Zephaniah 3:9

Zephaniah 3:9

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.

a. NLT: “Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the LORD together.

b. NIV: “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.

c. YLT: For then do I turn unto peoples a pure lip, To call all of them by the name of Jehovah, To serve Him with one shoulder.

d. Amplified Bible: For then [changing their impure language] I will give to the people a clear and pure speech from pure lips, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one unanimous consent and one united shoulder [bearing the yoke of the Lord].

e. Septuagint: For then will I turn to the peoples a tongue for her generation, that all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve him under one yoke.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: For then I will change the nations [to speak] a pure language, so that they all will proclaim the Name of HASHEM, to worship Him with a united resolve.

1.  “For then will I turn to the people a pure language…”

a. For then I will turn [2015 * haphak] [Strong: a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert:--X become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way).]

b. to the people [5971 * ‘am] [Strong: from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation, people.]

c. a pure [1305 * barar] [Strong: a primitive root; to clarify (i.e. brighten), examine, select:--make bright, choice, chosen, cleanse (be clean), clearly, polished, (shew self) pure(-ify), purge (out).]

d. language [8193 * saphah] [Strong:  probably from 5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (Compare 5490); the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.

1). New Defenders Study Bible: Reversing the miraculous confusion of tongues at Babel (Genesis 11:7-9), there will be a miraculous restoration of the primeval language to all people, as those judged righteous in Christ prepare to enter the millennial kingdom with Him. This is more than a mere cleansing of their unclean vocabularies.

2). Some scholars teach that the whole earth will speak Hebrew.

2. “…that they may all call upon the name of the LORD…”

a. that they may all call [7121 * qara’] [Strong: a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.]

b. upon the name [8034 * shem] [Strong: a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; Compare 8064); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:--+ base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.]

c. of the LORD [3068 * Yhovah] [Strong: from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

3. “…to serve him with one consent.”

a. to serve [5647 * ‘abad] [Strong: a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,]

b. him with one [259 *  ‘echad] [Strong: a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,]

c. consent [7926 * shkem] [Strong: from 7925 ; the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill:--back, X consent, portion, shoulder.]