The Meaning of Zephaniah 3:10 Explained

Zephaniah 3:10

KJV: From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

YLT: From beyond the rivers of Cush, my supplicants, The daughter of My scattered ones, Do bring My present.

Darby: From beyond the rivers of Cush my suppliants, the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine oblation.

ASV: From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

From beyond  the rivers  of Ethiopia  my suppliants,  [even] the daughter  of my dispersed,  shall bring  mine offering. 

What does Zephaniah 3:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The descendants of the Lord"s dispersed ones, the Jews, would bring him offerings of worship from the farthest corners of the earth. The rivers of Ethiopia, probably the Nile and its tributaries, were at the edge of the known world in the prophet"s day (cf. Zephaniah 2:12). The implication is that the Jews will come to Jerusalem, the city the Lord chose as the place where He would dwell among His people (cf. Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 66:18; Isaiah 66:20).

Context Summary

Zephaniah 3:1-20 - Fullness Of Salvation
The sins of Jerusalem, Zephaniah 3:1-7. Uninfluenced by judgments upon other nations, Jerusalem pursued her course, morally impure, oppressive, refusing instruction, estranged from God. Yet God still dwelt in the city which He had chosen. Morning by morning His Spirit was appealing for repentance and righteousness. Through His faithful ones He was still shedding the light and glory of a holier civilization through the community, but the population at large refused to heed.
The effects of cleansing judgment, Zephaniah 3:8-20. These closing verses are marked by great tenderness, showing as they do, the results that God's dealings are designed to effect. A pure life; service with one consent; the trust of the afflicted soul in the love of God; the weaning of the heart from all iniquity-what great and lovely results of that long captivity! Let God have His way with you! He will change your sorrow into songs; will cast out your enemies and turn again your captivity; will manifest His infinite love, now in brooding tenderness, and then in outbursting songs. Those who have been filled with sorrow, and have borne the burden of reproach for God, shall be comforted. Even the halt and exiled shall participate, and become a name and a praise. The captives would be liberated and the dispersed would be gathered home [source]

Chapter Summary: Zephaniah 3

1  A sharp reproof of Jerusalem for various sins
8  An exhortation to wait for the restoration of Israel,
14  and to rejoice for their salvation by God

What do the individual words in Zephaniah 3:10 mean?

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers the daughter of My dispersed ones shall bring My offering
מֵעֵ֖בֶר לְנַֽהֲרֵי־ כ֑וּשׁ עֲתָרַי֙ בַּת־ פוּצַ֔י‪‬‪‬ יוֹבִל֖וּן מִנְחָתִֽי

מֵעֵ֖בֶר  From  beyond 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵבֶר  
Sense: region beyond or across, side.
לְנַֽהֲרֵי־  the  rivers 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: נָהָר  
Sense: stream, river.
כ֑וּשׁ  of  Ethiopia 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: כּוּשׁ 
Sense: a Benjamite mentioned only in the title of Ps 7.
עֲתָרַי֙  My  worshipers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: עָתָר 
Sense: suppliant, worshipper.
בַּת־  the  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
פוּצַ֔י‪‬‪‬  of  My  dispersed  ones 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: פּוּץ 
Sense: to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered.
יוֹבִל֖וּן  shall  bring 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: יָבַל  
Sense: to bring, lead, carry, conduct, bear along.
מִנְחָתִֽי  My  offering 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.