Zephaniah 2:7
What does Zephaniah 2:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 2:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 2:7 means
God promises the seacoast “for the remnant of the house of Judah.” They will feed their flocks there and even lie down in the evening in Ashkelon’s houses—once feared Philistine spaces now scenes of rest. The key phrase, “Jehovah their God will visit them, and bring back their captivity,” explains the change. God’s visitation is gracious intervention, reversing exile’s losses and restoring His people to peace. This is not triumphalism but tender care: shepherds resting at night, captives returned. The remnant theme assures that though judgment is real, God preserves and restores those who belong to Him, keeping His covenant purposes alive.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed their flocks thereupon; in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for Jehovah their God will visit them, and bring back their captivity.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed their flocks thereupon; in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for Jehovah their God will visit them, and bring back their captivity.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The land by the sea will be for the rest of the children of Judah; by the sea they will give their flocks food: in the houses of Ashkelon they will take their rest in the evening; for the Lord their God will take them in hand and their fate will be changed.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the coast hath been for the remnant of the house of Judah, By them they have pleasure, In houses of Ashkelon at even they lie down, For inspect them doth Jehovah their God, And He hath turned back <FI>to<Fi> their captivity.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And it shall be the portion of him that shall remain of the house of Juda, there they shall feed: in the houses of Ascalon they shall rest in the evening: because the Lord their God will visit them, and bring back their captivity.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for Jehovah theirGod shall visit them, and turn again their captivity.
Context
This completes the Philistia oracle (vv.4–7) with a promise of restoration for Judah. The hope for a remnant balances the earlier calls to repentance and the severe judgments on the nations. Next, the prophet turns eastward (vv.8–10) to address Moab and Ammon, explaining that God has heard their insults and will repay them. The pattern—indictment, judgment, and a word about Israel’s remnant—continues to unfold.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Zephaniah 2:9
Therefore as I live, saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall make a prey of them, and the remnant of my nation shall inherit them.
- Psalms 85:1
Jehovah, thou hast been favorable unto thy land; Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
- Micah 5:3
Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
- Acts 8:40
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.
- Micah 4:10
Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and shalt dwell in the field, and shalt come even unto Babylon: there shalt thou be rescued; there will Jehovah redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
- Luke 1:68
Blessedbethe Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
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