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. We have mentioned this several times in our study of the prophets, but i will point it out in case someone has not heard the explanation. The book of zephaniah shows how gods justice and love work together to give the world hope. The prophecy opens with a statement of the authors ance stry 1. He begins his prophecy by tracing his heritage back to hezekiah king of judah.
Zephaniah is the ninth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament. Zephaniah lived in the capital of jerusalem compare with chap. The words of zephaniah contain one of my favorite bible verses. Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to zephaniahs great. Some have referred the phrase i will purify the lips of the peoples 3. Aug 30, 2017 the book of zephaniah niv audio holy bible high quality and best speed book 36 duration.
And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops. We learn from the first verse of zephaniah s book that he was the greatgreat grandson of good king hezekiah of judah. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of. There are many people who would like to rule this subject of judgment out of the. This is a request to trust god to carry out his promises. Zephaniah s preaching condemned the hopeless corruption found in judean society.
Zephaniahs prophetic revelations and stern warnings occurred during josiahs reign zephaniah 1. The answer is not directly found in the scripture passage as. Among the minor prophets, we are certainly much more familiar with jonah and hosea. Zephaniah addressing people french bible, 16th century. When did moab and ammon eventually worship the lord zephaniah 2. Zephaniah calls the nation to repentance and warns foreign nations to repent as well.
In this book, zephaniah announces gods purifying judgment on israel. The name zephaniah means yahweh hides or yahweh has hidden. In chapter 1 were going to skip down, though, just a little bit to verse 14. The prophecy opens with a statement of the authors ancestry, which in itself is an unusual feature of the hebrew prophetic tradition. Book of zephaniah bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets. The prophecy opens with a statement of the authors ancestry 1. 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. Watch our overview video on the book of zephaniah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. This is quite remarkable considering he is the only one whose ancestry goes back four generations.
The voice of judgment is softened by gospel promises. Book of zephaniah read bible verses online bible study tools. 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. Zephaniah was a fourthgeneration descendant of hezekiah, a notable king of judah from 715 to 686 b. It was zephaniah s lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the bible the judgment of god. The people of judah would return to wickedness and rebellion against god. Who is zephaniah and why is he important in the bible. Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah. It was a day that would come against judah for all her sins, but he also acknowledged that some had remained faithful and they would be spared. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. 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. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends.
Zephaniah s primary target for gods message of judgment, the nation of judah, had fallen into grievous sin under the reign of their king, manasseh. Summary of the book of zephaniah the story of the bible. 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. As we prepare to study the literal and spiritual senses of the book of zephaniah, lets look at some historical facts that will help us enter into the eternal message of the lords word. We learn in the same verse that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of good king josiah of judah 640608 b. What kings of judah preceded zephaniahs prophetical work, and what king. It is also possible that the work of zephaniah contributed to his desire to turn the nation back towards the lord. So if you turn in your bible to the book of zephaniah, lets start right there in chapter 1. Indeed, his main message was regarding the day of the lord. Zephaniah foresees the joyful return from captivity in due time. The prophet zephaniah was evidently a person of considerable social standing in judah and was probably related to the royal line. This means that zephaniah was a prophet to the southern kingdom, probably a resident of jerusalem see 1. The book of zephaniah introduction to the book of zephaniah in the bible. Book of zephaniah outline summary online bible nwt.
Introduction286 the book of zephaniah is probably best known for. Through the prophet zephaniah, we are taught that god uses various catastrophes to punish and humble nations. Outline of the book of zephaniah woe to her that is rebellious and polluted. Edward miller, journal for the study of the new testament 26 2003 21736 in 1995, new testament studies published a provocative piece by philip payne entitled, fuldensis, sigla for variants in vaticanus, and 1 cor. In the book of revelation, this punishment is called the wrath of god revelation 14. All that is known of zephaniah comes from the text the name cushi, zephaniah s father, means cushite or ethiopian, and the text of zephaniah mentions the sin and restoration of. 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. We can begin to pinpoint exactly when zephaniah prophesied by accounting for a few details in the text. What kings of judah preceded zephaniah s prophetical work, and what king. The little book of zephaniah will never take the place of john 3.
He traces his lineage back to his greatgreatgrandfather, hizkiah whom we know as hezekiah, king of judah. If this is correct then zephaniah would be part of the royal family. Nevertheless, this is a great book with a significant. Zephaniah identifies himself better than any of the other minor prophets. Study guide for zephaniah 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. Zephaniah was an unusual prophet, in that he was of royal lineage, descending from the godly king hezekiah. Zephaniah s message of judgment and encouragement contains three major. The new world translation of the holy scriptures is published by jehovahs witnesses.
