The names of prophets are often very relevant to the message they are called to convey. Let’s consider the names of those prophets, contemporary with Zephaniah. Jeremiah means Jehovah is lofty, high and risen up. How appropriate a name for this time as Israel would shortly be losing her Temple and the city of Jerusalem, yet despite her fall, the Lord remains the high and lofty one to those who love Him. Daniel, also a contemporary of this period, means God is my judge and confirms the Lord’s full sovereignty and judgements over all the nations. This history is spelled out rather clearly in this prophet’s book.
Hulda the prophetess, who was summoned by King Josiah, emphasized a similar message. Her name is from the word חֶלֶד (ḥeled) meaning duration of life or of the world. Hulda then, means everlasting and reminds the Israelites how they needed to incorporate that hope despite hearing her message, that Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed. Then we have Ezekiel who ministered the to the Jews in the Diaspora. His name means God strengthens. We have the Hebrew word hazaq, meaning strength and El, the mighty God. This points to God strengthening the remnant of Israel while in the Diaspora
What about the name Zephaniah? The meaning provided such a guiding light of certainty not only to the Israelites then, but to us as well. The name Zephaniah is composed of two words, zephan ,צָפַן meaning to hide, in the sense of treasuring up and protecting. This is coupled with the name of God, Yah giving us the meaning, whom Jehovah treasures, hides and protects. But who was the Lord treasuring up and protecting then and as He is today. Who then stands in the center theme of this book? It is the nation of Israel.
And that is such an appropriate name for Zephaniah as it brings us right to the edge of a new phase in the history of Israel. The nation was on her way to lose her land. The people were about to begin the long Diaspora or dispersion, a period of time which will come to an end once Yeshua returns. This Diaspora, which begins with Zephaniah, is what Israel is currently living in.
That’s why this book holds such powerful relevance for us today—not only does it reveal the reasons behind Israel’s fall, but it also speaks of the destiny of all nations and the direction in which our world is heading.
This new historical phase of history stamped by Zephaniah is so significant that Jesus Himself, in Luke 21:24 gave it the name, the Times of the Gentiles. He says in this passage, and they- Israel- will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The Times of the Gentiles or the Times of the Nations is a period covering the Diaspora when Israel lost its land and especially its jurisdiction over the Temple Mount.
But the name Zephaniah reminds us that during this time, Israel would be kept hidden, zephan, as Jesus explains it in one of the parables of the kingdom, the Parable of the Treasure, where He says: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field”. Matthew 13: 44
What is hidden during these times, is the nation of Israel. In terms of today’s theology, many think that the hidden treasure is the church, but the church instead is connected to the following parable, the Parable of the Pearl. The church is not hidden. It is then Israel who is zephan, hidden but treasured by God.
And Paul spoke so much about this theme. From Yeshua to the time of this apostle, we see the theme continue as Paul expounds on the past, present, and future of Israel in Romans chapters 9, 10, and 11. In these chapters, he addresses the role and place of Israel in God’s redemptive plan.
Many Gentile believers in the Roman church struggled to understand the place and purpose of Jewish believers, especially at a time when antisemitism was widespread throughout the Roman Empire. In response, Paul clarifies the mystery of Israel’s condition in one key passage from Romans 11:25-26. There he writes, “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and so all Israel will be saved.”
Here the zephan of God is well explained for us. While Israel is right now in the Diaspora and not functioning as the priestly nation, this condition is temporary until the fulness of the Gentiles comes in, that is, until the last Gentile or believer from the nations has come into faith in Yeshua. Then it says that all Israel will be saved, that is, her remnant will be restored.
So, at this present time, Israel is zephan, that is hidden but also protected and treasured by God and this is what Paul further says in the next two verses. What he says is also so important in our understanding of Israel. From the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11: 28-29
While at this moment, Israel may look lost as it is scattered in this world and forsaken and even enemies to many, Paul tells us that from God’s point of view, they are beloved, agapetos and reminds us that their calling as the elected nation, is irrevocable, a status for eternity.
But beyond the word zephan, there is another term God uses for “treasure” in reference to Israel. And when these two words are brought together, they reveal an even deeper understanding of Israel’s unique place in God’s heart and His divine plan. This word is found in the very election of the nation in Exodus 19:5-6, Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. The term special treasure is a single word in Hebrew—סְגֻלָּה (segulah). What is the difference between the two words: zaphan and segulah? Grammatically speaking, segulah is a noun, defining the status of Israel, while zephan is a verb, re-confirming this status but as well describing her condition as now hidden and protected. We can see a short history of Israel through both synonyms. Israel was elected to be a segulah but now lives as a Zephan. She will however be that segulah when Yeshua comes back.
And what is most touching in the use of the word is that zephan is used in the prophecy of Psalm 83 when it is predicted that 10 neighboring nations, include Philistia (modern-day Gaza Strip) and those in the north (Tyre, where Hezbollah is) as well as others around will say, Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more. 83:4 As the writer pleaded with God, he said in vs.3 just before declaring their plans, They make shrewd plans against Your people, And conspire together against Your treasured ones. The word treasured ones is ztephunecha – your ztephane as if to remind the Lord of His promises found in Exodus 19. The word segullah as in your treasured segullah is here turned into zephan for in the prophecy they are hidden.
And in response to this, when the times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled, God tells us in Malachi 3:17, “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.” Here the word jewels is segulah, that is the noun, that is when Israel will overtly be shown to be God’s treasure. So, Israel is now God’s zephan but soon it will be God’s segulah.
We conclude that the Jewish people and the state of Israel are not an accident of history – they are not a people going here and there aimlessly – they are still God’s treasure, but for now hidden. This then is all in the name of Zephaniah who is about to lead us into this moment where, along with virtually all the prophets, and speak with one voice about the coming Tribulation and its implication.
Click Here for the Video: Zephaniah, Part 2: When God Says “Enough”