Zephaniah 3:11

In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

In that day {H3117} shalt thou not be ashamed {H954} for all thy doings {H5949}, wherein thou hast transgressed {H6586} against me: for then I will take away {H5493} out of the midst {H7130} of thee them that rejoice {H5947} in thy pride {H1346}, and thou shalt no more {H3254} be haughty {H1361} because of my holy {H6944} mountain {H2022}.

When that day comes, you will not be ashamed of everything you have done, committing wrongs against me; for then I will remove from among you those of you who take joy in arrogance; you will no longer be full of pride on my holy mountain.

On that day you will not be put to shame for any of the deeds by which you have transgressed against Me. For then I will remove from among you those who rejoice in their pride, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain.

In that day shalt thou not be put to shame for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain.

Commentary

Commentary on Zephaniah 3:11 (KJV)

Zephaniah 3:11 is a powerful promise of future restoration and purification for God's people, specifically Jerusalem (often referred to as Zion or "my holy mountain"). It speaks to a time when shame for past transgressions will be removed, and the source of pride and arrogance will be purged.

Context

This verse is part of the concluding section of Zephaniah's prophecy (Zephaniah 3:9-20), which shifts dramatically from pronouncements of severe judgment against Judah and surrounding nations to a glorious vision of future salvation. After a period of divine discipline, God promises to gather His remnant, purify them, and dwell among them once more. "In that day" refers to this future era of God's redemptive work, often understood as the ultimate fulfillment in the Messianic age.

Key Themes

  • Removal of Shame and Forgiveness: God promises that His people "shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me." This highlights God's profound grace and promise of forgiveness and forgetting past sins, offering a fresh start free from the burden of guilt and humiliation.
  • Purification from Pride: A central theme is the removal of arrogance. God declares, "I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain." This indicates a divine cleansing from self-exaltation, which was a pervasive sin in Jerusalem. The "haughty" were those who boasted in their religious privileges or material wealth rather than in God.
  • Divine Presence and Humility: The ultimate outcome of this purification is a humble people living in God's presence. The phrase "my holy mountain" refers to Mount Zion, symbolizing God's dwelling place. The pride associated with it will be removed, allowing for true worship and a right relationship with God. This transformation emphasizes the importance of humility over pride.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "pride" here is ื’ึผึธืื•ึนืŸ (*ga'on*), often denoting arrogance or haughtiness. The word for "haughty" is ื’ึผึธื‘ึทื”ึผ (*gavah*), meaning to be high, exalted, or proud. These terms emphasize the internal spiritual condition of self-exaltation that God finds offensive and promises to remove from His people. The "holy mountain" (ื”ึทืจ ืงึธื“ึฐืฉืึดื™, *har qodshiy*) is Mount Zion, the site of the Temple, indicating that even religious privilege can become a source of sinful pride if not approached with humility.

Practical Application

Zephaniah 3:11 offers profound hope and a challenge for believers today:

  • God's Forgiveness is Complete: We are reminded that through Christ, our shame for past sins can be entirely removed. God's grace leads to a state where we are no longer condemned or ashamed.
  • A Call to Humility: This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (see James 4:6). True spiritual health involves rooting out pride in all its forms, whether it's boasting in achievements, status, or even religious observance.
  • Future Hope: The promise of a purified people dwelling securely with God provides immense hope for the future. It points to a time when sin and its effects will be fully eradicated, and God's people will live in perfect communion with Him, free from the very sins that once characterized them.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 54:4

    Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

  • Isaiah 11:9

    They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

  • Joel 2:26

    And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

  • Joel 2:27

    And ye shall know that I [am] in the midst of Israel, and [that] I [am] the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

  • Isaiah 61:7

    For your shame [ye shall have] double; and [for] confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

  • Isaiah 45:17

    [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

  • 1 Peter 2:6

    Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
โ† Back