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Bible verse
Zephaniah 3:17
“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
What it means
Here God is not distant or disappointed; He is near, strong, and glad over His people. The stunning image is of a God who sings, who quiets us with His love and delights in us like a rejoicing father. We often assume God tolerates us at best, but this says He takes joy in us. In Christ we discover this is not sentiment but truth bought at great cost. The mighty One in our midst saves us and then rejoices, and His love becomes the place our restless hearts finally rest.
Zephaniah 3:17 at a glance
| Reference | Zephaniah 3:17 |
|---|---|
| Book | Zephaniah |
| Chapter to read it in | Zephaniah 3 |
| Topic | gods love |
| Passages linked to it | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Scripture explains Scripture. These passages are linked to this one most often by readers.
- Psalms 149:4
- Psalms 147:11
- Hebrews 7:25
- Isaiah 62:4-5
- Jeremiah 32:41
- Isaiah 12:2
- Zephaniah 3:15
- Deuteronomy 30:9
- Isaiah 65:19
- John 15:11
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where do I find Zephaniah 3:17?
It is in Zephaniah, in Zephaniah 3. Reading the whole chapter shows who is speaking, to whom, and why.
What other passages go with Zephaniah 3:17?
Readers most often set it beside Psalms 149:4, Psalms 147:11, Hebrews 7:25, Isaiah 62:4-5. Each is listed under Read it in context.
How can I pray Zephaniah 3:17?
Read it slowly once, then say it back to God in your own words, one phrase at a time. Stop on the phrase that stays with you and stay there. You can also ask the family of God on The Living Bread to pray it with you.
Pray this
Jesus, our Shepherd, nothing about Zephaniah 3:17 is hidden from you. We bring you Zephaniah 3:17, gods love. Teach us to love one another, as you have loved us. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Take one step this week.
- Read all of Zephaniah 3 today, not only the one verse.
- Write Zephaniah 3:17 where you will see it, and read it aloud at the start and end of the day.
- Tell one person what this verse means to you, and ask what verse has carried them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
Read it, pray it, live it
On The Living Bread you can read the whole chapter, save this verse, ask Simon to explain it, pray it over your life, and share it with someone who needs it today.
