Zephaniah 3 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

To her — Jerusalem.

The voice — Of God by his mercy and judgments crying aloud.

Her princes — Persons of principal place and authority. Lions — Which hunt for prey, and are ever affrighting or devouring. Wolves — Insatiable and cruel, like wolves of the evening, whetted with hunger. Gnaw not the bones — They leave nothing but the bones to be eaten on the morrow.

Her prophet — So called, false prophets. Light — Unstable and inconstant. Violence to the law — Wresting it by perverse interpretation.

In the midst — Observing all. Not do iniquity — He will judge them righteously. Every morning — Daily he discovers his displeasure against the wicked. Faileth not — Lets no season slip to convince them, by public and visible punishments. The unjust — But the wicked Jews proceed without shame, and without fear.

The nations — Of old, the Canaanites, lastly the ten tribes, and later yet, the Assyrians.

I said — I thought (speaking after the manner of men). Thou — O Jerusalem. Fear me — For the many and great judgments executed upon others. I punished them — In some measure.

Therefore — Since you will not be amended. Wait ye — Attend my resolution. Until — Until I rise up to destroy first, and next to take the spoil. Upon them — The incorrigible Jews. Devoured — Consumed as if burnt up. My jealousy — That jealousy wherewith God is jealous for his own glory.

A pure language — I will give them a pure way of worshipping me, the issue of a pure heart.

My dispersed — The praying remnant of the scattered Jews shall return to their own land, and bring themselves an offering unto the Lord.

Thy doings — Thy sins formerly committed. In thy pride — Proud formalists. No more be haughty — Ye shall no more boast, because of the city, or the temple.

Of thee — In Judea and Jerusalem.

Shall feed — Shall enjoy peace and plenty.

Taken away — Abolished, and put an end to the judgments thy sins brought upon thee. Thine enemy — The Babylonian. Is in the midst — He is returned to redeem and govern thee. Any more — While thy carriage is as becomes my presence with thee, thou shalt neither fear, nor feel the like evils.

Sorrowful — That mourn their distance from the solemn worship of God. Who are of thee — Thy children. Reproach — The taunts of their enemies.

Undo — I will break their power and dissolve their kingdom. That halteth — Who is in trouble and ready to fall. Driven out — Into remote countries.

A praise — So the universal church of the first — born will be, in the great day. And then the Israel of God be made a name and a praise to all eternity.