Zephaniah 3:8 kjv
Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Zephaniah 3:8 nkjv
"Therefore wait for Me," says the LORD, "Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All My fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy.
Zephaniah 3:8 niv
Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD, "for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them? all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.
Zephaniah 3:8 esv
"Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD, "for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.
Zephaniah 3:8 nlt
Therefore, be patient," says the LORD.
"Soon I will stand and accuse these evil nations.
For I have decided to gather the kingdoms of the earth
and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them.
All the earth will be devoured
by the fire of my jealousy.
Zephaniah 3 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zephaniah 3:8 | wait for me...day I rise up...testify...gather nations...My judgment. | Zephaniah 3:8 (This verse) |
| Psalm 10:12 | Rise up, O LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the afflicted. | Psalm 10:12 |
| Psalm 76:7 | You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? | Psalm 76:7 |
| Psalm 96:13 | ...He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with His faithfulness. | Psalm 96:13 |
| Isaiah 2:4 | ...He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. | Isaiah 2:4 |
| Isaiah 26:9 | ...when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. | Isaiah 26:9 |
| Jeremiah 4:2 | ...they will say, 'As surely as the LORD lives,' when they take the oath. | Jeremiah 4:2 |
| Jeremiah 12:1 | Righteous are you, LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice. | Jeremiah 12:1 |
| Ezekiel 39:27 | When I bring them back from the nations and gather them from the lands of their enemies... | Ezekiel 39:27 |
| Micah 4:3 | ...and He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. | Micah 4:3 |
| Matthew 25:31-32 | When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him... | Matthew 25:31-32 |
| Acts 10:34 | Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism... | Acts 10:34 |
| Romans 2:16 | ...on the day when God will judge everyone’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as declared by my gospel. | Romans 2:16 |
| 1 Corinthians 4:5 | Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will reveal your heart’s intentions. | 1 Corinthians 4:5 |
| 2 Corinthians 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. | 2 Corinthians 5:10 |
| Revelation 19:11 | I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. | Revelation 19:11 |
| Revelation 20:11-12 | Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. The earth and heaven fled from his presence, but there was no place for them to flee. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne... | Revelation 20:11-12 |
| Revelation 20:13 | ...and the sea gave up its dead, which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them, and they were judged, each one according to their works. | Revelation 20:13 |
| Revelation 22:12 | “Behold, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to give to each person according to what they have done. | Revelation 22:12 |
Zephaniah 3 verses
Zephaniah 3 8 Meaning
Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD, "for the day when I rise up to testify. I will gather all nations to come together to My judgment.
Zephaniah 3 8 Context
Zephaniah 3:8 is situated within a broader message of judgment and future restoration for Jerusalem and the nations. Chapter 3 begins with a powerful denunciation of Jerusalem for its rebellion, impurity, and corruption (Zephaniah 3:1-7). Despite the imminent judgment against them, the prophet, in this verse, shifts to an assurance of God's sovereign plan for universal judgment and ultimate salvation. This verse serves as a call to Israel to patiently wait for the day when God will reveal Himself as a witness against the unrighteous and gather all peoples for His righteous judgment. It foreshadows a time when God's justice will extend beyond the immediate nation to encompass all of humanity, leading to the establishment of His righteous reign. The historical context is one of pervasive sin and idolatry, both within Judah and in surrounding nations, leading to a need for divine intervention and judgment.
Zephaniah 3 8 Word Analysis
- לכן (lakken): Therefore. This is a conjunctive particle, indicating a logical consequence or result from what has been stated or implied. It points to a divine directive stemming from the preceding discourse on judgment and purification.
- וְאַתָּה (wə’attāh): And you. This pronoun refers to the people of Judah, the audience being addressed.
- הוֹחֵל (hoḥēl): Wait (imperfect Hiphil of חיל - ḥāwâ). This imperative conveys the idea of earnestly expecting, looking for, or patiently anticipating something. It signifies not passive waiting, but an active, hopeful expectation of God's promised intervention. The Hiphil stem emphasizes that God is the one who causes them to wait and be hopeful.
