Zephaniah 3:9 "Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.

◄ Zephaniah 3:9 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
"Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.

English Standard Version
“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.

New American Standard Bible
"For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

King James Bible
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For I will then restore pure speech to the peoples so that all of them may call on the name of Yahweh and serve Him with a single purpose.

International Standard Version
Indeed, then I will return my people to a pure language so that they all may call upon the name of the LORD, serving him with a united will.

American Standard Version
For then will I turn to the peoples of a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Because then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, that all may call upon the name of the Lord, and may serve him with one shoulder.

Darby Bible Translation
For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent.

Young's Literal Translation
For then do I turn unto peoples a pure lip, To call all of them by the name of Jehovah, To serve Him with one shoulder.

Cross References

Genesis 4:26
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call on the name of the LORD.

Psalm 22:27
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before you.

Psalm 86:9
All nations whom you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord; and shall glorify your name.

Isaiah 19:18
In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.

Isaiah 57:19
I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, said the LORD; and I will heal him.

Ezekiel 37:17
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in your hand.

Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Zephaniah 2:11
The LORD will be terrible to them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:8-13 The preaching of the gospel is predicted, when vengeance would be executed on the Jewish nation. The purifying doctrines of the gospel, or the pure language of the grace of the Lord, would teach men to use the language of humility, repentance, and faith. Purity and piety in common conversation is good. The pure and happy state of the church in the latter days seems intended. The Lord will shut out boasting, and leave men nothing to glory in, save the Lord Jesus, as made of God to them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Humiliation for sin, and obligations to the Redeemer, will make true believers upright and sincere, whatever may be the case among mere professors.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. For—The blessed things promised in this and Zep 3:10 are the immediate results of the punishment inflicted on the nations, mentioned in Zep 3:8 (compare Zep 3:19).

turn to the people a pure language—that is, changing their impure language I will give to them again a pure language (literally, "lip"). Compare for this Hebrew idiom, 1Sa 10:9, Margin. The confusion of languages was of the penalty sin, probably idolatry at Babel (Ge 11:1-6, Margin, where also "lip" expresses language, and perhaps also religion; Zep 3:4, "a tower whose top may reach unto heaven," or rather, points to heaven, namely, dedicated to the heavens idolized, or Bel); certainly, of rebellion against God's will. An earnest of the removal of this penalty was the gift of tongues on Pentecost (Ac 2:6-13). The full restoration of the earth's unity of language and of worship is yet future, and is connected with the restoration of the Jews, to be followed by the conversion of the world. Compare Isa 19:18; Zec 14:9; Ro 15:6, "with one mind and one mouth glorify God." The Gentiles' lips have been rendered impure through being the instruments of calling on idols and dishonoring God (compare Ps 16:4; Ho 2:17). Whether Hebrew shall be the one universal language or not, the God of the Hebrews shall be the one only object of worship. Until the Holy Ghost purify the lips, we cannot rightly call upon God (Isa 6:5-7).

serve him with one consent—literally, "shoulder" or "back"; metaphor from a yoke, or burden, borne between two (Nu 13:23); helping one another with conjoint effort. If one of the two bearers of a burden, laid on both conjointly, give way, the burden must fall to the earth [Calvin]. Christ's rule is called a burden (Mt 11:30; Ac 15:28; Re 2:24; compare 2Co 6:14 for the same image).