The Book of Zephaniah

Zephaniah warns of the coming day of the LORD against pride and complacency, and ends with the tender promise that God rejoices over his people with singing.

Testament

Old (3 chapters)

Type

Minor Prophet

Date

During the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC).

The great day of the LORD

Zephaniah's vision of universal judgment ('I will utterly consume all things from off the land' — 1:2) is severe. It targets specifically religious complacency — those 'settled on their lees' (1:12), assuming God will neither bless nor punish.

God's joy over his people

The book's last paragraph is one of the Bible's most tender lines: 'The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty... he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing' (3:17). After three chapters of storm, this is sunrise.

Key verses (KJV)

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” — Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)

“The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth.” — Zephaniah 2:11 (KJV)

“Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth.” — Zephaniah 2:3 (KJV)

How to read Zephaniah

Three chapters; one sitting. Don't skip the storm to get to the sunrise — they belong together. The closing verses (3:14-20) deserve memorization.

Read Zephaniah on your iPhone

Read the full book of Zephaniah in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.

More Old Testament books

• The Book of Haggai
• The Book of Zechariah
• The Book of Malachi
• The Book of Genesis
• The Book of Exodus

From the blog

Frequently asked questions

What is the Book of Zephaniah about?

Zephaniah is a book of Minor Prophet, running to 3 chapters. Its main threads: The great day of the LORD; God's joy over his people.

Who wrote the Book of Zephaniah?

Zephaniah, of royal Judean descent.

Where does Zephaniah come in the Bible?

Zephaniah is one of the 39 books of the Old Testament in the Protestant canon, grouped with the Minor Prophet books. You can walk the canon in order using the previous and next links on this page.