Zephaniah 3:17
What does Zephaniah 3:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 3:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 3:17 means
Jehovah your God is in your midst, a mighty one who saves. He rejoices over you with joy, quiets you in His love, and exults over you with singing. Here is the astonishing heart of restoration: God is not only present and powerful; He is glad in His people. His love steadies the anxious and turns their fears into rest. The imagery suggests both warrior and bridegroom—strength to deliver, affection to cherish. This anticipates the gospel, where God’s saving love is revealed fully and His people learn to rest in it. Salvation issues in communion marked by divine delight.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jehovah 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jehovah 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The Lord your God is among you, as a strong saviour: he will be glad over you with joy, he will make his love new again, he will make a song of joy over you as in the time of a holy feast.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jehovah thy God <FI>is<Fi> in thy midst, A mighty one doth save, He rejoiceth over thee with joy, He doth work in His love, He joyeth over thee with singing.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jehovah thyGod is in thy midst, a mighty one that will save: he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will exult over thee with singing.
Context
Verse 17 crowns the chapter’s comfort by revealing God’s joy and love toward His redeemed. It follows the call to courage in verse 16 and grounds it in God’s character and presence. The next verses (18–20) will detail how this love acts: gathering the sorrowful, dealing with oppressors, healing the lame, restoring the exiled, and giving honor before the nations. The flow moves from assurance to action—God’s delight becomes tangible restoration.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
- Zephaniah 3:15
Jehovah 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.
- Zephaniah 3:5
Jehovah in the midst of her is righteous; he will not do iniquity; every morning doth he bring his justice to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
- Numbers 14:8
If Jehovah delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it unto us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
- Genesis 2:2
And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
- Isaiah 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation.
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