But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.
Parallel translations
- WEB But I will leave among you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in Yahweh’s name.
- KJV I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
- NKJV I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.
- NASB “But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge in the name of the Lord.
- NLT Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God will leave a humble and lowly people who take refuge in His name. It matters because it shows that the surviving remnant is marked by humility and trust, not pride.
Overview
The 'afflicted and poor' echo the humble whom Zephaniah earlier urged to seek the Lord. Their defining trait is taking refuge in Yahweh rather than in wealth or power. This anticipates Jesus' blessing on the poor in spirit and the meek who inherit the kingdom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Isa 14:32What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.”
- Nah 1:7The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
- Isa 61:1–3The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
- Zech 13:8–9And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it.
- Isa 50:10Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.
- Matt 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Jas 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- 1 Cor 1:27–28But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
- Zech 11:11It was revoked on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me knew that it was the word of the LORD.
- Eph 1:12–13in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.
- Ps 37:40The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.
- Matt 11:5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
- Matt 12:21In His name the nations will put their hope.”
- Rom 15:12And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”
- 1 Pet 1:21Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The day of the LORD gives way to the promise that God himself will be in the midst of his people, rejoicing over them with singing — fulfilled in the saving presence of Christ.
How Zephaniah 3:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.