And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

ZEPHANIAH 2:7KJV
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Zephaniah 2:7 (KJV)

What does Zephaniah 2:7 mean?

Zephaniah 2:7 says that the remaining people of Judah will one day live peacefully and securely along the coast, even resting in the houses of Ashkelon, because God will care for them and bring them back from captivity. This verse promises restoration and hope after a time of judgment and exile.

The prophet Zephaniah is speaking to the people of Judah, warning them of coming judgment but also offering hope for those who survive. In this verse, he describes a future when God will "visit" (care for) His people, allowing them to settle in places that once belonged to their enemies. The verse highlights God's faithfulness to restore His people after hardship.

The Hebrew behind Zephaniah 2:7

  • remnant (שְׁאֵרִית, she'erit): This word means the survivors or those left after disaster. Zephaniah is not speaking about all of Judah, but specifically about those who remain faithful or are spared.
  • visit (פָּקַד, paqad): In Hebrew, this word often means to "attend to" or "care for." Here, it shows that God is not just noticing His people, but actively intervening to help and restore them.
  • turn away (שׁוּב, shuv) their captivity (שְׁבִית, shevit): Together, these words mean to bring back or restore from exile. The phrase is about God reversing the people's misfortune and bringing them home.

Why Zephaniah 2:7 matters

  • Zephaniah 2:7 clarifies that God’s judgment is not the end of the story; there is a promise of restoration for those who remain.
  • The verse emphasizes that God’s care is personal and active—He "visits" His people, not just from a distance, but by changing their situation.
  • This promise connects to the broader message of Zephaniah, where warnings of judgment are balanced with hope for renewal and return, showing God’s justice and mercy together.

Where else these words appear

“Ashkelon” Hebrew H831 · used in 11 verses

  • Judges 1:18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
  • 2 Samuel 1:20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
  • Jeremiah 47:7 How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.

“captivity” Hebrew H7622 · used in 27 verses

  • Numbers 21:29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.
  • Jeremiah 30:3 For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
  • Jeremiah 49:39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.

“down” Hebrew H7257 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
  • Deuteronomy 33:13 And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
  • Isaiah 17:2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

“coast” Hebrew H2256 · used in 58 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:4 And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
  • Job 18:10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
  • Isaiah 33:23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.