Zephaniah 3:20
What does Zephaniah 3:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Zephaniah 3:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zephaniah 3:20 means
The chapter closes with a sweeping pledge: God will bring His people in, gather them, and make them a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth. He will do this “before your eyes,” turning the reality of captivity into the reality of restoration. The promise spans return, unity, and honor—public and undeniable. God’s faithfulness is the anchor; His word seals the future. The scattered become assembled; the shamed become celebrated; the distant become near. The vision points beyond a single moment to the fullness of God’s gathered, renewed people living under His gracious rule forever.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000At 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901At 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949At that time I will make you come in, at that time I will get you together: for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth when I let your fate be changed before your eyes, says the Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862At that time I bring you in, Even at the time of My assembling you, For I give you for a name, and for a praise, Among all peoples of the land, In My turning back <FI>to<Fi> your captivity before your eyes, said Jehovah!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752At that time, when I will bring you: and at the time that I will gather you: for I will give you a name, and praise among all the people of the earth, when I shall have brought back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890At that time will I bring you, yea, at the time that I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise, among all the peoples of the earth, when I shall turn again your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.
Context
Verse 20 is the capstone of the restoration promises in verses 14–19. It gathers all themes—return, gathering, honor, public vindication—and binds them with God’s authoritative “saith Jehovah.” This final assurance answers the opening woe by showing that judgment serves a larger purpose: a purified, joyful people under God’s kingly presence. The chapter’s arc moves from rebellion and corruption, through judgment, to global and local renewal, leaving the reader with confident hope in God’s steadfast plan.
v.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.
v.20This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezekiel 16:53
And I will turn again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them;
- Jeremiah 29:14
And I will be found of you, saith Jehovah, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith Jehovah; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
- Isaiah 62:12
And they shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Jehovah: and thou shalt be called Sought out, A city not forsaken.
- Isaiah 61:9
And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed.
- Ezekiel 28:25
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the nations, then shall they dwell in their own land which I gave to my servant Jacob.
- Ezekiel 34:16
I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice.
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