Editing Book of Zephaniah

{{short description|Book of the Bible}}
{{About |the Book of Zephaniah|the Hebrew prophet|Zephaniah}}
{{Tanakh OT|Nevi'im|prophetic}}
[[File:Leningrad-codex-13-twelve-minor-prophets.pdf |250px |thumb|The [[Leningrad Codex]] (AD. 1008) contains the complete text of the Book of Zephaniah in [[Hebrew]].]]
The '''Book of Zephaniah''' {{IPAc-en|ˌ|z|ɛ|f|ə|ˈ|n|aɪ|.|ə}} ({{langx|he|צְפַנְיָה}}, ''Ṣəfanyā''; sometimes Latinized as ''Sophonias'') is the ninth of the [[Twelve Minor Prophets]] of the [[Old Testament]] and [[Tanakh]], preceded in all traditions by the [[Book of Habakkuk]] and followed by the [[Book of Haggai]]. The book has three chapters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Bible (online) |url=https://www.bible.com/}}</ref> Zephaniah is a male given name which is usually interpreted to mean "[[Yahweh]] has hidden/protected",{{sfn |Grudem et al. |2008|p=1729}} or "Yahweh hides".{{sfn |Carson et al. |2015|p= 1839}} The church father [[Jerome of Stridon]] interpreted [[Zephaniah]]'s name to mean "the watchman of the Lord".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/prophecy-of-sophonias-12455|title=The Prophecy of Sophonias &#124; EWTN|website=EWTN Global Catholic Television Network}}</ref> The original text of the prophecy was written in [[Biblical Hebrew]].

Scholars propose various dates of composition; some scholars argue that the book was probably composed during the reign of [[Josiah]] (late-[[seventh century BCE]]),<ref>{{cite book |title=The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah |last=Renz |first=Thomas |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |year=2021 |isbn=978-1-4674-6184-9 |page=71 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yOX9DwAAQBAJ&pg=RA3-PA71}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Theology of the Books of Nahum, Habbakuk, and Zephaniah |last=Timmer |first=Daniel C. |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-108-47559-4 |pages=181–183 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UP_5EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA182}}</ref> while others hold that an original core of oracles was expanded and edited in [[Babylonian captivity|exilic]] or later times.<ref>{{cite book |last=Quine |first=Cat |title= The Oxford Handbook of the Minor Prophets |date=2021 |pages=499–510 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190673208.013.8 |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190673208.013.8}}</ref><ref>Hagedorn, Anselm C. 2011. “When Did Zephaniah Become a Supporter of Josiah’s Reform?” JTS 62:465-469.</ref>

== Authorship and date ==
[[File:Southern France, Toulouse(?), 13th century - Fol. 362v, Zephaniah, historiated initial V, Zephaniah kneeling with a scro - 2008.2.362.b - Cleveland Museum of Art.tif|thumb|upright=1.1|A 13th-century Latin Bible, possibly from [[Toulouse]], with part of the Book of Zephaniah (Latin ''Sophonias'')]]
The book's superscription attributes its authorship to "Zephaniah son of Cushi son of Gedaliah son of Amariah son of Hezekiah, in the days of [[Josiah|King Josiah]] son of [[Amon of Judah]]".<ref>[[Zephaniah 1#Verse 1|Zephaniah 1:1]], [[New Revised Standard Version|NRSV]]</ref> All that is known of [[Zephaniah]] comes from within the text.{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1729}}

The name "[[Cushi]]," Zephaniah's father, means "Cushite" or "[[Ethiopia]]n", and the text of Zephaniah mentions the sin and restoration of ''Cushim''.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Zeph|2:12|NRSV}}, {{Bibleverse|Zeph|3:9–10|NRSV}}</ref> While some have concluded from this that Zephaniah was dark-skinned or African,{{sfn|Carson et al.|2015|p=1839}} [[Ehud Ben Zvi]] maintains that, based on the context, "Cushi" must be understood as a personal name rather than an indicator of nationality.{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1235}} [[Abraham ibn Ezra]] interpreted the name Hezekiah in the superscription as [[Hezekiah|King Hezekiah of Judah]], though that is not a claim advanced in the text of Zephaniah.{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1235}}