- לִי (lî): For Me. Emphasizes the focus of their waiting is upon the LORD.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָה (nə’um-YHWH): Declares the LORD. A solemn pronouncement by God himself, lending ultimate authority and certainty to the message. YHWH is the covenant name of God, signifying His faithfulness to His promises.
- כִּי־מֶה (kî-me): For the time.
- עוֹד (‘ōd): Yet / Still / When. Implies an upcoming event, marking the specific occasion or moment.
- הַקּוּמִי (haqqûmî): Rise up (infinitive construct Piel of קוּם - qûm, with feminine singular suffix for "she"). Referring to Zion (Jerusalem) as if she were to rise up, signifying her restoration and vindication. In this context, however, it is God who will "rise up" to act. The phrasing "the day of my rising" (יום קומי - yom qumi) emphasizes God's active intervention.
- לְמוֹס (ləmôs): To testimony / to bear witness (infinitive construct of מוּס - mûs). This signifies God's active involvement in bringing justice and bearing witness against wrongdoing. It implies presenting evidence and executing judgment.
- לֶאֱסֹף (le’esōf): To gather (infinitive construct of אסף - ’āṣaph). Signifies the action of collecting and assembling.
- גּוֹיִם (gôyîm): Nations. Refers to the Gentile peoples.
- לְמוֹשִׁיב (ləmôšîḇ): To gather / assemble (infinitive construct Hiphil of ישׁב - yāšēḇ, with plural object). More specifically, to gather them for inhabitation or to a place. However, in this context, it strongly implies gathering them for a specific purpose – judgment.
- מוּעָדוֹת (mû‘ādôṯ): Appointed / Set / Occasions. Refers to predetermined times or assemblies. Here it denotes the times set for judgment.
- לִשְׁפֹּט (lišpōṯ): To judge (infinitive construct of שׁפט - šāphāṭ). The act of administering justice and discerning right from wrong.
Word-Group Analysis:
- "Wait for Me, declares the LORD": This is a foundational command emphasizing dependence on God's timing and power. It contrasts human impulsiveness with divine patience. The declaration of the LORD underscores divine authority and faithfulness.
- "the day when I rise up to testify": This signifies God's active intervention and His role as both plaintiff and judge. It’s a day of vindication for the faithful and a day of reckoning for the wicked. God will personally appear as a witness against injustice.
- "I will gather nations... for My judgment": This highlights the universal scope of God's justice. It is not limited to Israel but extends to all peoples. The gathering is for a specific purpose: the administration of divine judgment. This implies a comprehensive accounting by God of all actions, both individual and national.
Zephaniah 3 8 Bonus Section
The concept of God "rising up to testify" reflects divine indignation and resolve. In ancient Near Eastern legal proceedings, a witness would often stand. God standing implies He is stepping forward personally to present His case and condemn the guilty. The phrase "gather nations" has echoes in other prophetic passages and finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament's concept of the final judgment seat of Christ and the separation of the sheep and goats, as described in Matthew 25. The gathering for "judgment" here is a cleansing, a divine sifting, preparing for the new covenant era of righteousness. This anticipates the New Heavens and New Earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13).
Zephaniah 3 8 Commentary
This verse is a pivotal statement of hope and divine assurance amidst judgment. It instructs Israel, despite their current state of affliction, to patiently wait for the LORD’s intervention. This waiting is not passive but an active anticipation of God's righteous action. The Lord Himself will arise, acting as both a witness and judge. He will gather all the nations for judgment, signifying a universal scope of divine justice. This future event underscores God’s ultimate sovereignty and His commitment to bringing all wrongs to account. The gathering of nations points towards the eschatological judgment where all peoples will face God's impartial verdict, leading to His ultimate vindication and establishment of righteousness. It reminds believers that God's justice is inevitable and comprehensive.