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About Zephaniah
Zephaniah 1:1 “The word of YHWH which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.”
With Zephaniah we get a better idea of who he was and when exactly he lived. Not all the prophet’s books are clear, but it does not always matter on who the prophet is, but rather whether the words are true and align with Torah, and to get an understanding of the prophetic language. Zephaniah’s words have more zeal to some of the other prophets, and some words he uses a very prophetic and in the sense of a parable.
Most prophets seem to have YHWH’s name in their names. The Hebrew name for Zephaniah is SephanYa H6846 – ṣᵊp̄anyâ, made up of Sapan (H6845 – ṣāp̄an) and Yah (H3050 – yâ, short for YHWH). Sapan means to hide, hidden treasure, store up. This is the same word for when Moses was born, and his mother had to hide him, Exodus 2:2, “And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him H6845 three months.” It is something big to come, that is hidden for a while, but to be revealed.
The Terrible Day of YHWH
Zephaniah 1:14-16 “The great day of YHWH is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of YHWH is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of trumpet and alarm“
The prophet said it again, just like we read back (click here to read more) in Amos 5:18 “How horrible it will be for those who long for the day of YHWH”. YHWH’s Day .. is not a nice day to be wished for.. rather prepare for it, it is coming, but be ready. (click here to read more from Amos). And if someone is wondering Why YHWH is so angry, go back to Isaiah 13 where we posted about His Anger (click here to read more).
And if you are thinking or wondering why YHWH is so angry.. click here to read more on a post we did about YHWH’s anger in Isaiah
The Fish Gate
Zephaniah 1:10 “And there shall be on that day,” says YHWH, “The sound of a mournful cry from the Fish Gate“
The fish gate is one of the 12 gates of the Jerusalem cities’ walls/entrances. This gate is mentioned first in 1 Chronicles 33:14, during Manasseh’s time (the kings after David). It is then mentioned again in the book of Nehemiah 3 and 12, where the walls are being restored. The Fish Gate was on Jerusalem’s northern wall, known for being a market area where fish was sold. According to Zephaniah this is the site where a “cry” of alarm would be heard on the Day of YHWH.
The Hebrew word for fish is Dag H1709 – dāḡ, and we see even Hakakkuk referring to men like the fish in the sea, vulnerable and without a leader/king/shepherd, in Habakkuk 1:14 “And make men as the fishes H1709 of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?” Fish are even referred to in Ecclesiastes and Psalms, and we see the big fish swallow Jonah, and Ezekiel and Hosea also mentions fish. We know that even Yeshua compared men to fish, and with Yeshua there are many comparisons and parables used regarding fish. Matthew 4:19-20, “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”
