Editing Book of Zephaniah (section)

== Themes ==
[[File:Sophonie s'adressant au peuple.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Illustration depicting Zephaniah addressing the people, from a French 16th-century Bible]]
''The HarperCollins Study Bible'' supplies headings for sections within the book as follows:{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|pp=1260-64}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Verse and chapter headings in the HCSB
! Verse (NRSV) !! Heading </tr>
| 1:1      || (Superscription) </tr>
| 1:2–13  || The Coming Judgment on [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] </tr>
| 1:14–18 || The Great [[Day of the Lord]] </tr>
| 2:1–15  || Judgment on [[Israelites|Israel's]] Enemies </tr>
| 3:1–7   || The Wickedness of [[Jerusalem]] </tr>
| 3:8–13  || Punishment and Conversion of [[Gentile|the Nations]] </tr>
| 3:14–20 || Song of Joy </tr>
|}

More consistently than any other prophetic book, Zephaniah focuses on "the day of the Lord",{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1729}} developing this tradition from its first appearance in [[Book of Amos|Amos]].{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|pp=1259-60}}{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1186}}<ref>{{Bibleverse|Amos|5:18–20|NRSV}}</ref> The day of the Lord tradition also appears in [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]], [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]], [[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]], [[Book of Joel|Joel]], and [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]].{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1169}}<ref>{{Bibleverse|Isaiah|13:6|NRSV}}, {{Bibleverse|Ezekiel|30:2–3|NRSV}}, {{Bibleverse|Obadiah|15|NRSV}}, {{Bibleverse|Joel|1:15|NRSV}}, {{Bibleverse|Malachi|4:5|NRSV}}</ref>

The book begins by describing Yahweh's judgement. With a triple repetition of "I will sweep away" in Zephaniah 1:2–3,<ref>See for example {{bibleverse|Zephaniah|1:2-3|ESV}} in the [[English Standard Version]], cf. threefold repetition of "consume" in the [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah%201%3A2-3&version=NKJV New King James Version]</ref> Zephaniah emphasizes the totality of the destruction,{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|p=1260}} as the number three often signifies perfection in the Bible.{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1505}} The order of creatures in Zephaniah 1:2 ("humans and animals ... the birds ... the fish") is the opposite of the creation order in Genesis 1:1–28, signifying an undoing of creation.{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1732}} This is also signified by the way that "from the face of the earth" forms an ''[[inclusio]]'' around Zephaniah 1:2-3, hearkening back to how the phrase is used in the [[Genesis flood narrative]] in Genesis 6:7, Genesis 7:4, and Genesis 8:8,{{sfn|Attridge|Meeks|2006|p=1260}} where it also connotes an undoing of creation.{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=21}}

As is common in prophetic literature in the Bible, a "remnant" survives Yahweh's judgement,<ref>{{bibleverse|Zephaniah|2:7}}, {{bibleverse-nb|Zephaniah|2:9}}</ref>{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1241}} by humbly seeking refuge in Yahweh.{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1738}}<ref>{{Bibleverse|Zeph|3:12–13|NRSV}}</ref> The book concludes with an announcement of hope and joy,{{sfn|Berlin et al.|2004|p=1242}}<ref>{{Bibleverse|Zeph|3:14–20|NRSV}}</ref> as Yahweh "bursts forth in joyful divine celebration"{{sfn|Grudem et al.|2008|p=1739}} over his people.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Zeph|3:17|NRSV}}</ref>