Zephaniah 3:5
"The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

The just Lord is in the midst thereof,.... In the midst of the city of Jerusalem, where those princes, judges, prophets and priests, were, that behaved so ill, and saw and observed all their evil actions; and yet they were not deterred from them by his presence, even though he is the "just" and Holy One, who loves righteousness, and hates iniquity, and will punish for it; nor were they directed and allured to do what is righteous and good by his

example. This character of the just Lord well agrees with Christ, who is perfectly righteous in both his natures, and in the execution of his offices; and is the author of righteousness to his people; and this is to be understood of his incarnation and personal presence in human nature in Jerusalem, and in the temple, where he taught his doctrine, and wrought his miracles: he will not do iniquity; Christ was holy in his nature, harmless in his life; he knew no sin; he did not commit any; no violence was done by him, or guile found in him; he was not guilty of sin against God, nor of doing any injury to men; and should have been imitated by the men of the age in which he lived, as well as by others; and should have been valued and esteemed, and not traduced and vilified as he was, as if he had been the worst of men: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light; the doctrine of the Gospel, which he set in the clearest light, and preached with the greatest constancy, day after day, morning by morning, and very early in the morning, when the people came to hear him in the temple; and he continued in it all the day; he waking morning by morning to this service, as was predicted of him, Isa 1:4 see Luk 21:37 , he faileth not; in this work of preaching the word, with the greatest evidence and assiduity: but the unjust knoweth no shame: those unjust persons, who aspersed the character of Christ, and traduced his doctrine and miracles; though there was nothing in his life, nor in his ministry, that could be justly blamed, yet they blushed not at their sin and wickedness; and though they were sharply reproved by him, and their errors in principle, and sins in practice, were exposed by him, yet they were not ashamed; such were the hardness and obduracy of their hearts.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (17 words)

H3068 יְהוָֹה
Definition:

7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when 7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when

Possible Meanings:
  • Yahweh (semantic_range)
  • the one bringing into being (semantic_range)
  • life-giver (semantic_range)
H6662 צַדִיק
Definition:

9+; pluralצַדִּיקִיםExodus 23:8+, etc.; —1just, righteous, in government:a.of Davidic king2 Samuel 23:3;צֶמַהּJeremiah 23:5;Zechariah 9:9(""victorious).b.of judges,Ezekiel 23:45;Proverbs 29:2(see Toy; 9+; pluralצַדִּיקִיםExodus 23:8+, etc.; —1just, righteous, in government:a.of Davidic king2 Samuel 23:3;צֶמַהּJeremiah 23:5;Zechariah 9:9(""victorious).b.of judges,Ezekiel 23:45;Proverbs 29:2(see Toy;

H7130 קֶרֶב
Definition:

13+ (only3); constructGenesis 45:6+; suffixקִרְבִּיJoshua 9:7+, 3 feminine pluralקִרְבֶֹּנָהGenesis 41:21,בֶֹּנָה-Genesis 41:21(Ges§ 91i. Köii.1488 N.I), etc.; plural only (suffix)קְרָבַיPsalm 103:1; 13+ (only3); constructGenesis 45:6+; suffixקִרְבִּיJoshua 9:7+, 3 feminine pluralקִרְבֶֹּנָהGenesis 41:21,בֶֹּנָה-Genesis 41:21(Ges§ 91i. Köii.1488 N.I), etc.; plural only (suffix)קְרָבַיPsalm 103:1;

Possible Meanings:
  • war (semantic_range)
H3808 לֹא
Definition:

11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, 11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay,

H6213 עָשָׂה
Definition:

A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows) -- accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly,

Possible Meanings:
  • press (semantic_range)
  • squeeze (semantic_range)
H5766 עֶוֶל
Definition:

15+; constructעֶ֫וֶלEzekiel 28:18(van d. H.עָוֶל, but see Baer Ginsb); suffixעַוְלוֺEzekiel 18:26;Ezekiel 33:13; —עשׂה עולLeviticus 19:15,35 (H)Deuteronomy 25:16;Ezekiel 3:20;Ezekiel 18:24,26 (twice i 15+; constructעֶ֫וֶלEzekiel 28:18(van d. H.עָוֶל, but see Baer Ginsb); suffixעַוְלוֺEzekiel 18:26;Ezekiel 33:13; —עשׂה עולLeviticus 19:15,35 (H)Deuteronomy 25:16;Ezekiel 3:20;Ezekiel 18:24,26 (twice i

Possible Meanings:
  • unjust (semantic_range)
  • unrighteous one (semantic_range)
H1242 בֹּקֶר
Definition:

13morning(Late Hebrewid.; fromsplit, penetrate, as the dawn the darkness, light through cloud-rifts, etc.) —׳בGenesis 1:5+ (always absolute); pluralבְּקָרִיםJob 7:184t.; —1morning(of point of time, ti 13morning(Late Hebrewid.; fromsplit, penetrate, as the dawn the darkness, light through cloud-rifts, etc.) —׳בGenesis 1:5+ (always absolute); pluralבְּקָרִיםJob 7:184t.; —1morning(of point of time, ti

Possible Meanings:
  • inquire (semantic_range)
  • seek (semantic_range)
  • let search be made (semantic_range)
H1242 בֹּקֶר
Definition:

13morning(Late Hebrewid.; fromsplit, penetrate, as the dawn the darkness, light through cloud-rifts, etc.) —׳בGenesis 1:5+ (always absolute); pluralבְּקָרִיםJob 7:184t.; —1morning(of point of time, ti 13morning(Late Hebrewid.; fromsplit, penetrate, as the dawn the darkness, light through cloud-rifts, etc.) —׳בGenesis 1:5+ (always absolute); pluralבְּקָרִיםJob 7:184t.; —1morning(of point of time, ti

