one shoulder “ among them. The first privilege which God giveth his people in this promise is pure language. "Commentary on Zephaniah 3:9". It is the excellent way of charity, of love. BibliographyBeza, Theodore. Only thus can they move freely and happily, and make the burden as little burdensome as possible to each and all. : “The prophet springs, as is his wont, to Christ and the time of the new law.” And in Christ, the End of the Law, the prophet ends. Genesis 4:26) and serve Him as one united family of nations. 6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. Compare for this Hebrew idiom, 1Sa 10:9, Margin. Many commentators explain that in the end of days the whole world will speak Hebrew. By its very letters. It is not merely Israel that shall turn to God with a "pure language," but all men. Zephaniah 3:9 Context. Until the Holy Ghost purify the lips, we cannot rightly call upon God (Isa 6:5-7). When grace comes, God will restore the pure language. Pardon may be gotten for our other sins by faith in Christ’s blood, discordiam neque si sanguinem fundamus expiabimus (saith Oecolampadius to the Lutherans of his time), our scandalous discords God will judge. :) Think of the poetry you could write, because the exact word *will* be there when you need it. The deliverance from Babylon was the forerunner of that of the Gospel, which was its object. It was Zephaniah's lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the Bible -- the judgment of God. to serve him with one consent; or, "with one shoulder"F9שכם אחד "humero uno", V. L. Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius. The third Sunday of Advent traditionally has a focus on joy. The blessed things promised in this and Zephaniah 3:10 are to be the immediate results of the punishment about to be inflicted by God, in behalf of Israel, on the nations mentioned in Zephaniah 3:8 (cf. They must confess their evil deeds to God. And they who ‹have come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb,” shall be ‹before the Throne of God and serve Him day and night in His Temple‘ Revelation 7:14-15.”. Crushed into atoms and leveled Down to the humblest dust With never a heart to pity, With never a hand to trust. Then a man must be humble, confident, and filial. This is not the only place where this theme occurs, of course, but it is the most concentrated treatment of the judgment of God as the whole book is devoted to this one theme. "For then ..." is somewhat similar to "at that time," or "in the day," or "in the last days," all of which are frequently used as references to the times of the Messiah. "From this point forward, there is a new note of victory in Zephaniah. For then will I turn to the people a pure language,.... That is, at or about the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; when the Jews, both in their own land, and in the Gentile world, would have the Gospel first preached to them, but would reject it; upon which the apostles and first ministers of the word would turn to the Gentiles, as the Lord commanded them; when he would turn or change his speech and language towards them, and their speech and language towards him would be turned and changed also: for the words may be taken either way; either of God's speech to the Gentiles, which is his Gospel sent unto them; as it was quickly after Christ's resurrection from the dead, and the rejection of it by the Jews; for many hundred years the Lord took no notice of them; winked at the times of their ignorance; sent no prophet to them, nor any message by anyone to instruct them; yea, he spake roughly to them, in a providential way; in the way of his judgments; particularly they raging and imagining vain things against his Messiah, he spake to them in his wrath, and vexed them in his sore displeasure; see Acts 17:30 but now he alters the tone of his voice, changes his language, and sends his Gospel to them; which is a "language" of love, grace, and mercy; of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation; encouraging souls to believe in Christ for those things: and this is a "pure" speech or language; a pure doctrine, fetched out of the sacred Scriptures; free from the dross of error; unmixed, consistent, and all of a piece; and which has a tendency to promote purity of heart, life, and conversation: or, is a "choice speech"F8שפה ברורה "labium electum", Pagninus, Drusius. Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Note the order of the blessings in "9, 10": Gentiles first, and Israel after; But in "18-20-", Israel first, and Gentiles after. "Commentary on Zephaniah 3:9". saith one; old heresies new vamped! Until the Holy Ghost purify the lips, we cannot rightly call upon God (Isaiah 6:5-7). Isaiah 6:5-7.]