Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, April 19th, 2026
the Third Sunday after Easter
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Literal Standard Version

Zephaniah 3:16

In that day it is said to Jerusalem, || "Do not fear, O Zion, || Do not let your hands be feeble.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Faith;   Zion;   Scofield Reference Index - Kingdom;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Day of the lord;   Encouragement;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - God, Names of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Zephaniah, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Fear;   Zephaniah, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Zephaniah (1);   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Day of Judgment;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Zion;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Parable;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:“Do not fear;Zion, do not let your hands grow weak.
Hebrew Names Version
In that day, it will be said to Yerushalayim, "Don't be afraid, Tziyon. Don't let your hands be slack."
King James Version (1611)
In that day it shall be said to Ierusalem, Feare thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slacke.
King James Version
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
English Standard Version
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
New American Standard Bible
On that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.
New Century Version
On that day Jerusalem will be told, "Don't be afraid, city of Jerusalem. Don't give up.
Amplified Bible
In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.
Geneva Bible (1587)
In that day it shalbe said to Ierusalem, Feare thou not, O Zion: let not thine handes be faint.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.
Legacy Standard Bible
In that day it will be said to Jerusalem:"Do not fear, O Zion;Do not let your hands fall limp.
Berean Standard Bible
On that day they will say to Jerusalem: "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp.
Contemporary English Version
Jerusalem, the time is coming, when it will be said to you: "Don't be discouraged or grow weak from fear!
Complete Jewish Bible
On that day, it will be said to Yerushalayim, "Do not fear, Tziyon! don't let your hands droop down.
Darby Translation
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not; Zion, let not thy hands be slack.
Easy-to-Read Version
At that time Jerusalem will be told, "Be strong, don't be afraid!
George Lamsa Translation
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not; and to Zion, Let not your hands be weak.
Good News Translation
The time is coming when they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not be afraid, city of Zion! Do not let your hands hang limp!
Lexham English Bible
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, "Fear not, O Zion; your hands shall not hang limp.
Literal Translation
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not! Zion, do not let your hands droop.
American Standard Version
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.
Bible in Basic English
In that day it will be said to Jerusalem, Have no fear: O Zion, let not your hands be feeble.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: 'Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In that time it shalbe sayde to Hierusalem, Feare not: and to Sion, Let not thyne handes be flacke:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
At that time the Lord shall say to Jerusalem, Be of good courage, Sion; let not thine hands be slack.
English Revised Version
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: O Zion, let not thine hands be slack.
World English Bible
In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, "Don't be afraid, Zion. Don't let your hands be slack."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
In that dai it schal be seid, Jerusalem, nyle thou drede; Sion, thin hondis be not clumsid.
Update Bible Version
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Don't be afraid; O Zion, don't let your hands be slack.
Webster's Bible Translation
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: [and to] Zion, Let not thy hands be slack.
New English Translation
On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Don't be afraid, Zion! Your hands must not be paralyzed from panic!
New King James Version
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.
New Living Translation
On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, "Cheer up, Zion! Don't be afraid!
New Life Bible
On that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, O Zion. Do not let your hands lose their strength.
New Revised Standard
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
In that day, shall it be said - to Jerusalem, Do not fear, - O Zion, Let not thy hands hang down:
Douay-Rheims Bible
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: Let not thy hands be weakened.
Revised Standard Version
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
Young's Literal Translation
In that day it is said to Jerusalem, `Fear not, O Zion, let not thy hands be feeble.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
In that tyme it shall be sayed to Ierusalem: feare not, and to Sion: let not thine hondes be slacke,
THE MESSAGE
Jerusalem will be told: "Don't be afraid. Dear Zion, don't despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.

