Zephaniah only contains three chapters, fifty-three verses and 1,616 words in the King James Bible. It is tied with several other Biblical books (Joel, Nahum, Titus, etc.) for the third smallest writing in terms of chapters. Its 53 verses is the 11th smallest in terms of verse count. Among the twelve Minor Prophets the book of Zephaniah is the seventh largest in terms of word count.
Date Written, Location
Zephaniah was written between 640 and 622 B.C. It was in 622 that Judah's King Josiah instituted major religious reforms that profoundly affected the entire nation. The book was written within the Kingdom of Judah.
[Meaning of Names in the Bible]
The Author
Zephaniah's name means "Jah has secreted" or "Jehovah has treasured" (Strong's Concordance #H6846). The prophet may have lived in Jerusalem as the phrase "from this place" in Zephaniah 1:4 hints at this location.
The Bible is silent regarding the death of the Minor Prophet Zephaniah. Additionally, tradition does not offer any clues regarding the final burial located of the prophet.
Zephaniah Chapter Outline
Chpt. 1: Zephaniah's prophetic book opens by God declaring his judgment upon the entire earth. He then warns Judah and Jerusalem of his punishment due to their idolatry which includes worshipping celestial object like the sun, planets and stars.
The last part of the chapter issues a dire warning about the prophetic Day of the Lord that will come upon the earth before Jesus' Second Coming. It will be a time of trial and trouble the likes of which humans have never experienced!
That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness . . . (Zephaniah 1:15).
The Lord closes by declaring that a person's toughness in the face of adversity, or their wealth and power, will not shield them from his wrath.
[What Is the Great Tribulation?]
Chpt. 2: The chapter begins by confirming that the entire world will experience God's wrath. Those who are humble are encourage to seek the Lord so that they may be saved when his anger is manifested.
Zephaniah then lists several cities and peoples that are targets for punishment. The Philistines, with their cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Ekron, are predicted to be destroyed. The land they once populated will be given to the tribe of Judah as God intended when he brought the Israelites into the Promised Land (Joshua 15:20, 46 - 47).
The Moabites and Ammonites, related to Abraham through Lot, will be destroyed with their land given to Israel. The Ethiopians will also be slain.
The fall of Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire, is also predicted (Zephaniah 2:13 - 15). The city's demise in 612 B.C. came roughly twenty years after Zephaniah's prophecies.
Chpt. 3: The chapter opens with further condemnation of Jerusalem. Her sins include being spiritually filthy and oppressing others. She is chastised for rejecting obediance to the Lord and trusting in him, opting instead to maintain her own righteousness even in the face of correction.
Jerusalem's princes and judges are also condemned for zealously seeking their own way in the midst of false prophets and priests promoting vain worship.
[Worshipping God in Spirit and Truth!]
After the Lord fulfills his wrath and purifies the people, he will make it possible for all humanity to obey him as he always intended. This behavior will only take place when Jesus rules the earth as King of Kings during what is called the Millennium.
[When Will All Prophecy Be Fulfilled?]
The Millennium is a time when the Lord will assume the throne as the true King of Israel (Zephaniah 3:15). People will rejoice with singing (verse 14) for the peace and happiness God's rule brings, with the Lord responding with joy through his own song (verse 17)!