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Zephaniah 3:17

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Zephaniah 3:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who 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 — American Standard Version

Context — Zephaniah 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more.
16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.
17Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.
18I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; [to whom] the burden upon her was a reproach.
19Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save that which is lame, and gather that which was driven away; and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth.
20At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.
← Zephaniah 3:16Zephaniah 3:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty, etc.] Every word carries in it something very encouraging to the church and people of God; and is an antidote against those fears and faintings they are subject to; Christ “is in the midst of” them; near at hand to support and supply them, to assist and strengthen them, to protect and defend them; he is not only near by his essential presence, which is everywhere; and by his providential presence, which is concerned with all his creatures; but by his gracious presence, peculiar to his church and people; and which gives them unspeakable joy, and is a sufficient security from all fears and dismayings; (see <234110>Isaiah 41:10) and he, who is…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“he will rest in his love--content with it as His supreme delight (compare Luk 15:7, Luk 15:10) [CALVIN], (Isa 62:5; Isa 65:19). Or, He shall be silent, namely as to thy faults, not imputing them to thee [MAURER] (Psa 32:2; Eze 33:16). I prefer explaining it of that calm silent joy in the possession of the object of one's love, too great for words to express: just as God after the six days of creation rested with silent satisfaction in His work, for "behold it was very good" (Gen 1:31; Gen 2:2). So the parallel clause by contrast expresses the joy, not kept silent as this, but uttered in "singing."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save - What can He then not do for thee, since He is Almighty? What will He not do for thee, since “He will save?” whom then should we fear? “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. But then was He especially “in the midst of” us, when God “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and Truth” John 1:14. Thenceforth He ever is in the midst of His own. He with the Father and the Holy Spirit “come unto them and make Their abode with them” John 14:23, so that they are “the temple of God. He will save,” as He saith, “My Father is greater…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:17 a mighty savior: God was Israel’s Divine Warrior and Redeemer (see Ps 24:8-10; Isa 42:13; Hab 3:8-15). One of God’s titles is “the Mighty God” (Isa 10:21). This title also applies to the Messiah (Isa 9:6). • He will rejoice over you: Not only will Jerusalem and all Israel rejoice in God (Zeph 3:14) but God will also rejoice over them as a purified and faithful people (see 3:12-13).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“in the: Zep 3:5, Zep 3:15 is mighty: Gen 17:1, Gen 18:14; Psa 24:8-10; Isa 9:6, Isa 12:2, Isa 12:6, Isa 63:12; Heb 7:25 will rejoice: Num 14:8; Deu 30:9; Psa 147:11, Psa 149:4; Isa 62:4, Isa 62:5, Isa 65:19; Jer 32:41; Luk 15:5, Luk 15:6, Luk 15:23, Luk 15:24, Luk 15:32; Joh 15:11 he will: Gen 1:31, Gen 2:2; Isa 18:4; Joh 13:1 rest: Heb. be silent Zephaniah 3:18”
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Related study paths

Read Zephaniah 3 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification