Zephaniah continues to make masterful use of language. Upon reading the first part of chapter 3, and especially the most recent words in the second half of verse Zephaniah 3:8, we would expect for
(כִּי) to introduce further elaborations of judgment. Instead, the word for
follows up on the hint of blessing in the first part of Zephaniah 3:8.1 The judgment noted in the second part of Zephaniah 3:8 would effect the purification of the peoples so that all of them could call on the name of the Lord.
9 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.