In the book of zephaniah, gods justice and love offer. The word of the lord which came unto zephaniah the son of cushi, the son of gedaliah, the son of amariah, the son of hezekiah it seems likely that more forefathers of the prophet are named than is the wont of holy scripture, because the last so named was some one remarkable. Jerusalem woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled. What does it mean to worship the starry host or the host of the heavens zephaniah 1. The contents of this book have never been familiar, and i doubt that it has been read very much. The book presents an unambiguous denunciation of sin and warning of imminent judgment on judah. Ek klesia we can see this greek word in the english ecclesiology study of the church. While we do not know a lot about zephaniah, we do know that he was related to good king hezekiah. The prophets nahum, habakkuk and jeremiah were his contemporaries. Zephaniah was preaching at the same time as jeremiah in the days of josiah, a few years before nineveh fell. 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.
The nwt study bible is complete with cross references, maps, and an accurate bible dictionary. And zephaniah speaks to that very point right at the very beginning of the book of zephaniah. She does not trust in the lord, she does not draw near to her god. Zephaniah was likely written in the years before the revival, and god used this prophecy to bring and further revival. A consuming fire, his justice purifies the people, and his love restores jerusalem for the nations. When god had a message for the people, he spoke through the prophets. It is a small book, nestled in the midst of the minor prophets, toward the end of the old testament. This could possibly be a reference to hezekiah, king of judah 715686 bce. The books superscription attributes its authorship to zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah 1.
Since zephaniah predicts the destruction of nineveh which happened in 612 b. Title as with each of the 12 minor prophets, the prophecy bears the name of its author, which is generally thought to mean the lord hides cf. The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle. Yet before we get to that verse, the book, like many prophetic books, is full of alarming. The book of zephaniah center point bible institute. By exposing his plan for the major powers zephaniah 2. Zephaniah might possibly be one of the least known prophets of the seventh century. Zephaniah was the fourthgeneration descendant of hezekiah, a notable king of judah from 715 to 686 b. Chapter 1 judgment upon judah chapter 2 judgment upon the nations. His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. 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.
Interesting facts about zephaniah barnes bible charts meaning. The book of zephaniah was alleged written by the prophet zephaniah, whose lineage is. Study zephaniah using john gills exposition of the bible to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Here are a few examples of this time of punishment from the book of zephaniah. The day vs 8 must refer to the tribulation when god will judge all the earth. The date of zephaniah s prophecy is given as in the days of josiah the son of amon, king of judah. The day of the lord zephaniah adult bible study guide. Intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible society. Josiah led judah to religious and social reform, but zephaniah declared that these spiritual changes would not last. Zephaniah begins this section with a command to wait. His prophecy is probably to be dated relatively early in josiahs reign, before that kings attempt at reform and while conditions brought about by the reigns of manasseh and amon still prevailed and before the assyrian king. It appears that he is the great, great grandson of someone called hezekiah. Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to prepare judah for the reforms and revival under king josiah. Nor is it impossible that zephaniah should have been the great grandson of.
An integrated digital bible study library including complete notes from the niv study bible and the nkjv macarthur study bible is just a step away. This asterisk means that the question seeks for your opinions and thoughts. The answer is not directly found in the scripture passage as the other questions. Bible study guide book of zephaniah saturday, november 3, 2012 background on zephaniah in zephaniah 1. Jan 02, 2020 book of zephaniah bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. Yet before we get to that verse, the book, like many prophetic books, is full of alarming brokenness and impending judgement. I dare say that few have ever heard a sermon on zephaniah. The book of zephaniah shows extremely many similarities with other prophetic books of the ot. The book of zephaniah is probably best known for being the least known book of the entire bible. It is most likely that the book of the prophet zephaniah comes from a time after the rule of king josiah.
Zephaniah, too, was a minor prophet, writing only 3 chapters to make his book. Zephaniah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of zephaniah for bible study or sunday school lessons. Zephaniah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. Habakkuk concealed himself in silencewe know nothing about his backgroundbut zephaniah goes to the opposite extreme and tells us more than is ordinary. Zephaniah s ministry, then, was directed to judah just before these major changes came about. Zephaniah 3 niv jerusalem woe to the city of bible gateway. 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 gods chosen people.
Zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah. Study scripture verses and use highlighting, underlining, and take notes in the bible. Zephaniah was almost certainly born during the long, wicked reign of manasseh, whose reign began 55 years before the start of josiahs reign. One cannot be certain of this, but my study of zephaniah has led me to. Zephaniah means yahweh has hiddenprotected, or yahweh hides. The harpercollins study bible supplies headings for the book as follows.
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