Zephaniah 2:7
And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָ֣יָה
H1961
וְהָ֣יָה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לִשְׁאֵרִ֛ית
shall be for the remnant
H7611
לִשְׁאֵרִ֛ית
shall be for the remnant
Strong's:
H7611
Word #:
3 of 17
a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion
בְּבָתֵּ֣י
of the house
H1004
בְּבָתֵּ֣י
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
4 of 17
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יְהוּדָ֖ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֖ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
5 of 17
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם
H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יִרְע֑וּן
they shall feed
H7462
יִרְע֑וּן
they shall feed
Strong's:
H7462
Word #:
7 of 17
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
בְּבָתֵּ֣י
of the house
H1004
בְּבָתֵּ֣י
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
8 of 17
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יִרְבָּצ֔וּן
shall they lie down
H7257
יִרְבָּצ֔וּן
shall they lie down
Strong's:
H7257
Word #:
11 of 17
to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal); by implication, to recline, repose, brood, lurk, imbed
כִּ֧י
H3588
כִּ֧י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
12 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יִפְקְדֵ֛ם
shall visit
H6485
יִפְקְדֵ֛ם
shall visit
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
13 of 17
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
יְהוָ֥ה
for the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
for the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
14 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם
their God
H430
אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם
their God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
15 of 17
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
Cross References
Exodus 4:31And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.Ezekiel 39:25Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;Zephaniah 3:20At 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.Jeremiah 33:7And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.Jeremiah 29:14And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.Luke 1:68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,Micah 4:7And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.Micah 2:12I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.Obadiah 1:19And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.Isaiah 11:11And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
Historical Context
After Babylon's conquest, the Persian period saw some Jewish settlement in formerly Philistine areas. More significantly, early Christianity spread rapidly along this Mediterranean coast (Acts 8:40), with Gentile believers grafted into the remnant of Israel (Romans 11:17-24)—the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the 'remnant' theology comfort believers when the visible church appears compromised or shrinking?
- In what sense is Christ's church the ultimate 'remnant of the house of Judah' inheriting enemy territory?
- Where do you see God 'visiting' His people today to 'turn away their captivity'—spiritually if not politically?
Analysis & Commentary
And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah (ve'hayah chevel liSh'erit beit Yehudah)—God promises dispossessed Philistine territory to Judah's remnant. The Hebrew she'erit (remnant) is a key prophetic concept: God always preserves a faithful minority (Isaiah 10:20-22, Romans 9:27, 11:5).
The LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity (paqad... ve'shav shevutam)—'Visit' (paqad) means divine intervention, often for salvation (Genesis 50:24, Exodus 3:16). 'Turn away captivity' is literally 'restore fortunes,' looking beyond Babylon's exile to eschatological restoration. This promise finds fulfillment in Christ's redemption of a remnant from all nations, the true 'Israel of God' (Galatians 6:16).