Contextual Overview

14Cry aloud, O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel, || Rejoice and exult with the whole heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15YHWH has turned aside your judgments, || He has faced your enemy, || The King of Israel, YHWH, [is] in your midst, || You see evil no more. 16In that day it is said to Jerusalem, || "Do not fear, O Zion, || Do not let your hands be feeble.17Your God YHWH [is] in your midst, || A mighty one [to] save, || He rejoices over you with joy, || He works in His love, || He delights over you with singing." 18"I have gathered My afflicted from the appointed place, || They have been bearing reproach from you for her sake. 19Behold, I am dealing with all afflicting you at that time, || And I have saved the halting one, || And I gather the ones driven out, || And have set them for a praise and for a name, || In all the land of their shame. 20At that time I bring you in, || Even at the time of My assembling you, || For I give you for a name, and for a praise, || Among all peoples of the land, || In My turning back [to] your captivity before your eyes," said YHWH!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

be said: Isaiah 35:3, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 40:9, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 41:13, Isaiah 41:14, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 43:2, Isaiah 44:2, Isaiah 54:4, Jeremiah 46:27, Jeremiah 46:28, Haggai 2:4, Haggai 2:5, Zechariah 8:15, John 12:12, Hebrews 12:12

slack: or, faint, 2 Corinthians 4:1, Galatians 6:9, Ephesians 3:13, Hebrews 12:3-5, Revelation 2:3

Reciprocal: Joshua 18:3 - How long are 2 Samuel 4:1 - his hands Isaiah 2:11 - in that day Jeremiah 30:10 - fear Joel 2:21 - Fear John 4:22 - for John 12:15 - Fear 2 Thessalonians 3:13 - be not weary

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
And the serpent has been cunning above every beast of the field which YHWH God has made, and he says to the woman, "Is it true that God has said, You do not eat from every tree of the garden?"
Genesis 3:6
And the woman sees that the tree [is] good for food, and that it [is] pleasant to the eyes, and the tree is desirable to make [one] wise, and she takes from its fruit and eats, and also gives [some] to her husband with her, and he eats;
Genesis 3:7
and the eyes of them both are opened, and they know that they [are] naked, and they sew fig-leaves, and make girdles for themselves.
Genesis 3:8
And they hear the sound of YHWH God walking up and down in the garden at the breeze of the day, and the man and his wife hide themselves from the face of YHWH God in the midst of the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:9
And YHWH God calls to the man and says to him, "Where [are] you?"
Genesis 3:10
And he says, "I have heard Your sound in the garden, and I am afraid, for I am naked, and I hide myself."
Genesis 3:11
And He says, "Who has declared to you that you [are] naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I have commanded you not to eat?"
Genesis 3:12
And the man says, "The woman whom You placed with me—she has given to me from the tree, and I eat."
Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said, "Multiplying I multiply your sorrow and your conception; you will bear children in sorrow, and your desire [is] toward your Man [[or husband]], and He [[or he]] will rule over you."
Genesis 3:17
And to the man He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and eat from the tree concerning which I have charged you, saying, You do not eat of it, cursed [is] the ground on your account; in sorrow you eat of it [for] all days of your life,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, fear thou not,.... Do not be afraid of any enemies; neither outward ones, the armies of Gog and Magog, the Turk, who will threaten, and will attempt to dispossess them of their land, now returned to it; nor inward and spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, death, and hell, being all vanquished and subdued by Christ: this will be said, not by the enemies themselves, who will confess they have no power to stand before the mighty God, as Aben Ezra; but either by the prophets of the Lord, or by the people themselves, encouraging one another, every man his neighbour, as Kimchi; or rather by the Lord himself, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions supply it,

"the Lord shall say to Jerusalem;''

this will be said at the time of the Jews' conversion, when reinstated in their own land, and shall be threatened with another remove from it, which they will have no reason to fear:

[and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack; weak, remiss, hang down through fear of mind, and fainting of spirit; and so unfit to meet the enemy, or perform duty; but, on the contrary, pluck up a good heart, be of good courage, fear not the enemy, be vigorous, active, and diligent, in the performance of the service of the Lord, animated by the following considerations:

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not - For “perfect love casteth out fear” John 4:18; from where he saith, “Fear not, little flock; it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” Luke 12:32. Who then and what should the Church or the faithful soul fear, since “mightier is He that is in her, than he that is in the world? And to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack,” through faint-heartedness (see Hebrews 12:12), but work with all thy might; be ready to do or bear anything; since Christ worketh with, in, by thee, and “in due time we shall reap, if we faint not” Galatians 6:9.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Zephaniah 3:16. Fear thou not — Thou shalt have no more captivities nor national afflictions.

Let not thine hands be slack. — This may refer, first, to the rebuilding of the temple of God, after the return from Babylon; and, secondly, to their diligence and zeal in the Christian Church.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile