Zephaniah 3:14

¶ Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

Sing {H7442}, O daughter {H1323} of Zion {H6726}; shout {H7321}, O Israel {H3478}; be glad {H8055} and rejoice {H5937} with all the heart {H3820}, O daughter {H1323} of Jerusalem {H3389}.

Sing, daughter of Tziyon! Shout, Isra'el! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Yerushalayim!

Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

Zephaniah 3:14 is a vibrant call to celebration and heartfelt joy directed towards the people of God, specifically "daughter of Zion" and "Israel," which represent Jerusalem and the nation.

Context

This verse marks a dramatic shift in the Book of Zephaniah. The preceding chapters are largely filled with stern pronouncements of judgment against Judah and surrounding nations for their idolatry, moral corruption, and rebellion against God. However, Zephaniah 3:9-20 pivots to a glorious prophecy of restoration, purification, and the Lord's redemptive work. The command to "Sing," "shout," "be glad and rejoice" in verse 14 is a direct response to the promised future deliverance and the profound presence of God among His people. It anticipates a time when the Lord will remove their judgments and cast out their enemies, as elaborated in Zephaniah 3:15.

Key Themes

  • Divine Restoration and Hope: The verse heralds a future where God’s people are not merely forgiven but actively restored to a state of blessing and joy, moving from judgment to triumph. This echoes themes of God's faithfulness even after periods of discipline.
  • Heartfelt Joy and Celebration: The repeated commands to "sing," "shout," "be glad," and "rejoice with all the heart" emphasize a deep, unreserved, and communal expression of delight rooted in God's faithfulness and His acts of salvation.
  • God's Presence as the Source of Joy: The underlying reason for this exuberant joy is the assurance of God's dwelling "in the midst" of His people, as further explained in Zephaniah 3:17, signifying His protection, love, and active participation in their lives.
  • The Remnant's Triumph: This joy is particularly for the faithful remnant who will experience God's promised salvation and a new era of peace.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew verbs used—ranan (sing/shout for joy), rua (shout/cry out in triumph), and samach (be glad/rejoice)—collectively convey an intense, public, and uninhibited expression of joy and triumph. These are not quiet emotions but declarations.
  • The phrase "with all the heart" (בְּכָל־לֵב, bekol-lev) underscores the sincerity and totality of this commanded joy, indicating it should emanate from the deepest part of one's being, not just a superficial emotion. It speaks to a complete devotion in their celebration.
  • "Daughter of Zion" and "daughter of Jerusalem" are common prophetic poetic expressions referring to the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants, often personified as a woman, symbolizing the collective identity of God's chosen people.

Practical Application

Zephaniah 3:14 offers a powerful message of hope and encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that even after periods of hardship, divine discipline, or personal struggles, God's promise of restoration and His abiding presence provide profound reasons for joy. Our response to God's redemptive work should be one of genuine, heartfelt celebration. This verse encourages us to actively express our gratitude and delight in the Lord, knowing that He is in our midst, working for our good, and even rejoices over us with singing. It calls us to embody the joy of our salvation, much like the call to shout and cry aloud in Isaiah 12:6, recognizing that true joy comes from God's presence and His finished work.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 12:6

    Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great [is] the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

  • Zechariah 2:10

    ¶ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

  • Zechariah 2:11

    And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

  • Micah 4:8

    ¶ And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

  • Psalms 95:1

    ¶ O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

  • Psalms 95:2

    Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

  • Isaiah 65:18

    But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
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