As with many of the other prophets,{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|pp=781–784, 918, 1043}} there is no external evidence to directly associate composition of the book with a prophet by the name of Zephaniah.{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1729}} Some scholars, such as Kent Harold Richards and Jason DeRouchie, consider the words in Zephaniah to reflect a time early in the reign of [[Josiah|King Josiah]] (640–609 BC) before his reforms of 622 BC took full effect,{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|p=1259}}{{sfn|Carson et al.|2015|p=1839}} in which case the prophet may have been born during the reign of [[Manasseh of Judah|Manasseh]]{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|p=1259}} (698/687–642 BC).{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=2111}} Others argue that some portion of the book is postmonarchic,{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1234}} that is, dating to later than 586 BC when the [[Kingdom of Judah]] fell in the [[Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC)|Siege of Jerusalem]].{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=2111}} Some who consider the book to have largely been written by a historical Zephaniah have suggested that he may have been a disciple of the prophet [[Isaiah]], because of the two books' similar focus on rampant corruption and injustice in Judah.{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|p=1259}} The [[Jerusalem Bible]] links Zephaniah 2:11 and 3:9-10 with the [[Deutero-Isaiah|Book of Consolation]] (Isaiah 40-55).<ref>Jerusalem Bible (1966), "Introduction to the Prophets: Zephaniah", p. 1137</ref>

== Purpose ==
If Zephaniah was largely composed during the monarchic period, then its composition was occasioned by Judah's refusal to obey its [[Covenant (biblical)|covenant]] obligations toward Yahweh despite having seen [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|northern Israel's]] [[Assyrian captivity|exile]] a generation or two previously,{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1729}} an exile which the Judahite literary tradition attributed to Yahweh's anger aroused by Israel's disobedience to the covenant.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Kings|17:5-18|NRSV}}</ref>{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|pp=758-759}} In this historical context, Zephaniah urges Judah to obedience to Yahweh, saying that "perhaps"<ref>{{bibleverse|Zephaniah|2:3}} in a variety of English translations</ref> he will forgive them if they do.{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1729}}

== Themes ==
[[File:Sophonie s'adressant au peuple.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Illustration depicting Zephaniah addressing the people, from a French 16th-century Bible]]
''The HarperCollins Study Bible'' supplies headings for sections within the book as follows:{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|pp=1260-64}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Verse and chapter headings in the HCSB
! Verse (NRSV) !! Heading </tr>
| 1:1      || (Superscription) </tr>
| 1:2–13  || The Coming Judgment on [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] </tr>
| 1:14–18 || The Great [[Day of the Lord]] </tr>
| 2:1–15  || Judgment on [[Israelites|Israel's]] Enemies </tr>
| 3:1–7   || The Wickedness of [[Jerusalem]] </tr>
| 3:8–13  || Punishment and Conversion of [[Gentile|the Nations]] </tr>
| 3:14–20 || Song of Joy </tr>
|}

More consistently than any other prophetic book, Zephaniah focuses on "the day of the Lord",{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1729}} developing this tradition from its first appearance in [[Book of Amos|Amos]].{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|pp=1259-60}}{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1186}}<ref>{{Bibleverse|Amos|5:18–20|NRSV}}</ref> The day of the Lord tradition also appears in [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]], [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]], [[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]], [[Book of Joel|Joel]], and [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]].{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1169}}<ref>{{Bibleverse|Isaiah|13:6|NRSV}}, {{Bibleverse|Ezekiel|30:2–3|NRSV}}, {{Bibleverse|Obadiah|15|NRSV}}, {{Bibleverse|Joel|1:15|NRSV}}, {{Bibleverse|Malachi|4:5|NRSV}}</ref>

The book begins by describing Yahweh's judgement. With a triple repetition of "I will sweep away" in Zephaniah 1:2–3,<ref>See for example {{bibleverse|Zephaniah|1:2-3|ESV}} in the [[English Standard Version]], cf. threefold repetition of "consume" in the [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah%201%3A2-3&version=NKJV New King James Version]</ref> Zephaniah emphasizes the totality of the destruction,{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|p=1260}} as the number three often signifies perfection in the Bible.{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1505}} The order of creatures in Zephaniah 1:2 ("humans and animals ... the birds ... the fish") is the opposite of the creation order in Genesis 1:1–28, signifying an undoing of creation.{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1732}} This is also signified by the way that "from the face of the earth" forms an ''[[inclusio]]'' around Zephaniah 1:2-3, hearkening back to how the phrase is used in the [[Genesis flood narrative]] in Genesis 6:7, Genesis 7:4, and Genesis 8:8,{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|p=1260}} where it also connotes an undoing of creation.{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=21}}

As is common in prophetic literature in the Bible, a "remnant" survives Yahweh's judgement,<ref>{{bibleverse|Zephaniah|2:7}}, {{bibleverse-nb|Zephaniah|2:9}}</ref>{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1241}} by humbly seeking refuge in Yahweh.{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1738}}<ref>{{Bibleverse|Zeph|3:12–13|NRSV}}</ref> The book concludes with an announcement of hope and joy,{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1242}}<ref>{{Bibleverse|Zeph|3:14–20|NRSV}}</ref> as Yahweh "bursts forth in joyful divine celebration"{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1739}} over his people.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Zeph|3:17|NRSV}}</ref>

==Later influence==
Because of its hopeful tone of the gathering and restoration of exiles, {{Bibleverse|Zephaniah|3:20|NRSV}} has been included in [[Jewish liturgy]].{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1242}}

Zephaniah served as a major inspiration for the [[medieval]] [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[hymn]] "[[Dies Irae]]," whose title and opening words are from the [[Vulgate]] translation of {{Bibleverse|Zephaniah|1:15–16|NRSV}}.{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|pp=1259–60}}

==Surviving early manuscripts==
{{further|List of Hebrew Bible manuscripts}}
The original manuscript of this book has been lost. Some early manuscripts containing the text of this book in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew]] are of the [[Masoretic Text]] tradition, which includes the [[Codex Cairensis]] (895), [[Codex Babylonicus Petropolitanus|the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets]] (916), [[Aleppo Codex]] (10th century), [[Leningrad Codex|Codex Leningradensis]] (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=35-37}} Fragments containing parts of this book in Hebrew were found among the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]], including 4Q77 (4QXII<sup>b</sup>; 150–125 BCE),{{sfn|Ulrich|2010|p=616}}<ref name=thewaytoyahuweh>{{Cite web|url=https://thewaytoyahuweh.com/dead-sea-scrolls/general-info/#zephaniah|title=General Info &#124; The Way To Yahuweh}}</ref>{{sfn|Fitzmyer|2008|p=38}} 4Q78 (4QXII<sup>c</sup>; 75–50 BCE),<ref name=thewaytoyahuweh/>{{sfn |Fitzmyer|2008|p=38}}{{sfn|Ulrich|2010|p= 618}} and [[Wadi Murabba'at]] Minor Prophets (Mur88; MurXIIProph; 75-100 CE).<ref name=thewaytoyahuweh/>{{sfn|Fitzmyer|2008|pp=140-141}}

There is also a translation into [[Koine Greek]] known as the [[Septuagint]], made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the [[Septuagint]] version include [[Codex Vaticanus]] (4th century), [[Codex Sinaiticus]] (4th century), [[Codex Alexandrinus]] (5th century) and [[Codex Marchalianus]] (6th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}} Some fragments containing parts of the Septuagint version of this book were found among the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]], i.e., [[Greek Minor Prophets Scroll from Nahal Hever|Naḥal Ḥever (1st century CE)]].<ref name=thewaytoyahuweh/>{{sfn|Fitzmyer|2008|p=127}}

