Judah Judged
God's good, ordered world is descending into disorder. A great army will judge, devastate and ruin corrupt, violent and arrogant Jerusalem, Israel and surrounding nations.
 
Faithful Remnant
Anyone in Jerusalem who seeks the Lord, repents from sin, obeys Him and humbles themselves before Him will be spared. They are God's faithful remnant.
 
God's Burning Fire
God's final judgment is a consuming fire that devours evil from Jerusalem and all the nations. The burning fire of God's judgment purifies the world.
 
Hope for All
After God purifies the world, the people will repent and call on Him. They are transformed into a unified family, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham.
 
Remnant Restored
The book of Zephaniah concludes with a picture of restored Jerusalem where God's mercy transforms the faithful remnant, and He celebrates them with joyful songs.

BIBLICAL PLACEMENT

Protestants: The Book of Zephaniah is the 36th book of the Holy Bible, the 36th book of the Old Testament and the 9th of 12 Minor Prophet books.
 
Catholics: The Book of Zephaniah is the 43rd book of the Holy Bible, the 43rd book of the Old Testament and the 14th of 18 Prophetic books.

OVERVIEW/AUTHOR/TIMELINE

The Old Testament prophet  Zephaniah traces his genealogy back to an important personage by the name of Hizkiah. This was probably his great-grandfather, Hezekiah, the 13th King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah who reigned from 729 BC - 687 BC. Zephaniah prophesied in and around the holy city of Jerusalem to the Southern Kingdom of Judah (931 BC - 586 BC). This was during the reign of King Josiah (chapter 1:1) (16th King/641–609 BC), who sought to reestablish acceptable worship practices (see 2 Kings 22:1-23:30 and 2 Chron 34:1-35:27) at a time when Egypt, Judah, and Babylonia were eroding the power of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (912 BC- 609 BC).
 
Shortly after this time, the Babylonians - led by their King Nebuchadnezzar II - would replace the Assyrians as the dominant power in the Near East.
 
Nineveh’s destruction, which came in 612 BC, is referred to as a future event, indicating that Zephaniah’s work preceded this date. Furthermore, the repeated mention of Judah’s wickedness, described as enormous in his day (see chapters 1:4-6, 8-9, 12; 3:1-3, 7), points to the time before Josiah’s reform, which began in 623/22 BC. These observations seem to place Zephaniah in the early years of Josiah’s reign, perhaps about 630 BC, as a contemporary of the prophet Nahum and perhaps the prophet Habakkuk.

BOOK PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

In spite of having seen the destruction and exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, Judah (the southern kingdom) refuses to keep its covenantal obligations to God. If Judah repents and abandons its evil ways, “perhaps” God will forgive (2:1–3). Regardless, God’s judgment will lead to renewal for Judah and other peoples (3:9–20).

The book declares judgment on many nations, all of which opposed God through opposition to His people. The last nation warned is Judah herself (3:1–7). God is displeased with those who claimed to be His own people.

BOOK THEME

The theme of Zephaniah is the approaching “Day of the Lord.” This “day” is one of judgment against those who sin against God, and one of blessing for those who follow Him.

KEY THEMES

1. God will judge the whole earth (1:2–3, 17–18; 3:8), including Judah (1:4–16; 3:1–7) and her pagan neighbors (2:4–15) alike.
2. God will bless his people when they return to their covenant relationship with him (3:11–20).
3. God extends blessing and grace to all peoples and nations (3:9–10).
4. Judgment and blessing occur both in the near future for the prophet and his audience (1:4–18; 2:3) and also in the more distant future (3:8–9, 11, 13–17).
5. There is no such thing as a second-generation child of God. Every generation must accept God’s covenant, rather than relying on the faith of a previous generation.

1. Heading (1:1)
2. Judgment Coming against Judah (1:2–6)
3. The Day of the Lord (1:7–3:20)
   1. Day of sacrifice and punishment (1:7–9)
   2. The coming wrath (1:10–18)
   3. Repentance is still possible (2:1–3)
   4. Nations warned (2:4–3:8)
   5. Anticipation of hope (3:9–20)

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