Zephaniah 3:9

3:9 Know for sure that I will then enable

the nations to give me acceptable praise.

All of them will invoke the Lord’s name when they pray,

and will worship him in unison.

Zephaniah 3:20

3:20 At that time I will lead you –

at the time I gather you together.

Be sure of this! I will make all the nations of the earth respect and admire you

when you see me restore you,” says the Lord.


tn Heb “Certainly [or perhaps, “For”] then I will restore to the nations a pure lip.”

sn I will then enable the nations to give me acceptable praise. This apparently refers to a time when the nations will reject their false idol-gods and offer genuine praise to the one true God.

tn Heb “so that all of them will call on the name of the Lord.”

tn Heb “so that [they] will serve him [with] one shoulder.”

tn In this line the second person pronoun is masculine plural, indicating that the exiles are addressed.

tn Or “for.”

tn Heb “I will make you into a name and praise among all the peoples of the earth.” Here the word “name” carries the nuance of “good reputation.”

tn Heb “when I restore your fortunes to your eyes.” See the note on the phrase “restore them” in 2:7.