The Meaning of Zephaniah 3:8 Explained

Zephaniah 3:8

KJV: Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

YLT: Therefore, wait for Me -- an affirmation of Jehovah, For the day of My rising for prey, For My judgment is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them Mine indignation, All the heat of Mine anger, For by the fire of My jealousy consumed is all the earth.

Darby: Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to assemble the nations, that I may gather the kingdoms together, to pour upon them mine indignation, all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

ASV: Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore wait  ye upon me, saith  the LORD,  until the day  that I rise up  to the prey:  for my determination  [is] to gather  the nations,  that I may assemble  the kingdoms,  to pour  upon them mine indignation,  [even] all my fierce  anger:  for all the earth  shall be devoured  with the fire  of my jealousy. 

What does Zephaniah 3:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The people of Jerusalem needed to wait a little longer. The Lord would soon rise up as a devouring animal to consume His prey. He had determined to gather nations and kingdoms that were wicked, including Judah, and pour His burning indignation and wrath on them. Yahweh"s fiery zeal would devour all nations because the world would again become thoroughly corrupt (as in the days of Noah, cf. Genesis 6:5-7; Zephaniah 1:2-3). According to Charles Feinberg, this is the only verse in the Old Testament that contains all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. [1]
The world is still waiting for the Lord to pour out His wrath on all nations. He has not done so yet because He is patient and is giving people time to repent (cf. 2 Peter 3:9). Yet that day will surely come ( 2 Peter 3:10). In view of its coming, Christians need to be holy in conduct and godly in character looking for and hastening that day (by our prayers and preaching, 2 Peter 3:11). The great outpouring of divine wrath on the earth predicted here will take place during the Tribulation, before our Lord returns to set up His kingdom (cf. Zephaniah 2:2; Zechariah 14:2; Revelation 16:14; Revelation 16:16).
Zephaniah"s final reference to the destruction of nations all over the world ( Zephaniah 3:8) brings the section of his prophecy that deals with judgment ( Zephaniah 1:2 to Zephaniah 3:8) full circle.
AJudgment on the world Zephaniah 1:2-3BJudgment on Judah Zephaniah 1:4 to Zephaniah 2:3CJudgment on Israel"s neighbors Zephaniah 2:4-15B"Judgment on Jerusalem Zephaniah 3:1-7A"Judgment on all nations Zephaniah 3:8

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 3:8 mean?

Therefore wait for Me says Yahweh Until the day I rise up for plunder for My determination [is] to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms to pour on them My indignation all fierce My anger with the fire of My jealousy Shall be devoured all the earth
לָכֵ֤ן חַכּוּ־ לִי֙ נְאֻם־ יְהוָ֔ה לְי֖וֹם קוּמִ֣י לְעַ֑ד כִּ֣י מִשְׁפָּטִי֩ לֶאֱסֹ֨ף גּוֹיִ֜ם לְקָבְצִ֣י מַמְלָכ֗וֹת לִשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם זַעְמִי֙ כֹּ֚ל חֲר֣וֹן אַפִּ֔י בְּאֵ֣שׁ קִנְאָתִ֔י תֵּאָכֵ֖ל כָּל־ הָאָֽרֶץ

חַכּוּ־  wait 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: חָכָה  
Sense: to wait, wait for, await.
לִי֙  for  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְי֖וֹם  Until  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
קוּמִ֣י  I  rise  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
לְעַ֑ד  for  plunder 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַד  
Sense: booty, prey.
מִשְׁפָּטִי֩  My  determination  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
לֶאֱסֹ֨ף  to  gather 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
גּוֹיִ֜ם  the  nations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
לְקָבְצִ֣י  to  My  assembly 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
מַמְלָכ֗וֹת  of  kingdoms 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַמְלָכָה  
Sense: kingdom, dominion, reign, sovereignty.
לִשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ  to  pour 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שֶׂפֶק 
Sense: to pour, pour out, spill.
עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם  on  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
זַעְמִי֙  My  indignation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: זַעַם  
Sense: anger, indignation.
חֲר֣וֹן  fierce 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חָרֹון  
Sense: anger, heat, burning (of anger).
אַפִּ֔י  My  anger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
בְּאֵ֣שׁ  with  the  fire 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
קִנְאָתִ֔י  of  My  jealousy 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: קִנְאָה  
Sense: ardour, zeal, jealousy.
תֵּאָכֵ֖ל  Shall  be  devoured 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
הָאָֽרֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.