From 1 the verb sapan, to hide or store, and 2 yah, the shortened name of the lord. There are many people who would like to rule this subject of judgment out of the. Brave, strong, successful in business life, stubborn, successful in business, proud, discreet. The book of zephaniah is probably best known for being the least known book of the entire bible. Information and translations of zephaniah in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. All that is known of zephaniah comes from the text the name cushi, zephaniah s father, means cushite or ethiopian, and the text of zephaniah mentions the sin and restoration of. From the hebrew name tzefanyah meaning yahweh has hidden, derived from meaning to hide and referring to the hebrew god. Zephaniah is the name of several people in the hebrew bible and jewish tanakh. Do not treasure up for you treasures on the earth, where moth and rust cause to vanish, and where thieves dig through and steal.
Zephaniah has some literary affinities with isaiah, but more with jeremiah and joel. God will always judge sin, whether the evil is perpetrated by unbelieving sinners, who defy the name of the lord, or those who have been called and chosen to be his people, but are walking out of. As with each of the 12 minor prophets, the prophecy bears the name of its author, which is generally thought to mean the lord hides compare 2. The name might mean yah has concealed, he whom yah has hidden, or yah lies in wait. A minor prophet who has his own book, zephaniah is another old testament gem waiting to be rediscovered now that noah and abraham are becoming too trendy. The small book of zephaniah is narrative history and prophetic oracle. The prophet foresaw the devastating consequences of gods judgment on corruption and wickedness but also announced the lords gracious plan to restore judah.
Sophonias, which is borne by three other men mentioned in the old testament, means yah hides, or yah has hidden or treasured. If zephaniah is prophesying during manasseh or amons time and josiah is hearing this, then josiah did repent and did clean up the country as best he could, but he could not cancel our gods judgment. As with many of the other prophets, there is no external evidence to directly associate composition of the book with a prophet by the name of zephaniah. Zephaniah is the ninth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the old testament. The highest recorded use of the first name zephaniah was in 2018 with a total of 148 babies. The name zephaniah is a boys name of hebrew origin meaning god has hidden a minor prophet who has his own book, zephaniah is another old testament gem waiting to be rediscovered now that noah and abraham are becoming too trendy. Jupiter is the ruling planet for the name zephaniah.
He was a descendant of king hezekiah, implying he came from a line of royalty. The name might mean yhwh yh, phonetically iah, has concealed, he. A minor prophet who has his own book, zephaniah is another old testament. It consists of 9 letters and 4 syllables and is pronounced zephaniah. With thousands of awardwinning articles and community groups, you can track your pregnancy and babys growth, get answers to your toughest. Imagine that, only 5 babies in pennsylvania have the same name as you in 2009. The oracles in the majority of the book announce cosmic destruction as divine judgment for the. The date of the book is given in the inscriptionviz, the reign of josiah, from 642 to 611. The name zephaniah is a boys name of hebrew origin meaning god has hidden. Zephaniah has no pithy nickname like jeremiah, the weeping prophet. Three other old testament individuals share his name. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the day of the lords wrath. Zephaniah means yahweh hides or has hidden, hidden in yahweh, yahwehs watchman, or yahweh treasured. This is the name of one of the twelve minor prophets of the old testament, the author of the book of zephaniah.
The book of zephaniah is a very short prophetic book containing oracles of the prophet zephaniah, who is unrecorded in any other source, regarding the day of the lord. Our content is doctor approved and evidence based, and our community is moderated, lively, and welcoming. Babycenter is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. Meaning, origin and history of the name zephaniah behind the name. The chief characteristics of this book are the unity and harmony of the composition, the grace, energy and dignity of its style, and the rapid and effective alternations of threats and promises. One day the lords faithful ones will experience an everlasting world of righteousness. Information and translations of book of zephaniah in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Among the prophets, this is a unique introduction with its long list of fathers back to zephaniahs greatgreat grandfather, hezekiah. It was rather common for parents to give their child a name. The name zephaniah having moon sign as pisces is represented by the fish and considered as mutable normally, people with the name zephaniah are. Zephaniah boys name meaning, origin, and popularity.
Zephaniah has been called the orator because of the oratorical style evident throughout the prophecy. Social injustice and moral corruption were widespread 3. And all the earth will be devoured in the fire of his jealousy, for he will make a complete end, indeed a terrifying one. The book consists of a series of independent sayings, many of which are rightly attributed to zephaniah, written probably about 640630 bc. The books superscription attributes its authorship to zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah 1. The uncertainty arises over the etymology of the prophets name, which scholars dispute. Both he and joel paint very dark pictures of the day of the lord, but in both books beautiful rays of light penetrate the darkness. Book of zephaniah overview insight for living ministries. Zephaniah, son of cushi, is the author of the book of zephaniah. The day of the lord is coming, says the book of zephaniah, because gods patience has a limit when it comes to sin.