==References==
{{reflist|20em}}

== Sources ==
*{{cite book |title = The Harper Collins Study Bible |edition = rev. |year = 2006 |publisher = Harper Collins |place = New York |editor-last1 = Attridge |editor-first1 = Harold W. |editor1-link = Harold W. Attridge |editor-last2 = Meeks |editor-first2 = Wayne A. |isbn = 978-0-06122840-7}}
*{{cite book |ref = {{harvid|Berlin et al.|2004}} |title = The Jewish Study Bible |url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195297515 |url-access = registration |year = 2004 |publisher = Oxford University Press |place = New York |editor-last1 = Berlin |editor-first1 = Adele |editor1-link = Adele Berlin |editor-last2 = Brettler |editor-first2 = Marc Zvi |editor2-link = Marc Zvi Brettler |editor-last3 = Fishbane |editor-first3 = Michael |editor3-link = Michael Fishbane |isbn = 978-0-19529751-5}}
*{{cite book |ref = {{harvid|Carson et al. |2015}} |title = NIV Zondervan Study Bible |year = 2015 |publisher = Zondervan |place = Grand Rapids |editor-last1 = Carson |editor-first1 = D. A. |editor1-link = D. A. Carson |editor-last2 = Hess |editor-first2 = Richard S. |editor2-link = Richard Hess |editor-last3 = Alexander
|editor-first3 = T. D. |editor-last4  = Moo |editor-first4 = Douglas J. |editor4-link = Douglas J. Moo |editor-last5 = Naselli |editor-first5 = Andrew David |isbn = 978-0-31043833-5}}
*{{cite book |ref = {{harvid |Grudem et al. |2008}} |title = ESV Study Bible |title-link = ESV Study Bible |year = 2008 |publisher = Crossway |place = Wheaton |editor-last1 = Grudem |editor-first1 = Wayne |editor1-link  = Wayne Grudem |editor-last2 = Dennis |editor-first2 = Lane T.|editor-last3 = Packer |editor-first3 = J. I. |editor3-link = J. I. Packer |editor-last4  = Collins |editor-first4 = C. John |editor4-link = C. John Collins |editor-last5 = Schreiner |editor-first5 = Thomas R. |editor5-link = Thomas R. Schreiner |editor-last6 = Taylor |editor-first6 = Justin |isbn = 978-1-43350241-5}}
* {{Cite book|title = A Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature|last = Fitzmyer|first = Joseph A.|author-link= Joseph Fitzmyer |publisher = William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TILXeWJ2eNAC | year = 2008|isbn = 9780802862419|location = Grand Rapids, MI }}
*{{Cite book
| editor-last  = Ulrich
| editor-first = Eugene |editor-link= Eugene Ulrich
| title        = The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants
| year         = 2010
| publisher    = Brill
| url          = https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls}}
*{{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | author-link = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year=  1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

== Further reading ==
* Berlin, Adele. ''Zephaniah: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary''. The Anchor Bible Volume 25A. Toronto: Doubleday, 1994.
* Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897.
* {{cite Catholic Encyclopedia|last=Faulhaber |first=M. |wstitle=Sophonias (Zephaniah)}} Transcribed by Thomas M. Barrett. 2003.
* Hirsch, Emil G. & Ira Maurice Price. "[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/15242-zephaniah Zephaniah]", ''JewishEncyclopedia.com''. 2002.
* LaSor, William Sanford et al. ''Old Testament Survey: the Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament''. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1996.
* [[O. Palmer Robertson]]. ''The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah'' (New International Commentary on the Old Testament, 1990)
* Sweeney, Marvin A. ''Zephaniah: A Commentary''. Ed. [[Paul D. Hanson]]. Minneapolis, Fortress Press, 2003.

== External links ==
{{Wikisource|Zephaniah (Bible)|Zephaniah}}
{{Commons category|Book of Zephaniah}}
* [http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=106&letter=Z Zephaniah at JewishEncyclopedia.com]

'''Translations'''
*[[Judaism|Jewish]] translations:
** [http://www.chabad.org/library/archive/LibraryArchive2.asp?AID=15766 Tzefaniah – Zephaniah (Judaica Press)] translation [with [[Rashi]]'s commentary] at Chabad.org
*[[Christianity|Christian]] translations:
**[http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Zephaniah+1 ''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
** [http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?passage=zep+1 ''Zephaniah'' at CrossWalk.com] (various versions)
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20050305095310/http://www.anova.org/sev/htm/hb/36_zephaniah.htm ''Zephaniah'' at The Great Books] (New Revised Standard Version)
** [[s:Bible, King James, Zephaniah|''Zephaniah'' at Wikisource]] (Authorized King James Version)
*Non-affiliated translations:
** [https://theheavenlyfire.weebly.com/uploads/3/0/3/1/30313305/thf-zephaniah-2.0.pdf ''The Heavenly Fire: Zephaniah''] ([[Portable Document Format|PDF]]) (Creative Commons translation with in-depth introduction and extensive translation notes)
* {{librivox book | title=Zephaniah}} Various versions

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou | [[Minor prophet]]s|||}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]] | rows = 2 }}
{{s-ttl | title  = [[Tanakh|Hebrew Bible]] }}
{{s-aft | after  = [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]] | rows = 2 }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Christianity|Christian]]<br />[[Old Testament]] }}
{{s-end}}
{{Book of Zephaniah}}
{{Books of the Bible}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zephaniah}}
[[Category:Book of Zephaniah| ]]
[[Category:7th-century BC books]]
[[Category:Twelve Minor Prophets| 09]]