For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on Yahweh’s name, to serve him shoulder to shoulder.
Parallel translations
- KJV For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
- BSB For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
- NKJV “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him with one accord.
- NASB “For then I will restore to the peoples pure lips, So that all of them may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
- NLT “Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the Lord together.
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 promises to purify the speech of the peoples so they may all call on His name and serve Him together. It matters because it foretells the gathering of the nations into true, united worship.
Overview
After judgment comes a gracious transformation, with cleansed lips signifying renewed and sincere worship. Peoples once divided will serve God 'shoulder to shoulder' in unity. This reverses the scattering of Babel and points forward to the gospel, in which people of every tongue call on the name of the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Gen 11:1The whole earth was of one language and of one speech.
- Isa 19:18In that day, there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to Yahweh of Armies. One will be called “The city of destruction.”
- Ps 22:27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.
- Ps 86:9–10All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.
- Zech 2:11Many nations shall join themselves to Yahweh in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell among you, and you shall know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you.
- Acts 2:4–13They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
- Zech 8:20–23Yahweh of Armies says: “Many peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come;
- Hab 2:14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Yahweh’s glory, as the waters cover the sea.
- Eph 4:29Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
- Matt 12:35The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
- Rom 15:6–11that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Zech 14:9Yahweh will be King over all the earth. In that day Yahweh will be one, and his name one.
- Rev 11:15The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!”
- 1 Kgs 8:41–43“Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he comes out of a far country for your name’s sake
- Zeph 2:11Yahweh will be awesome to them, for he will famish all the gods of the land. Men will worship him, everyone from his place, even all the shores of the nations.
- Ps 113:3From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, Yahweh’s name is to be praised.
- Jer 16:19Yahweh, my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and shall say, “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, vanity and things in which there is no profit.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 3:9 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.