Zephaniah 2:1

ยถ Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

Gather yourselves together {H7197}, yea, gather together {H7197}, O nation {H1471} not desired {H3700};

Gather together, gather yourselves, nation devoid of shame;

Gather yourselves, gather together, O shameful nation,

Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation that hath no shame;

Commentary

Zephaniah 2:1 opens with a stark and urgent plea from God through the prophet Zephaniah, addressing the nation of Judah. It is a direct call to introspection and assembly in the face of impending divine judgment.

Context

The prophet Zephaniah ministered in Judah during the reign of King Josiah (c. 640-609 BC), a period marked by both religious reforms and widespread spiritual decay. Despite Josiah's efforts to purge idolatry, the people's hearts often remained unrepentant. This verse comes early in Zephaniah's prophecy, which largely focuses on the coming "Day of the Lord"โ€”a period of severe judgment upon Judah and surrounding nations for their sin and idolatry. The call to "gather yourselves together" suggests a final opportunity for the nation to humble itself and seek the Lord before the full force of His wrath is unleashed, as described in Zephaniah 1:7.

Key Themes

  • Urgent Call to Repentance: The repeated phrase "Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together" emphasizes the immediate and critical need for the nation to assemble, likely for a time of corporate confession, mourning, and seeking God's mercy. It's an invitation to turn from their wicked ways before it's too late.
  • The "Nation Not Desired": This poignant phrase describes Judah's spiritual state. The Hebrew phrase, lo' nikseh (ืœื ื ื›ืกื”), literally means "not blushing" or "without shame." It refers to a nation so entrenched in sin and spiritual apathy that it no longer feels shame or remorse for its rebellion against God. The KJV's "not desired" captures the consequence: a people who have made themselves undesirable to God due to their persistent unfaithfulness.
  • Impending Judgment: The urgency of the call underscores the severity of the coming judgment. God's patience is wearing thin, and the window for repentance is rapidly closing.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "gather yourselves together" is qashash (ืงืฉืฉ). While it can mean to 'gather' in a general sense, it also carries the nuance of 'gathering stubble' or 'straw,' often implying a hasty collection before it's swept away or burned. This suggests an urgent, almost desperate assembly, perhaps to avert destruction. The phrase "nation not desired" is a crucial insight. As noted, lo' nikseh (ืœื ื ื›ืกื”) is better rendered "shameless" or "without shame," highlighting Judah's moral insensitivity and spiritual callousness. This lack of remorse is a significant factor in their impending judgment.

Practical Application

Zephaniah 2:1 serves as a timeless warning and a call to action for individuals and nations today. Are we, like ancient Judah, a "nation not desired" or "without shame," indifferent to spiritual truth and moral decay? This verse prompts us to:

  • Examine Ourselves: Are we quick to confess our sins and seek God's face, or have we become desensitized to our spiritual condition?
  • Embrace Repentance: The call to "gather" is a call to corporate and individual repentance. It reminds us that God always offers an opportunity for turning back to Him, as seen in Amos 5:4.
  • Respond to God's Warnings: God's warnings are not meant to condemn but to call us to salvation and righteous living. Ignoring them only hastens unfavorable outcomes.

Ultimately, this verse highlights God's justice but also His persistent desire for His people to return to Him, even when they are in a state of spiritual rebellion.

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Cross-References

  • Joel 1:14 (7 votes)

    ยถ Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders [and] all the inhabitants of the land [into] the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,

  • 2 Chronicles 20:4 (6 votes)

    And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask [help] of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

  • Nehemiah 8:1 (5 votes)

    ยถ And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that [was] before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

  • Esther 4:16 (5 votes)

    Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

  • Nehemiah 9:1 (5 votes)

    ยถ Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.

  • Zechariah 11:8 (4 votes)

    Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

  • Jeremiah 6:15 (4 votes)

    Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time [that] I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.