Zephaniah

Zephaniah is a prophetic book of the Hebrew Bible and the name of its assumed author, Zephaniah, who is described as the son of Cushi and a descendant of Hezekiah. The book is generally dated to the late 7th century BCE, during the reform era of King Josiah of Judah, though precise dating is debated. The opening verse identifies Zephaniah as a royal-era prophet, linking him to the line of Judah.

The text consists of three chapters and contains oracles of judgment and hope. It opens with a sweeping proclamation of the Day of the Lord, announcing judgment first on Judah and Jerusalem and then on the surrounding nations, including Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush, and Assyria. Zephaniah condemns idolatry, corruption, and social injustice, urging repentance, humility, and the seeking of righteousness. Despite the strong emphasis on judgment, the book also holds out a future hope: a remnant will be spared, and God will eventually restore a purified people and bring about worship of Him from the nations.

In its theological scope, Zephaniah contributes to the broader prophetic tradition by stressing universal accountability and the possibility of restoration. The composition is part of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and is included in the Christian Old Testament as well. Its themes of the Day of the Lord and the promise of renewal have influenced later Jewish and Christian eschatological thinking.