Old Testament Bible Links

Minor Prophets:
Zephaniah

The Bare Facts -- Overviews and Outlines --
Bible Studies: Whole Book -- Part of Book --
Sermons -- Bibliographies

  

Zephaniah requires much work.

Left: A 14th-century German manuscript of Zephaniah

 

The Bare Facts

Who:  Zephaniah's name means "Yahweh protects."  In 1:1, his ancestry is give sufficient attention to link him to King Hezekiah, making him, therefore, a descendant of David.

Where:  Zephaniah presumably worked from Jerusalem.

When:  The work is dated during the reign of King Josiah (640-609 BC) making Zephaniah a contemporary of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah.  Zephaniah seems especially close to the views of Jeremiah.  Some scholars suggest that Zephaniah's message of doom came before the reforms of Josiah (c. 622 B.C.).

What:  Zephaniah, more than any other Old Testament writer perhaps, provides an image of the great Day of the Lord.  His message is probably the most unreservedly dark of any Biblical writer with only brief glimmers of implied hope for an otherwise deservedly doomed world.

 

Memorable Passages

1:12-13 Woe to those who believe the Lord will not act.
3:9-13 The remnant will be preserved and purified.
3:17 God delights in his people.

Overviews and Outlines

An Introduction to the Book of Zephaniah
An outlined overview by David Malick.
An Argument of the Book of Zephaniah
One of David Malick's rhetorical outlines.
Introductory Notes: Zephaniah
Quick comments, including questions for study, from Cumberland College.
Zephaniah: Outline
A brief outline from Cumberland College.
The Book of Zephaniah
An introduction from Quartz Hill School of Theology.
Bible Basics
A very brief list of facts, but it includes a wav file pronouncing the book's title.
Bible Explained
This is a commentary by an energetic fellow named Ted Wade.  He provides brief notes on each chapter and most verses for the entire Bible.
Luther Productions
A very brief overview including key verses.
The Blue Letter Bible
An excellent source for text, cross-references, concordance, language helps, commentaries, and more.
Easton Bible Dictionary: Zephaniah
The article from M.G. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary.
Catholic Encyclopedia: Zephaniah
The appropriate entry from the public domain edition of this venerable reference work.
Columbia Encyclopedia: Zephaniah
A brief article from the 2001 edition of this reference work.
Jewish Encyclopedia
An article from the 1901-06 reference work.  Generally liberal in its critical presuppositions.
Jewish Bible (JPS 1917)
Three versions of the text in Hebrew.
Hebrew Prophets Web: Zephaniah
A brief introduction by Aaron Rittmaster.

Bible Studies: Whole Book

The Concise Ones: The Minor Prophets
A look at Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, and Malachi by Chuck Missler.
The Book of Zephaniah
Lesson 20 from a 28-lesson series, From Creation to the Cross, by Bob Deffinbaugh.
Zephaniah
This is lesson 10 from a 13-lesson series by Hampton Keathley IV.
Love the Lord Bible Studies: Zephaniah
A three-lesson study with questions from an Arkansas-based ministry.  They seem orthodox enough, although the statement of faith makes me wonder if they're not into prosperity gospel teachings.
Talks for Growing Christians
A nifty study, which includes a brief sermon, question, and answers.  A project from Talks for Growing Christians.
Structure and Outline of Zephaniah
A study by Ralph Allan Smith, focusing on the chiastic structure of the book.
John Calvin's Commentary
The commentary of the 16th-century French reformer.
Geneva Notes
In 1599, English Puritans, working in Geneva, published the first study Bible.  These are the notes from that edition.
Coffman's Commentary
A verse-by-verse commentary by Dr. James Burton Coffman, a leading Church of Christ scholar.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
The chapter-by-chapter 1712 commentary by the great English Puritan writer..
John Wesley Notes
Over his career, the founder of Methodism maintained notes on the entire Bible.
JFB Commentary
The comments of Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown from Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871).
Clarke's Commentary
The first chapter for this book from Adam Clarke's nineteenth-century commentary.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
The commentary of the 17th century Baptist theologian and preacher.
Scofield Reference Notes
The notes from the 1917 edition of the great study Bible.  From a dispensationalist viewpoint.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A combination brief commentary and thorough cross-reference.  Developed by R.A. Torrey.
David Guzik's Commentaries on the Bible
David Guzik, a former senior pastor at Clavary Chapel Simi Valley in California, provides a verse-by-verse commentary. Currently Guzik directs the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Siegen, Germany.
Zephaniah--Through Judgment to Blessing
An executable outline by Mark Copeland.
God Is Jealous: Zephaniah, Haggai
Chapter 24 from Ray C. Stedman's book Highlights of the Bible.
Commentary on the Book of Zephaniah
A lengthy exploration by Peter Pett.
Reading the Old Testament: Zephaniah
Part of Barry Bandstra's online book.
The Jerome Bible Commentary
A commentary by a Catholic doctor, Jerome Dominguez, M.D.  Is English isn't perfect, but you have to admire his energy.  Although Catholic in orientation, this source has some good material for study.
The Minor Prophets: Zephaniah
A study by Al Maxey.
Zephaniah by J.G. Bellett
A portion of Minor Prophets by this leader of the brethren movement.
Beginning the Second Wave of Prophecy
A study by John W. Miller concerning the prophets Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Obadiah.  Hosted at MyJewishLearning.com.

