"The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
— Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
Zephaniah 3:17 is the "he will rejoice over you with singing" verse. This page gives the verse, where it sits in Zephaniah 3, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about God's love, Love and joy, and Bible verses about rejoicing.
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The verse
The King James says, "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."
"In the midst" is qereb (H7130). "Mighty" is gibbor (H1368), a warrior. "Save" is yasha (H3467). "Rejoice" is sus (H7797) and "joy" is simchah (H8057). "Rest" is charash (H2790), to be silent or still, and "love" is ahavah (H160). "Joy over" is gil (H1523) and "singing" is rinnah (H7440), a ringing cry of joy.
Translations differ on the middle line. The KJV says "he will rest in his love," following the Hebrew word for being quiet or still. The NIV reads "in his love he will no longer rebuke you."
Where it sits in Zephaniah 3
Zephaniah prophesied "during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah" (Zephaniah 1:1). Most of the book warns of judgment. The end of chapter 3 turns to restoration.
Just before verse 17, the people are told to sing: "Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!" (Zephaniah 3:14). "The LORD has taken away your punishment... The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm" (Zephaniah 3:15). "Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp" (Zephaniah 3:16).
What the verse is saying
In verse 14 the people are called to sing. In verse 17 God is the one singing, over them. He is pictured as a warrior who saves and also as someone who takes great delight in the people he rescued.
It is a picture of God's love as joy, not only rescue. For more on that love, see Romans 5:8, Lamentations 3:22-23, and Bible verses about joy.
Questions people ask
What does Zephaniah 3:17 say?
In the NIV it says, "The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
What does "he will rejoice over you with singing" mean?
"Singing" is the Hebrew rinnah, a ringing cry of joy. Zephaniah pictures God himself singing for joy over his people.
Why does the KJV say "he will rest in his love"?
The Hebrew word is charash, to be silent or still. The KJV translates it as resting, a quiet, settled love. The NIV reads the line as "in his love he will no longer rebuke you."
Who was Zephaniah 3:17 written to?
It was spoken to Jerusalem and Judah ("Daughter Zion") during the reign of King Josiah, as a promise of restoration after judgment.
What verse goes with Zephaniah 3:17?
Zephaniah 3:14 calls God's people to sing and rejoice. Romans 5:8 shows the same love at the cross: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