A son of cushi, and author of the book of zephaniah written around 630 bc a musician in the days of david 1 chronicles 6. The purpose of this book was to show that god raised up his prophet zephaniah to proclaim a warning of coming judgment and to encourage repentance. The chief characteristics of this book are the unity and harmony of the composition, the grace, energy and dignity of its style, and the rapid and effective alternations of threats and. Acoording to vedic astrology, rashi for the name zephaniah is meen and moon sign associated with the name zephaniah is pisces the name zephaniah has water element. Zephaniah meaning of zephaniah, what does zephaniah mean.
Although its not certain when these oracles were written down in this form, th. Dictionaries hitchcocks bible names dictionary zephaniah. The book of zephaniah, the early discourses of jeremiah, and 2ki 2123 furnish a vivid picture of the social, moral, and religious conditions in judah at the time zephaniah prophesied. Zephaniah zefania tsephanyah, tsephanyahu, yah hath. Among the minor prophets, we are certainly much more familiar with jonah and hosea. But treasure up for you treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust cause to vanish, and where thieves do not dig through and steal. He traces his genealogy back 4 generations to king hezekiah ca. It was rather common for parents to give their child a name that somehow became a prophetic piece of their life yes, this is the fun part in reading the biblical genealogies there are always some meanings to the names and purpose for why they are included in scripture. Zephaniah williams zephaniah williams 1795 8 may 1874 was a welsh coal miner and chartist campaigner, who was one of the leaders of the newport rising of 1839. Book of zephaniah noun the noun book of zephaniah has 1 sense 1. Browse for all the origins, histories, and meanings of zephaniah and over 40,000 other names. The name zephaniah means stored by for yah or yah stores up, and reminds of the words of jesus. Who is zephaniah and why is he important in the bible.
Zephaniah 2 zephaniah 2 is the second chapter of the book of zephaniah in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. The name cushi, zephaniahs father, means cushite or ethiopian, and. Book of zephaniah, the ninth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Three times god says i will sweep away in chapter 1 verses 1 and 2. Z is for zeal, youre so enthusiastic e is for excellent, i am glad youre here with me. Zephaniah 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. The lord gave this message to zephaniah when josiah son of amon was king of judah. The name zephaniah means god has hidden and is of hebrew origin. While zephaniahs prophetic writings are directed to israel and the jews, there is much for the christian church to learn from these ancient oracles. Smith, the prophets birth in the killing time of manasseh 2 kings 21. Social security administration data, the first name zephaniah is not a popular baby boys name in pennsylvania. In the book of zephaniah, the third and final chapter is about the the ageold cycle of the human condition. Zephaniah does not even have a verse to feature on christmas cards, like micah who tells us about the coming king from bethlehem. Zephaniah name meaning, origin of zephaniah name, in the.
Zephaniahs name means hidden and perhaps this is a play on words to say those that turn to the lord will be hidden from his wrath 2. Zephaniah is a name thats been used by parents who are considering baby names for boys. Sophonias, which is borne by three other men mentioned in the old testament, means yah hides, or yah has hidden or. The history of zephaniah originates from a hebrew background. The book of zephaniah was written during the reign of king josiah, likely in the early part of his reign, between 635 and 625 bc. This is not the only place where this theme occurs, of course, but it is the most concentrated treatment of the judgment of god as the whole book is devoted to this one theme. The term chemarims is a transliteration of a hebrew word and is used only in the kjv and a. In zephaniahs visions the presence of god brings both judgment and joy.
It is a small book, nestled in the midst of the minor prophets, toward the end of the old testament. In biblical names the meaning of the name zephaniah is. Speaking gods words in the days of king josiah of judah, the prophet zephaniah says, i will cut off the remnant of baal from this place, and the name of the chemarims with the priests kjv. The cycle operates at a personal level, for each of us, and at a church level, where a set of people with a. Learn the origin and popularity plus how to pronounce zephaniah. The meaning, origin and history of the given name zephaniah. The name zephaniah means the lord hides or the lord has hidden. Book of zephaniah simple english wikipedia, the free. His word came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. His pedigree is traced to his fourth ancestor, hezekiah, zephaniah 1. When god had a message for the people, he spoke through the prophets. The prophet zephaniah wrestles with these very questions. Meaning, origin and history of the name zephaniah behind.
We have for him no memorable biographical details like being swallowed by a whale jonah or marrying a prostitute hosea. Zephaniah means yahweh has hiddenprotected, or yahweh hides. Zephaniahs message of judgment and encouragement contains three major doctrines. The book of zephaniah is a book of the bible and is thought to be written by zephaniah son of cushi son of gedaliah son of amariah son of hezekiah, in the days of king josiah son of amon of judah the book begins by telling of gods judgement on the kingdom of judah.
It was zephaniahs lot to speak on the most unpleasant subject in the bible the judgment of god. The title of the book comes from the name of its writer. Zephaniah was the son of cushi, son of gedaliah, son of amariah, son of hezekiah. Zephaniah, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary.