I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall 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.
- BSB But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will 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 shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.
- Nah 1:7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
- Isa 61:1–3The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- Zech 13:8–9And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
- Isa 50:10Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
- Matt 5:3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Jas 2:5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
- 1 Cor 1:27–28But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
- Zech 11:11And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.
- Eph 1:12–13That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
- Ps 37:40And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
- Matt 11:5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
- Matt 12:21And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
- Rom 15:12And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
- 1 Pet 1:21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be 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.