Lexical Definition

‎צְפַנְיָה‎ Tsᵉphanyâh (tsef-an-yaw') Zephaniah ^N:N-M-P
or צְפַנְיָהוּ Tsᵉphanyâhûw (tsef-an-yaw'-hoo); from ‎צָפַן‎ and ‎יָהּ‎; Jah has secreted

Zephaniah.

• § Zephaniah = "Jehovah has treasured"
• Tsephanjah, the name of four Israelites

1) the 9th in order of the 12 minor prophets; descendant of king Hezekiah of Judah and prophet in the time of king Josiah of Judah
2) son of Maaseiah and second priest in the reign of king Zedekiah of Judah; succeeded Jehoiada and an officer of the temple; slain at Riblah on the capture of Jerusalem
3) father of Josiah and Hen in the time of the prophet Zechariah
4) a Levite

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.25.18
• son of: Maaseiah (מַעֲשֵׂיָה)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎צְפַנְיָה(וּׅ‎ proper name, masculine Σοφονιας (‎׳‎‎י‎ hath treasured; Old Hebrew ‎צפניהו‎, Phoenician ‎צפנבעל‎); —

1. priest, ‎יָה‎- Jer 21:1; Jer 22:25; Jer 22:29; Jer 52:24 = ‎יָהוּ‎- 2Kgs 25:18 (ᵐ5^L Σαφανιας), Jer 37:3. Elsewhere ‎יָה‎-:

2. the prophet Zeph 1:1.

3. a Judaean Zech 6:10; Zech 6:14.

4. ancestor of Heman 1Chr 6:21* (Σαφανιας; = ‎אוּרִיאֵל‎ v.1Chr 6:9*).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Son of Maaseiah • Priest during the reign of Zedekiah

Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy

Zephaniah, a priest during King Zedekiah's reign, was taken captive to Babylon (2Ki.25.18; Jer.21.1; 29.25,29; 37.3; 52.24).

• A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.25.18;
• only referred to as Zephaniah צְפַנְיָה;
• a son of Maaseiah מַעֲשֵׂיָה.

Zephaniah was a priest who served during the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. He is mentioned several times in the books of Jeremiah and 2 Kings. Zephaniah was the son of Maaseiah and held the position of second priest, subordinate to the high priest Seraiah. King Zedekiah sent Zephaniah, along with others, to inquire of the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Babylonian threat. Zephaniah is also mentioned in a letter from Shemaiah, a false prophet in Babylon, who accused Zephaniah of not rebuking Jeremiah for his prophecies. After the fall of Jerusalem, Zephaniah was among the captives taken to Riblah, where Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had him executed.

All entries for Zephaniah: צְפַנְיָה

Related Profiles:

• Maaseiah (father)