Possible Meanings:
  • inquire (semantic_range)
  • seek (semantic_range)
  • let search be made (semantic_range)
H4941 מִשְׁפָט
Definition:

13judgment; — absoluteמִשְׁמָּטExodus 21:31203t., +לְשְִׁ֯מָּטEzekiel 44:24(but read Ktלִשְׁמֹּטwithᵐ5ᵑ7ᵑ6Co and others); constructמִשְׁמַּטExodus 23:650t.; suffixמִשְׁמָּטִיIsaiah 40:27+;מִשְׁמָּטָםJ 13judgment; — absoluteמִשְׁמָּטExodus 21:31203t., +לְשְִׁ֯מָּטEzekiel 44:24(but read Ktלִשְׁמֹּטwithᵐ5ᵑ7ᵑ6Co and others); constructמִשְׁמַּטExodus 23:650t.; suffixמִשְׁמָּטִיIsaiah 40:27+;מִשְׁמָּטָםJ

Possible Meanings:
  • justice (semantic_range)
  • right (semantic_range)
  • rectitude (semantic_range)
H5414 נָתַן
Definition:

19 + often; Old Hebrewנתןיֿהוproper name, masculine Lzb327; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Phoenicianיתן,נתןin proper nameמתנת, etc., Lzb292; Lzb327; AssyriannadânuDlHWB 450(rarelyittanIdib.488); Zinj 19 + often; Old Hebrewנתןיֿהוproper name, masculine Lzb327; Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Phoenicianיתן,נתןin proper nameמתנת, etc., Lzb292; Lzb327; AssyriannadânuDlHWB 450(rarelyittanIdib.488); Zinj

Possible Meanings:
  • give (semantic_range)
H0216 אוֹר
Definition:

3(feminineJob 36:32;Jeremiah 13:16)light(Assyrianurru = ûruDlw). — absoluteGenesis 1:3+; constructJudges 16:2+; suffixאוֺרִיPsalm 27:1, etc.;pluralאוֺרִיםPsalm 136:7; —1lightas diffused in nature, lig 3(feminineJob 36:32;Jeremiah 13:16)light(Assyrianurru = ûruDlw). — absoluteGenesis 1:3+; constructJudges 16:2+; suffixאוֺרִיPsalm 27:1, etc.;pluralאוֺרִיםPsalm 136:7; —1lightas diffused in nature, lig

H3808 לֹא
Definition:

11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, 11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay,

H5737 עֲדַר
Definition:

A primitive root; to arrange, as a battle, a vineyard (to hoe); hence, to muster and so to miss (or find wanting) -- dig, fail, keep (rank), lack.Brown-Driver-BriggsI. [עָדַר]verbprobably (si vera lec A primitive root; to arrange, as a battle, a vineyard (to hoe); hence, to muster and so to miss (or find wanting) -- dig, fail, keep (rank), lack.Brown-Driver-BriggsI. [עָדַר]verbprobably (si vera lec

Possible Meanings:
  • flock (semantic_range)
  • herd (semantic_range)
H3808 לֹא
Definition:

11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, 11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay,

H3045 יָדַע
Definition:

1+;יָדָ֑עLeviticus 5:1+; suffixיְדָעוֺDeuteronomy 34:10;Job 28:7;יְדָעָהּGenesis 24:16;1 Kings 1:4;יְדָעָ֫נוּIsaiah 63:16; 3feminine singularיָָֽדְעָהJudges 11:394t.; 2 masculine singularיָדַעְתָּGene 1+;יָדָ֑עLeviticus 5:1+; suffixיְדָעוֺDeuteronomy 34:10;Job 28:7;יְדָעָהּGenesis 24:16;1 Kings 1:4;יְדָעָ֫נוּIsaiah 63:16; 3feminine singularיָָֽדְעָהJudges 11:394t.; 2 masculine singularיָדַעְתָּGene

Possible Meanings:
  • know (semantic_range)
  • know (semantic_range)
  • cause to know (semantic_range)
  • inform (semantic_range)
H5767 עַוָּל
Definition:

Intensive fromaval; evil (morally) -- unjust, unrighteous, wicked.see HEBREWavalBrown-Driver-Briggsעַוָּלnoun masculineunjust, unrighteous one; — especially of oppressive rulerZephaniah 3:5;Job 18:18; Intensive fromaval; evil (morally) -- unjust, unrighteous, wicked.see HEBREWavalBrown-Driver-Briggsעַוָּלnoun masculineunjust, unrighteous one; — especially of oppressive rulerZephaniah 3:5;Job 18:18;

H1322 בּשֶׁת
Definition:

2220t.; suffixבָּשְׁתִּיPsalm 69:207t.1shame1 Samuel 20:30(twice in verse);Psalm 40:16;Psalm 69:20;Psalm 70:4;Isaiah 30:3,5;Isaiah 61:7;Jeremiah 2:26;Jeremiah 3:25;Jeremiah 20:18;Habakkuk 2:10;Zephani 2220t.; suffixבָּשְׁתִּיPsalm 69:207t.1shame1 Samuel 20:30(twice in verse);Psalm 40:16;Psalm 69:20;Psalm 70:4;Isaiah 30:3,5;Isaiah 61:7;Jeremiah 2:26;Jeremiah 3:25;Jeremiah 20:18;Habakkuk 2:10;Zephani

Possible Meanings:
  • shameful thing (semantic_range)

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