Zephaniah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of zephaniah for bible study or sunday school lessons. Yet before we get to that verse, the book, like many prophetic books, is full of alarming brokenness and impending judgement. Which is like a lame and maimed sheep, of which there is danger of its being left behind and lost. 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. It describes a time when yahweh will come to his people and necessarily destroy evil as a means to delivering them. This is the name of one of the twelve minor prophets of the old testament, the author of the book of zephaniah.
The new testament on one occasion identifies the day of the lord with the gift of the spirit on the day of pentecost acts 2. We often overlook seemingly boring genealogies in the bible, but sometimes they can be the most interesting part. Thus, for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, this passage in zephaniah is truly a hidden gem. 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. Introduction from the niv study bible go to zephaniah. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of. By giving his lineage and citing king josiah, during whose reign he ministered, zephaniah linked himself with the godly kings and the godly remnant of israels history. This fierce, horsemounted people originated in what is now southern russia, but by the seventh. 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. Politically, the imminent transfer of assyrian world power to the babylonians weakened ninevehs hold. Israels struggles to resist foreign influences and to rebuild the temple are spotlighted in the book. The book of zephaniah was written before 629 bc when josiah found and eagerly read the holy scriptures discovered in the temple. The little book of zephaniah will never take the place of john 3.
The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed. Composed by the prophet composed by the prophet the dominant theme of the book is the day of the lord, which the prophet sees approaching as a consequence of the sins of judah. Read the history books and you will find that these have been fulfilled in minute detail. Zephaniah, also spelled sophonias, flourished 7th century bc, israelite prophet, said to be the author of one of the shorter old testament prophetical books, who proclaimed the approaching divine judgment. Zechariahs prophecies took place during the reign of darius the great, and were contemporary with haggai in a post exilic world after the fall of jerusalem in 5876 bc. Who is zephaniah and why is he important in the bible. This is book number 8 in the summary of the 12 minor prophets of the bible. Zephaniah simply has three chapters of old fashioned prophetic zeal. Zephaniah ministered several decades after nahum and was an early contemporary of jeremiah.
Zephaniah the prophet may have been the son of a cushite man. Historical introduction zephaniah the prophet prophesied during the reign of king josiah who ascended his throne in 639 bc. Zephaniahs message of judgment and encouragement contains three major doctrines. The first verse of the book of zephaniah makes him a contemporary of josiah, king of judah reigned c. Zephaniah was a prophet at the same time when jeremiah was a prophet. Zephaniah contemporary of jeremiah preached around 625 bc king manasseh is dead after a reign of 55 years the most evil king in judah he was the exact opposite of his father king hezekiah. Zephaniah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. This probable royal ancestry made him somewhat unusual among all the other hebrew. The book of jeremiah reflects the everworsening situation jeremiah encountered.
The day of the lord is a major theme in zephaniah occurring 23 times in this short book as well as in obadiah, joel, and ezekiel. Zephaniah lived during one of the worst times in the history of judah, under the evil reign of king manasseh. Intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible society. Outline of the book of zephaniah woe to her that is rebellious and polluted. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the. The date of zephaniahs prophecy is given as in the days of josiah the son of amon, king of judah. Sing, o daughter of zion at that time, o daughter of zion, thou shalt break forth into loud and joyful praises to jehovah, for his goodness toward thee. Zephaniah intro to zephaniah biblica the international bible. Zephaniah is the only prophet to mention four generations of his ancestors. But the lord here promises he will take care of such, and save them from all their sins, and out of the hands of all their enemies. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. The book of zephaniah center point bible institute. The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle. Son of hezekiah, possibly the famous judean king c.
The injunction here to zion, to be thankful and joyful, is trebled, sing, shout, and rejoice, as it is elsewhere in both testaments. Read commentary on this popular bible verse and understand the real meaning behind gods word using john gills exposition of the bible. Interesting facts about zephaniah barnes bible charts meaning. The nwt study bible is complete with cross references, maps, and an accurate bible dictionary. An overview of the book of jeremiah bible commentary. The words of zephaniah contain one of my favorite bible verses.
The purpose of this book was to show the complacent southern kingdoms that they were wicked, god used a prophet zephaniah. While zephaniah and joel obviously had local aspects in view of this coming day of yahweh. Zephaniah was a fourthgeneration descendant of hezekiah, a notable king of judah from 715 to 686 b. From the hebrew name tzefanyah meaning yahweh has hidden, derived from meaning to hide and referring to the hebrew god. Like many other books in the old testament, the book of zephaniah has a combination of history and prophesy. Zephaniah does not even have a verse to feature on christmas cards, like micah who tells us about the coming king from bethlehem. Book of zephaniah, also called sophonias, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. The book tells us that zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah, the king of judah from 640 to 609 bc zephaniah 1. Bible history online images and resources for biblical history. At various times, he had the unenviable tasks of challenging the religious hypocrisy, economic dishonesty and oppressive practices of judahs leaders and those who followed them. In this historical context, zephaniah urges judah to obedience to yahweh, saying that perhaps he will forgive them if they do.
Jeremiah was the voice of warning, the watchman who brings attention to hard truths. The book of zephaniah contains no direct messianic prophecies, but the prophets focus on the day of the lord as the time of judgment and blessing connects his message with the work of christ. Historically, the book of zephaniah was used in the providence of god to. It was zephaniahs lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the bible the judgment of god. The contents of this book have never been familiar, and i doubt that it has been read very much. Historical background and summary of the book of zephaniah in easy to study bible survey format. Use highlighting, underlining, and take notes while you study the bible. Benjamin zephaniah has 49 books on goodreads with 17918 ratings. Obrien, nahum, habakkuk, zephaniah, haggai, zechariah. Zephaniahs primary target for gods message of judgment, the nation of judah, had fallen into grievous sin under the reign of their king, manasseh. Zephaniah 1 the word of the lord that came to bible. Zephaniah has made it necessary, how ever, to suppose that all. Zephaniah means yahweh has hiddenprotected, or yahweh hides. The book of zephaniah, the ninth book of the twelve minor prophets, is written in three chapters.
One interesting find is located in the first verse of the book of zephaniah. The prophecy opens with a statement of the authors ancestry, which in itself is an unusual feature of the hebrew prophetic tradition. The book of ezra recounts israels final years of exile in babylon, including accounts of two returning groups as they are restored to their homeland after 70 years in captivity. Skeptics may scoff and ask what is the sign of his coming for since. We have for him no memorable biographical details like being swallowed by a whale jonah or marrying a prostitute hosea. This day is one of judgment against those who sin against god, and one of blessing for those who follow him. He begins his prophecy by tracing his heritage back to hezekiah king of judah. The book of zechariah, attributed to the hebrew prophet zechariah, is included in the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible. Many bear the unmistakable marks of their oral origin and can best be. Zephaniah wrote it shortly before the fall of judah in the southern kingdom. The book of malachi, the last of the twelve minor prophets, was written by an anonymous writer called malachi, or my messenger. The story behind the small book most people see zephaniah as a useless book. Many of the minor prophets books are very small and seem to not have too much content in them. Manassehs and amons reigns were dark times in judahs history.
The theme of zephaniah is the approaching day of the lord. 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, the prophet who authored this book, most likely had a royal lineage. The name of zephaniah means treasured protected, hidden of jehovah. He prophesied during king josiahs righteous reign followed by the sinful reigns of manasseh. I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the lord. Summary of the book of zephaniah the story of the bible. The structure of the book of zephaniah includes three major sections 1.
He would not be from the humble origins of a prophet like amos, the sheepherder. Zephaniah historical overview biblical foundations for freedom. The book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic source of wisdom. Zephaniah the prophet prophesied during the reign of king josiah who ascended his throne in 639 bc. Perhaps written from about 500450 bce, the book is concerned with spiritual degradation, religious perversions, social injustices, and unfaithfulness to the covenant. The book of zephaniah shows extremely many similarities. Resources, free bible software, bible art, biblical history topics and study, and ancient bible maps of rome, greece, and ancient near east. Zephaniah may be small, but it is packed with themes and purposes. I dare say that few have ever heard a sermon on zephaniah. Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of josiah 640609 b.
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