Zephaniah 1 nkjv the great day of the lord bible gateway. Old testament prophet who referred to the coming great tribulation as the day of the lord more times than any other biblical writer and the only old testament prophet to call god the king of israel. His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. Zephaniah was the son of cushi, son of gedaliah, son of amariah, son of hezekiah. The book of zephaniah is a book of the bible and is thought to be written by zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah the book begins by telling of gods judgement on the kingdom of judah. In the book of zephaniah, gods justice and love offer future. Zephaniah bible book with full chapters king james version. Zephaniah 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. Zephaniahs primary target for gods message of judgment, the nation of judah, had fallen into grievous sin under the reign of their king, manasseh.
Here are a few examples of this time of punishment from the book of zephaniah. Summary of the book of zephaniah the story of the bible. Zephaniah, book of international standard bible encyclopaedia. Old testament prophet who referred to the coming great tribulation as the day of the lord more times than any other biblical writer and the only old testament prophet to. Entry for zephaniah, book of international standard bible encyclopedia one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, the isbe is hailed for its authoritative explanations of. If you can make it past the opening threats, there is much comfort to be found. The book of zephaniah is a book of the bible and is thought to be written by zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah.
The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed. In hebrew the book is titled hynpx meaning yahweh hides perhaps reflecting the terror of the days of manasseh when. Zephaniah and his contemporaries, jeremiah and habakkuk, were some of the prophets god used to pronounce this warning message. This book mentions the day of the lord more than does any other book in the old testament, clarifying the picture of judahs fall to babylon and the eventual. Zephaniah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. In the book of zephaniah, gods justice and love offer. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. When god had a message for the people, he spoke through the prophets.
Social injustice and moral corruption were widespread 3. The little book of zephaniah will never take the place of john 3. Like the writings of many of the prophets, the book of zephaniah follows a pattern of judgment on all people for their sin followed by the restoration of god s chosen people. The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle. Before you attempt to answer the questions below you should read these chapters in the bible and answer the questions at the end of each chapter found at the website answer the questions below and then click ok to send your answers. The great day of the lord i will utterly consume everything from the face of the land, says the lord. Zephaniah addressing people french bible, 16th century. Therefore, zephaniah was probably in the royal family and lived in jerusalem. Watch our overview video on the book of zephaniah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, zephaniah announces gods purifying judgment on israel.
Written to zephaniah addressed the jews in judah and all later bible readers. Zephaniah s message of judgment and encouragement contains three major. One interesting find is located in the first verse of the book of zephaniah. The book begins by telling of gods judgement on the kingdom of judah. Intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible society. Zephaniah means yahweh has hiddenprotected, or yahweh hides. Zephaniah the prophet may have been the son of a cushite man. Prophet zephaniah summary this is book number 8 in the summary of the 12 minor prophets of the bible. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. We often overlook seemingly boring genealogies in the bible, but sometimes they can be the most interesting part. This is, in my opinion, the best and most beautiful recording of the king. The word of the lord which came unto zephaniah the son of cushi, the son of gedaliah, the son of amariah, the son of hizkiah, in the days of josiah the son of amon, king of judah. That is a phrase we have seen before in books of prophets esp. We can begin to pinpoint exactly when zephaniah prophesied by accounting for a few details in the text.
He prophecies of the imminent devastation of the land of judah and the destruction of jerusalem because of judahs injustice, hypocrisy and idolatry chap. Zephaniah, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. The book of zephaniah, the early discourses of jeremiah, and 2ki 2123 furnish a vivid picture of the social, moral, and religious conditions in judah at the time zephaniah prophesied. The great day of the lord the word of the lord which 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. Through the prophet zephaniah, we are taught that god uses various catastrophes to punish and humble nations.
The most popular bible verses from zephaniah found 53 verses zephaniah 3. Oct 23, 2012 this is the holy book of zephaniah, known simply as zephaniah. Zephaniah contemporary of jeremiah preached around 625 bc king manasseh is dead after a reign of 55 years the most evil king in judah he was the exact opposite of his father king hezekiah. I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked. Dec 28, 2016 zephaniah has another cycle of denunciation against judah 3.
Zephaniah s message of judgment and encouragement contains three major doctrines. Apr 28, 2019 the book of zephaniah was written from 640609 bc, during the reign of king josiah who brought spiritual renewal and reform to judah after the long and devastating reign of king manasseh. The book of zephaniah was written during the reign of king josiah, likely in the early part of his reign, between 635 and 625 bc. The book of the twelve prophets was originally on one parchment roll because of the brevity of the text, and together formed one book of the 24 books of hebrew scripture. Three times god says i will sweep away in chapter 1 verses 1 and 2. Bible study guide book of zephaniah saturday, november 3, 2012 background on zephaniah in zephaniah 1. Zephaniah a book of the old testament and the hebrew tanakh. Introduction286 the book of zephaniah is probably best known for being the least known book of the entire bible. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. Zephaniah probably lived in judah, and possibly jerusalem, since he clearly knew the city so well. This summary of the book of zephaniah provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of zephaniah. This is book number 8 in the summary of the 12 minor prophets of the bible.