. [1] The reference is, to being made fit for the worship of Jehovah, as the next clause shows. So then, if they are yet angry and Gentiles, it is better for them to have their tongues divided. But men in their arrogance, as a result of sin entering the world in Genesis 3, came together and plotted to build a tower that will reach the heavens so they could make a name for themselves. The full restoration of the earth's unity of language and of worship is yet future, and is connected with the restoration of the Jews, to be followed by the conversion of the world. Through proud men tongues were divided; through humble Apostles tongues were gathered in one. The Gentiles' lips have been rendered impure through being the instruments of calling on idols and dishonoring God (compare Ps 16:4; Ho 2:17). Only when all men serve God with one shoulder that all sense of distress and effort will pass away. Zephaniah 3:9-10 speak of the effects upon the nations, Zephaniah 3:11-13 of those upon Judah. "For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder. TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT To get what Zephaniah 3:9 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context  and relative popularity. The pure language, ברורה שפה saphah berurah, may here mean the form of religious worship. Do we not ourselves find it hard to cross our wills, in order to adopt the pure and steadfast will that rules the universe? Christians, as Christians, speak the same language of Faith, and from all quarters of the world, one language of praise goes up to the One God and Father of all. The miseries and calamities which come upon us are but as the edge of the graving tool, the rap of the hammer, the grating teeth of the file. Zephaniah 3:9 King James Version (KJV) 9 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. Zephaniah 3:14-20 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: The first verse of this book tells us that “the word of Yahweh… came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah” (1:1). We can only find rest as we impose a yoke on the flesh with its passions and lusts, and compel them to bear the burden of obedience to the higher law. Newcome, following the conjecture of Houbigant, reads [ אשפך ], “I will pour out,” contrary to all the ancient versions, and without the countenance of a single MS. BibliographyClarke, Adam. 9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may call upon the name of Yahuah, to serve him with shoulder to shoulder, 10 from beyond to river of Cush, Itharey, Daughter of the Diaspora, brings manakahthey. And yet even this is hard. 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. to serve him with one consent; or, "with one shoulder" (i); the allusion is, either to bearers of burdens, that join together in carrying any burden, who put shoulder to shoulder as they carry it; or else to oxen drawing in a yoke, who are yoked together shoulder by shoulder; hence the Septuagint version renders it "under one yoke": in which it is followed by the Syriac and Arabic versions. The Prophet meets this objection, and says, that God has in his own hand the means by which he will vindicate his own glory; for he will not only defend his Church in Judea, but will also gather into it nations far and wide, so that his name shall be everywhere celebrated. Its hardest words are such as these,--implicit trust, unstaggering faith. 1685. BibliographyGill, John. God deals with us as the goldsmith deals with virgin ore. An earnest of the removal of this penalty was the gift of tongues on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47); the full restoration of the earth's unity of language and of worship is yet future, and is connected with the restoration of the Jews, to be followed by the conversion of the world. New York. We speak the human language, but not as God gave it. "Commentary on Zephaniah 3:9". 74. 1 The word of the L ord that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, a in the days of b Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.. Out from the mine and the darkness, Out from the damp and the mold, Out from the fiery furnace, Cometh each grain of gold. The Church, then created, is the One Holy Universal Church diffused throughout all the world, everywhere with one rule of Faith, “the Faith once for all delivered unto the saints,” confessing one God, the Trinity in Unity, and serving Him in the one law of the Gospel with one consent. What is this pure language, and how may we know it? (W. Scoresby, B. D.). Removed His judgments (15a) b. When the Lord saves souls, it is that they may serve Him. Daniel 11:35; Daniel 12:10. For then : Note the conjunction " then " which is a strategic expression of time -- always be alert to this word asking " What happens then ? have “and,” [ ו ], before the verb to “serve:” and as there is no preposition before “shoulder,” we may render the verse—. 2 c “I will utterly sweep away everything. Defeated our enemies (15b) c. Security of His presence (15c-17a) d. To serve him with one consent — Hebrew, with one shoulder; that is, unanimously, and with joint endeavours. shoulder shall they bear the yoke of the law, alluding to porters that join shoulder to shoulder in carrying great burdens. God gave back one pure language, when, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, the Author of purity, came down in fiery tongues upon the Apostles, teaching them and guiding them "into the whole truth" John 16:13, and to "speak to every one in his own tongue, wherein he was born, the wonderful works of God" Acts 2:8, Acts 2:11. But treasure up for you treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust cause to vanish, and where thieves do not dig through and steal. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use our convenient, "I will turn to the peoples a pure language ...", John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, ‘I would that men would stretch forth hands to heaven in every place.’, That they may call upon the name of the Lord, Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible. And they must be humble. She has not obeyed His voice, She has not received correction; She has not trusted in the LORD, She has not drawn near to her God. Accordingly the word rendered people in the first clause is in the plural, עמים, peoples, I will restore to the peoples a pure language: an expression which could hardly be intended of the Jews only, but seems evidently to include the Gentiles also. The law of God is a burden which all men haw to bear; it rests on the shoulders of the whole world. BibliographyBarnes, Albert. 1909-1922. BibliographyScofield, C. I. ◄ Zephaniah 3:9 ► For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. Zephaniah 3:9. Zephaniah 3:9 (King James Version) ... Zephaniah 3:10 >> The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. 1. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mpc/zephaniah-3.html. John Trapp Complete Commentary. And this was accordingly, in a great measure, accomplished. Why should any Julian jeer us for our divisions? Zephaniah. . 1905-1909. The Setting for the Book of Zephaniah . To "call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus" Acts 22:16; Romans 10:13 is the very title of Christian worship; "all that called upon the Name" of Jesus, the very title of Christians Acts 9:14, Acts 9:21; 1 Corinthians 1:2. Note that the service is, and must be, altogether voluntary. cxlix. All other rights reserved. It was therefore necessary to add something to inspire hope, such as we find here. BibliographyJamieson, Robert, D.D. 1765. Zephaniah 3 / Zephaniah 3:9 Restoration of Israel’s Remnant 9 “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORDand serve him shoulder to shoulder. BibliographyHaydock, George Leo. Septuagint, "under one yoke." "I will turn to the peoples a pure language ..." The essential thought behind this is unity of purpose and holiness of life. This is Christian-like indeed, see Acts 1:14; Acts 2:1; Acts 2:46; Acts 4:32, animo animaque inter se miscebantur, saith Tertullian, they were all of one heart and of one mind. Men can only bear it without strain or distress of spirit as each of them freely assumes it, as they all help each other to bear it, as they pace together under it with a happy consent of obedience. “The pure lip” is evidently not the language which God would adopt in addressing the nations, but the language they would adopt in addressing him. And that for two reasons--. First, let’s read where I am mentioned in the scriptures… This is my translation. Various translations disagree over whether Zephaniah 3:9's עַמִּ֖ים (amm-im) should be 'people' or 'peoples'. When it is used concerning the doctrines of the Gospel. The phrase signifies, that the Gentiles having the Gospel brought to them, and they called by it, and all speaking the same language, should join in fellowship with one another, and sing the praises of God together; agree in prayer to ask of God the same things; stand fast in the faith of the Gospel, and strive for it, being of the same mind; meet constantly together to carry on the several branches of religious worship, and promote the Redeemer's interest; all drawing the same way, like a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots; having one heart, and one way given them to fear the Lord; and so, with one mind and one mouth, glorify God; so Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it with one heart and one mind. "Commentary on Zephaniah 3:9". When interpreted in this manner, Zephaniah 3:9-13, just as they stand, seem to make a good continuation of Zephaniah 3:8, which announces the coming of the judgment. Confidence of a victory triumph c. Requires all our heart d. It’s a joy only for God's people 2. This is seen in--, A plea for the promulgation of the scriptural principles of our Church among the rising generation. All converted men and women do call upon the name of the Lord. They had been before idolaters: now God promises to restore his pure worship among them. If one of the two bearers of a burden, laid on both conjointly, give way, the burden must fall to the earth [Calvin]. 1871-8. After the judgments of the Tribulation Period, “then” (Zephaniah 3:9) the Lord will restore the nations. (115). 1 The word of the L ord that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, a in the days of b Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.. Zephaniah 3:9 tn Heb “so that all of them will call on the name of the Lord.” Zephaniah 3:9 tn Heb “so that [they] will serve him [with] one shoulder.” Zephaniah 3:10 tn Or “Nubia”; Heb “Cush.” “Cush” is traditionally assumed to refer to the region south of Egypt, i.e., Nubia or northern Sudan, referred to as “Ethiopia” by classical authors (not the more recent Abyssinia). Shout, O Israel! The Coming Judgment on Judah. ", etc, especially in prophetic passages. To our self-will it is hard, and cannot but be hard, to submit even to the purest and tenderest will. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "for then I will change again for the peoples, language to its own kind," (Haydock) which Origen, (contra Cels. "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible". "Pure language" is telling the truth in the Zephaniah context. (1 Timothy 2:8. (9) To the people.—Better, To the peoples, or nations. The Church, then created, is the One Holy Universal Church diffused throughout all the world, everywhere with one rule of Faith, "the Faith once for all delivered unto the saints," confessing one God, the Trinity in Unity, and serving Him in the one law of the Gospel with one consent. In short, the beginning of prayer is from that hidden cleansing of the Spirit of which the Prophet now speaks. ASV. 1832. 1917. [Note: Craigie, 2:128.] Let man alone, and his language would be a constant opposition to the Divine will; it would be full of envy, greediness, covetousness, murmuring, rebellion, blasphemy against the Most High. consent. Christ becomes all in all to that man who has received Christ into his heart, You may know that language by its syntax, for the rules of that language are the law of God. Hence it is necessary to press on your attention your Christian obligations. Her princeswithin her are roaring lions; her judgesare eveningwolves; they gnaw not the bones till … For speech is not the outer sound, but the thoughts which it conveys and embodies. in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah." To serve him with one consent] Heb. : "God divided the tongues at Babel, lest, understanding one another, they should form a destructive unity. Thus also the Lord changes his discourse; for at one time he addresses the ungodly, and at another he turns to the elect, who were but a remnant. In those letters Christ is Alpha, and Christ is Omega. The Setting for the Book of Zephaniah . so when the world hears of so many dissonant opinions, will they not think we are run wild? Worshipers from around the world will come to the New Jerusalem to worship the Lord. When interpreted in this manner, Zephaniah 3:9-13, just as they stand, seem to make a good continuation of Zephaniah 3:8, which announces the coming of the judgment. So the Prophet has hitherto spoken by reproofs and threatening, for he addressed the whole body of the people; but now he collects, as I have said, the remnant as it were by themselves, and sets before them the hope of pardon and of salvation. 1. Isaiah 52:11. Whether Hebrew shall be the one universal language or not, the God of the Hebrews shall be the one only object of worship. Maimon. We must take up some burden; we must bear some yoke. It is not that men may use better Hebrew, but that their hearts and lives should conform to the will of God, a characteristic distinctive of the redeemed "in Christ" who are "a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). MEANING OF MY NAME “עתרי” IThaRey. Until the Holy Spirit purify the lips "with a live coal from off the (heavenly) altar," we cannot rightly call upon God (Isaiah 6:5-7). https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-minor-prophets/zephaniah https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/zephaniah-3.html. Wherein does its purity lie? Aben Ezra in Psal. BibliographyTrapp, John. 1. Zephaniah 3:9 . Bible Rank: 16538; Zephaniah Rank: 52; 9 Topics; 1 Theme; 17 Cross References; 2 Readings; Interlinear; 1 Phrase; 1 Name; 9 References; 1 Prayers; Share This Verse: Context Readings. “To serve Him with one consent,” literally, “with one shoulder,” evenly, steadfastly, “not unequally yoked,” but all with united strength, bearing Christ‘s “easy yoke” and “one another‘s burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ.” This is purity of life. The outward confusion of Babel was to hinder oneness in evil and a worse confusion. In Zephaniah 3:9-20, it's saying that the new church that will be founded will be made up of the remnant of people who love and acknowledge the Lord. "Commentary on Zephaniah 3:9". The same thing is expressed by speaking the language of Canaan, Isaiah 19:18. "Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)". Zephaniah 3:1-20 3 Woe to the rebellious, the polluted, the oppressive city! 1 Corinthians 14:23. A pure language.—The discord of Babel shall, as it were, give place to unity of language, when the worship of “gods many” shall yield to the pure service of Jehovah, whom men shall “with one mind and one mouth glorify.”. "John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible". serve him with one consent—literally, "shoulder" or "back"; metaphor from a yoke, or burden, borne between two (Nu 13:23); helping one another with conjoint effort. This revelation indicates that everyone living on the earth at the beginning of the Millennium will be a believer in Jesus Christ (cf. Worth shouting about b. When the Church serves God with one shoulder, and when all “the nations” serve Him with one shoulder, then at last the pain and effort of obedience will be over, and we shall serve God with unbroken gladness because we and all men serve Him with a single and a perfect heart. barar, as in Ezekiel 20:38. 1. A contrast between a wicked city and a righteous God. The mercy of judgment is the prophet’s theme in the verso before us. No question more frequently and deeply frets our hearts than this,--What is the meaning, what the intention of the innumerable miseries by which we are tormented?