Zephaniah 3:5

The LORD within her is righteous; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the unjust know no shame.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet addresses Jerusalem, contrasting God’s unwavering justice with the corruption of the city’s prophets and priests and the impending judgment on the nations.

The words — צַדִּיק (tza.Dik) = righteous and עַוְלָ֑ה ('av.Lah) = injustice. The text declares that Yahweh is characterized by righteousness and commits no injustice.

The thread — Deuteronomy 32:4 and Psalm 145:17 affirm God’s justice as flawless and consistent, while Lamentations 3:23 mirrors the morning renewal of His faithfulness. The declaration sits between the indictment of Jerusalem’s leaders in Zephaniah 3:4 and the announcement of national destruction in Zephaniah 3:6.

Why it lands — The text presents divine justice as reliable and unchanging, requiring readers to abandon excuses for the unjust and submit to God’s consistent standard.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

יְהוָ֤הYah.wehYahweh צַדִּיק֙tza.Dik[is] righteous בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּbe./kir.Ba/hin/ midst/ its לֹ֥אlo'not יַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.Sehhe does עַוְלָ֑ה'av.Lahinjustice בַּבֹּ֨קֶרba./Bo.kerin the/ morning בַּבֹּ֜קֶרba./Bo.kerin the/ morning מִשְׁפָּט֨וֹmish.pa.T/ojudgment/ his יִתֵּ֤ןyi.Tenhe gives לָאוֹר֙la./'Orto the/ light לֹ֣אlo'not נֶעְדָּ֔רne'.Darhe fails וְלֹֽא־ve./lo'-and/ not יוֹדֵ֥עַyo.De.a'[is] knowing עַוָּ֖ל'a.Valan unrighteous person בֹּֽשֶׁת׃Bo.shetshame

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
Psalms 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.
Lamentations 3:23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!
Zephaniah 3:15 The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm.
Deuteronomy 23:14 For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you.
Isaiah 12:6 Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 28:19 As often as it passes through, it will carry you away; it will sweep through morning after morning, by day and by night.” The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Psalms 99:3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name—He is holy!
1 Peter 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.