The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a. May 14, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of zephaniah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The minor prophets are referred to as such because of the briefness of their writing, not because of the content found within. Zephaniah explained that god would punish many countries because of their evil deeds zephaniah chapters 12. The name zephaniah means the lord hides or the lord has hidden. The prophet portrays a grand sweep of history that begins with judgment on judah 1. Zephaniah 1, new living translation nlt the bible app the lord gave this message to zephaniah when josiah son of amon was king of judah. The commander of the guard took as prisoners seraiah the chief priest, zephaniah the priest next in rank and. The book of zephaniah introduction to the book of zephaniah in the bible.
By this the godly harmony is shown in the prophecies of such different men who have lived at totally different times but who always presented the one goal of god. Nevertheless, this is a great book with a significant. The prophet zephaniah was evidently a person of considerable social standing in judah and was probably related to the royal line. The words of zephaniah contain one of my favorite bible verses. The book of zephaniah shows how gods justice and love work together to give the world hope. Zephaniah is the ninth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament. Zephaniah was a fourthgeneration descendant of hezekiah, a notable king of judah from 715 to 686 b. Zephaniah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of zephaniah for bible study or sunday school lessons. Among the minor prophets, we are certainly much more familiar with jonah and hosea. The opening verses of the book of zephaniah revealed the prophet zephaniahs lineage that traced back to king hezekiah, which made him of royal blood. Yet before we get to that verse, the book, like many prophetic books, is full of alarming brokenness and impending judgement. The book of zephaniah is probably best known for being the least known book of the entire bible. I dare say that few have ever heard a sermon on zephaniah.
Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the. Zephaniah is the name of several people in the hebrew bible and jewish tanakh. Book of zephaniah simple english wikipedia, the free. The book of zephaniah is quite shortonly three chapters in length.
God would also punish the evil people in jerusalem zephaniah 3. Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to zephaniah s great. As with most prophets, zephaniah s message focuses on current events for the people of israel, but also has a secondary meaning, anticipating the life of jesus zephaniah focuses the attention of his critical remarks on the political and religious leaders of the nation. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. His small book is a part of the section of the bible known as the minor prophets. I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the lord. The book of zephaniah shows extremely many similarities with other prophetic books of the ot. The nations purified, the remnant restored, jerusalem purged 3. Smith, the prophets birth in the killing time of manasseh 2 kings 21. It is a small book, nestled in the midst of the minor prophets, toward the end of the old testament.
Despite the fact that zephaniah warns judah of impending doom, the prophecy is dual, and the major fulfillment of his prophecy is yet future. Zephaniah teaches us that all things work together for good to those who love god and are called according to his purpose. The commander of the guard took as prisoners seraiah the chief priest, zephaniah the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers. Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to zephaniahs great. Sophonias, which is borne by three other men mentioned in the old testament, means yah hides, or yah has hidden or treasured. The harpercollins study bible supplies headings for the book as follows. This book records the prophets sober description of the day of the lord, which oftrepeated phrase was in reference to the impending destruction of jerusalem and the future great tribulation when god would punish all nations. A consuming fire, his justice purifies the people, and his love restores jerusalem for the nations. The nwt study bible is complete with cross references, maps, and an accurate bible dictionary. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. Book of zephaniah, also called sophonias, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. The prophecy opens with a statement of the authors ancestry, which in itself is an unusual feature of the hebrew prophetic tradition. The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed to zephaniah, written probably about 640630 bc.
Zephaniah hebrew, zephanja was the ninth of the twelve prophets under the canon of the ot. In the book of revelation, this punishment is called the wrath of god revelation 14. These are all of the chapters of the book of zephaniah. Historic info background zephaniah contemporary of jeremiah preached around 625 bc king manasseh is dead after a reign of 55 years the most evil king in judah he was the exact opposite of his father king hezekiah. It was rather common for parents to give their child a name that somehow became a prophetic piece of their life yes, this is the. On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me. Zephaniah 1 the word of the lord which came unto zephaniah the son of cushi, the son of gedaliah, the son of amariah, the son of hizkiah, in the days of josiah the son of amon, king of judah. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of zephaniah in the bible. Zephaniah lived during the last days of the kingdom of judah. The lord gave this message to zephaniah when josiah son of amon was king of judah. The book of zephaniah is a record of the messages of the prophet zephaniah. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of coming judgment and to encourage repentance. And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops. The contents of this book have never been familiar, and i doubt that it has been read very much.