The Meaning of Zephaniah 3:20 Explained

Zephaniah 3:20

KJV: At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

YLT: At that time I bring you in, Even at the time of My assembling you, For I give you for a name, and for a praise, Among all peoples of the land, In My turning back to your captivity before your eyes, said Jehovah!

Darby: At that time will I bring you, yea, at the time that I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise, among all the peoples of the earth, when I shall turn again your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.

ASV: At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

At that time  will I bring  you [again], even in the time  that I gather  you: for I will make  you a name  and a praise  among all people  of the earth,  when I turn back  your captivity  before your eyes,  saith  the LORD. 

What does Zephaniah 3:20 Mean?

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 3:20 mean?

At time that I will bring back you and Even at the time I gather you for I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth when I return - your captives before your eyes says Yahweh
בָּעֵ֤ת הַהִיא֙ אָבִ֣יא אֶתְכֶ֔ם וּבָעֵ֖ת קַבְּצִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־ אֶתֵּ֨ן אֶתְכֶ֜ם לְשֵׁ֣ם וְלִתְהִלָּ֗ה בְּכֹל֙ עַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ בְּשׁוּבִ֧י אֶת־ שְׁבוּתֵיכֶ֛ם לְעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה

בָּעֵ֤ת  At  time 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
הַהִיא֙  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
אָבִ֣יא  I  will  bring  back 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
וּבָעֵ֖ת  and  Even  at  the  time 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
קַבְּצִ֣י  I  gather 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
אֶתֵּ֨ן  I  will  give 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לְשֵׁ֣ם  fame 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
וְלִתְהִלָּ֗ה  and  praise 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּהִלָּה  
Sense: praise, song or hymn of praise.
בְּכֹל֙  Among  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עַמֵּ֣י  the  peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הָאָ֔רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
בְּשׁוּבִ֧י  when  I  return 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שְׁבוּתֵיכֶ֛ם  your  captives 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: שְׁבוּת 
Sense: captivity, captives.
לְעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם  before  your  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, cdc, second person masculine plural
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
אָמַ֥ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.