Bible Studies: Part of Book

Morning and Evening (1:5)
One of C.H. Spurgeon's renowned devotions.
Lectionary Notes (1:7, 12-18)
Notes on the 26th Sunday after Pentecost by Ralph Klein.
The Promise of the Poor (2:3, 3:12-13)
A Catholic lesson  note by Larry Broding.
Against Excessive Fondness for Jewels and Gold Ornaments (2:13)
An extract from Clement of Alexandria's Paedagogus.  You have to look pretty hard to find the reference to Zephaniah here, but it's here.
Concerning Christ and the Calling of the Nations (3:8-12)
A selection from Augustine's City of God regarding the prophecy of Jeremiah and Zephaniah.
The Lord will Rejoice over You (3:14-17)
A 1982 sermon by John Piper of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Looking to the City (Zephaniah 3:14-18)
An article from Word and World by Paul R. Sponheim.
Lectionary Notes (3:14-20)
More notes by Ralph Klein.
Exile and Home (3:14-20)
A sermon by William H. Willimon, Dean of the Chapel at Duke University.
The Joy of Forgiveness (3:14-18)
A Catholic lesson  note by Larry Broding.
The Pleasure of God in the Good of His People (3:17)
A 1987 sermon by John Piper of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Good News for Troubled Saints (3:17)
A sermon by Don Fortner.

Sermons

Zephaniah: The Day of the Lord's Wrath
The appropriate sermon from Ray C. Stedman's Adventuring through the Bible series.
Ken Gehrels--Two sermons from a Reformed pastor.
Zephaniah 1:1 - 3:20 A Tough And Tender Love
Zephaniah 3: 14-20 Coming To Love
Max Forsythe
Sermons from a series on the minor prophets.  Look for the appropriate sermon(s) on this page, which contains all twelve. 
C.H. Spurgeon
A listing of sermons, some of which are available online, by the great British Baptist.
Sermon Outlines
Links to sermon outlines from SermonLinks.
A Textual Index of Puritan and Reformed Sermons
A listing (with no links) of sermons by a variety of preachers.

Books and Bibliographies

Reading Zephaniah with a Concordance
An article from JBL subtitled "Suggestions for a Redaction History.  Authored by William L. Holladay.  It begins on page 671 of the journal or 73 of this pdf.
A Note on Zephaniah
A 1999 article from Biblica, penned by Dominic Rudman.
New American Commentary
The Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah volume from the excellent Broadman and Holman commentary series.
Annotated Bibliography on Zephaniah
A three-page list of sources by Thomas F. McDaniel of Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Zephaniah Bibliography
A brief list of commentaries from Cumberland College.
Denver Seminary Bibliography
This will take you to the top of the "Commentary" section.  You'll need to scroll down to find the relevant section.
Two-Age Bibliography
A list of recommended sources, mostly scholarly in nature, provided by a website devoted to the "Redemptive Historical" school of theology.