The Meaning of Zephaniah 3:16 Explained

Zephaniah 3:16

KJV: In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

YLT: In that day it is said to Jerusalem, 'Fear not, O Zion, let not thy hands be feeble.

Darby: In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not; Zion, let not thy hands be slack.

ASV: In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In that day  it shall be said  to Jerusalem,  Fear  thou not: [and to] Zion,  Let not thine hands  be slack. 

What does Zephaniah 3:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Zephaniah 3:1-20 - Fullness Of Salvation
The sins of Jerusalem, Zephaniah 3:1-7. Uninfluenced by judgments upon other nations, Jerusalem pursued her course, morally impure, oppressive, refusing instruction, estranged from God. Yet God still dwelt in the city which He had chosen. Morning by morning His Spirit was appealing for repentance and righteousness. Through His faithful ones He was still shedding the light and glory of a holier civilization through the community, but the population at large refused to heed.
The effects of cleansing judgment, Zephaniah 3:8-20. These closing verses are marked by great tenderness, showing as they do, the results that God's dealings are designed to effect. A pure life; service with one consent; the trust of the afflicted soul in the love of God; the weaning of the heart from all iniquity-what great and lovely results of that long captivity! Let God have His way with you! He will change your sorrow into songs; will cast out your enemies and turn again your captivity; will manifest His infinite love, now in brooding tenderness, and then in outbursting songs. Those who have been filled with sorrow, and have borne the burden of reproach for God, shall be comforted. Even the halt and exiled shall participate, and become a name and a praise. The captives would be liberated and the dispersed would be gathered home [source]

Chapter Summary: Zephaniah 3

1  A sharp reproof of Jerusalem for various sins
8  An exhortation to wait for the restoration of Israel,
14  and to rejoice for their salvation by God

What do the individual words in Zephaniah 3:16 mean?

In day that it shall be said to Jerusalem not do fear Zion not let be weak your hands
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא יֵאָמֵ֥ר לִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אַל־ תִּירָ֑אִי צִיּ֖וֹן אַל־ יִרְפּ֥וּ יָדָֽיִךְ

בַּיּ֣וֹם  In  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַה֔וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יֵאָמֵ֥ר  it  shall  be  said 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם  to  Jerusalem 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
תִּירָ֑אִי  do  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
צִיּ֖וֹן  Zion 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִיּׄון  
Sense: another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books.
יִרְפּ֥וּ  let  be  weak 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָפָה  
Sense: to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened.
יָדָֽיִךְ  your  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, second person feminine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.