Zephaniah 2 1

Zephaniah 2:1 kjv

Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

Zephaniah 2:1 nkjv

Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation,

Zephaniah 2:1 niv

Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation,

Zephaniah 2:1 esv

Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation,

Zephaniah 2:1 nlt

Gather together ? yes, gather together,
you shameless nation.

Zephaniah 2 verses

Zephaniah 2 1 Meaning

Zephaniah 2:1 issues an urgent, twofold command for the people of Judah to "gather themselves," signifying a desperate call for self-examination, repentance, and possibly physical assembly in preparation for the impending divine judgment known as the Day of the Lord. They are characterized as a "nation not desired," highlighting God's severe displeasure and their loss of status as His favored people due to their widespread idolatry, injustice, and complacency. The verse functions as a final, earnest plea before the decreed judgment takes its full effect.

Zephaniah 2 1 Context

Zephaniah's prophecy occurred during the reign of King Josiah (c. 640-610 BC) in Judah. While Josiah initiated significant religious reforms (discovery of the Book of the Law, removal of idols, restoration of Yahwistic worship), the spiritual heart of the people, especially in Jerusalem, remained deeply corrupt. Decades of idolatry under kings like Manasseh had ingrained foreign practices and complacency. Zephaniah's message is a stern warning of the imminent "Day of the Lord," a divine judgment that would cleanse Judah and the surrounding nations, likely foreshadowing the Babylonian invasion. Chapter 1 details the extensive destruction on Jerusalem and Judah, particularly against those who clung to idolatry and complacency. Zephaniah 2:1 opens a new section of warning, specifically calling Judah to respond before this predicted wrath completely consumes them. It functions as a final opportunity for national humility and turning.

Zephaniah 2 1 Word analysis

• "Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together," (הִתְקוֹשְׁשׁוּ וְקוֹשְׁשׁוּ – hitqošešû wəqôššešû)

  • הִתְקוֹשְׁשׁוּ (hitqošešû): This is a Hithpael imperative form of the verb קָשַׁשׁ (qāshaš). The Hithpael stem denotes reflexive action, often with an intensive or reciprocal sense. The primary meaning of qāshaš is "to gather," specifically like gathering dry sticks, stubble, or firewood. In the Hithpael, it conveys "gather yourselves" but with a deep, internal dimension: to pull yourselves together, to collect your senses, to reflect profoundly. Some scholarly interpretations also link qāshaš to concepts of drying up or shame, suggesting "gather your shame" or "blush." The nuance implies an inward spiritual accounting or reckoning.
  • וְקוֹשְׁשׁוּ (wəqôššešû): This is a Qal imperative form, reiterating the command with added emphasis ("and gather" or "gather indeed"). The repetition serves as a powerful rhetorical device, intensifying the urgency and severity of the call. It highlights that this gathering is not a casual assembly but a crucial, all-encompassing act of preparation for a terrifying event.
  • Significance: The command is highly evocative. It's a call not merely to physically assemble but to morally and spiritually rally oneself, perhaps in repentance or for facing impending disaster. It implies a dire situation that requires immediate, collective internal reflection.

• "O nation not desired," (גּוֹי לֹא נִכְסָף – gôy lō' niksāp)

  • גּוֹי (gôy): The standard Hebrew word for "nation" or "people." While sometimes used for Gentile nations, here it clearly refers to Judah.
  • לֹא (lō'): The negative particle "not."
  • נִכְסָף (niksāp): A Niphal participle of the verb כָּסַף (kāsap), meaning "to long for, to yearn, to desire." The Niphal stem denotes a passive or reflexive action; thus, "not longed for," "not desired," "not yearned for."
  • Significance: This epithet is deeply ironic and damning for Judah. They saw themselves as God's chosen, desired possession (Exod 19:5, Deut 7:6). However, their persistent sin and apostasy had made them undesirable in God's eyes, even repulsive. This phrase challenges their complacent assumption of divine favor and highlights their spiritual bankruptcy, rendering them fit only for judgment rather than a relationship. Some translations use "unashamed nation," drawing a thematic link if qashaš also carries the nuance of shame, suggesting a nation so hardened in sin that they lack spiritual sensitivity or desire for God.

Zephaniah 2 1 Bonus section

The strong Hithpael and Qal imperatives in Zephaniah 2:1 are unique in the prophetic books, demonstrating an exceptional degree of urgency. The nuance of qāshaš (to gather stubble or shame) highlights the internal, spiritual work required, not just an outward show of piety. Stubble is dry and worthless, often gathered for burning, implicitly linking the "gathering" to a preparation for consuming judgment. This internal preparation is essential for the humility mentioned in Zephaniah 2:3. The identity as "nation not desired" not only reflects God's perspective but also perhaps implies how other nations, who had formerly admired or feared Judah, would view them as abandoned and unworthy once judgment befell them.

Zephaniah 2 1 Commentary

Zephaniah 2:1 serves as a stark, urgent summons to the people of Judah to confront their spiritual reality. The dual imperative to "gather yourselves" emphasizes the extreme necessity for national introspection and perhaps corporate assembly. It's a call to profound self-reflection, a plea to acknowledge their fallen state and impending doom. The precise nature of this "gathering" could mean: collecting one's senses in repentance, gathering their shame and remorse for their sins, or even assembling as a community to hear the prophetic word and seek the Lord corporately.

This command is directed to a "nation not desired"—a powerful oxymoron in the context of Israel's covenant relationship with God. Judah, once chosen and beloved, has, through its chronic disobedience, become spiritually repugnant to God. This indictment underlines the seriousness of their rebellion and foreshadows their inevitable judgment. Despite the severity of their condition, the verse implies that a final opportunity exists to acknowledge their spiritual poverty and seek humility before the Lord, a theme further developed in the following verses (Zeph 2:2-3). It is a poignant invitation to heed the warning before it is too late.