Zefanya 2:2

2:2 before God’s decree becomes reality ¹  and the day of opportunity disappears like windblown chaff, ² 

before the Lord’s raging anger ³  overtakes ⁴  you –

before the day of the Lord’s angry judgment overtakes you!

Zefanya 2:4

Judgment on Surrounding Nations

2:4 Indeed, ⁵  Gaza will be deserted ⁶ 

and Ashkelon will become a heap of ruins. ⁷ 

Invaders will drive away the people of Ashdod by noon, ⁸ 

and Ekron will be overthrown. ⁹ 

Zefanya 3:19

3:19 Look, at that time I will deal with those who mistreated you.

I will rescue the lame sheep ¹⁰ 

and gather together the scattered sheep.

I will take away their humiliation

and make the whole earth admire and respect them. ¹¹ 

[2:2]  ¹ tn Heb “before the giving birth of a decree.” For various alternative readings, see J. J. M. Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (OTL), 187-88.

[2:2]  ² tn The second half of the line reads literally, “like chaff it passes by a day.” The translation above assumes the “day” is the brief time God is giving the nation to repent. The comparison of this quickly passing opportunity to chaff is consistent with the straw imagery of v. 1.

[2:2]  ³ tn Heb “the fury of the anger of the Lord.” The synonyms are combined to emphasize the extreme degree of the Lord’s anger.

[2:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “comes upon.” This phrase occurs twice in this verse.

[2:4]  ⁵ tn Or “for” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV).

[2:4]  ⁶ tn There is a sound play here in the Hebrew text: the name Gaza (עַזָּה, ’azzah) sounds like the word translated “deserted” (עֲזוּבָה, ’azuvah).

[2:4]  ⁷ tn Or “a desolate place.”

[2:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “[As for] Ashdod, at noon they will drive her away.”

[2:4]  sn The reference to noon may suggest a sudden, quick defeat (see Jer 6:4; 15:8).

[2:4]  ⁹ tn Heb “uprooted.” There is a sound play here in the Hebrew text: the name “Ekron” (עֶקְרוֹן, ’eqron) sounds like the word translated “uprooted” (תֵּעָקֵר, te’aqer).

[3:19]  ¹⁰ tn The word “sheep” is supplied for clarification. As in Mic 4:6-7, the exiles are here pictured as injured and scattered sheep whom the divine shepherd rescues from danger.

[3:19]  ¹¹ tn Heb “I will make them into praise and a name, in all the earth, their shame.” The present translation assumes that “their shame” specifies “them” and that “name” stands here for a good reputation.