The Meaning of Zephaniah 3:18 Explained

Zephaniah 3:18

KJV: I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

YLT: Mine afflicted from the appointed place I have gathered, from thee they have been, Bearing for her sake reproach.

Darby: I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assemblies, who were of thee: the reproach of it was a burden unto them.

ASV: I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; to whom the burden upon her was a reproach.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I will gather  [them that are] sorrowful  for the solemn assembly,  [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach  of it [was] a burden. 

What does Zephaniah 3:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In the past, Jews who lived far from Jerusalem were very sad because they could not travel to Jerusalem to observe Israel"s annual feasts. They suffered a certain criticism from their fellow Jews for living far away from Jerusalem. But in this time of blessing (the Millennium) the Lord will enable them to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts. The feasts of Israel during the Millennium will be somewhat different from those that the Old Covenant specified, but there will be annual feasts in Jerusalem in the Millennium (cf. Ezekiel 45:9 to Ezekiel 46:24).
"Why would the Lord restore religious practices that have now been fulfilled? Possibly as a means of teaching Israel the meaning of the doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ." [1]

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 3:18 mean?

Those who sorrow over the appointed [assembly] I will gather among you who are [is] a burden its [To whom] reproach
נוּגֵ֧י מִמּוֹעֵ֛ד אָסַ֖פְתִּי מִמֵּ֣ךְ הָי֑וּ מַשְׂאֵ֥ת עָלֶ֖יהָ חֶרְפָּֽה

נוּגֵ֧י  Those  who  sorrow 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָגָה 
Sense: to afflict, grieve, suffer, cause grief.
מִמּוֹעֵ֛ד  over  the  appointed  [assembly] 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
אָסַ֖פְתִּי  I  will  gather 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
מִמֵּ֣ךְ  among  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
הָי֑וּ  who  are 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מַשְׂאֵ֥ת  [is]  a  burden 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַשְׂאֹות 
Sense: uprising, utterance, burden, portion, uplifting.
עָלֶ֖יהָ  its 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
חֶרְפָּֽה  [To  whom]  reproach 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.