Zephaniah 3:10

The verse is obscure on account of the uncertain meaning of several expressions in it. Its general sense is that the heathen nations, even those most distant, shall do homage to Jehovah and present offerings to Him. Jeremiah already predicts the conversion of the nations (Jeremiah 3:17; Jeremiah 16:19).

From beyond the rivers This meaning is possible, but the usual sense would be: beyond the riversin answer to the question where, not, whence(Isaiah 18:1). On Ethiopia or Cush see on ch. Zephaniah 2:12.

My suppliants The word does not occur again in this sense, though a verb to supplicate, from which it might be derived, is not uncommon (Genesis 25:21). In the sing, the word occurs Ezekiel 8:11 in the sense of vapouror odour(R.V.) of incense, and this sense, being parallel to "mine offering," might be adopted here.

even the daughter of my dispersed Phrases like "daughter of Zion" (Zephaniah 3:14), of Babylon (Psalms 137:8), of Edom (Lamentations 4:21), signify the city or country named with its inhabitants. There is always in such phrases the name of a place, and this suggests that under the word "my dispersed" (pûtsai) there lurks some proper name. Ewald suggested Put, which is often named in connexion with Cush (cf. on Nahum 3:9). "The daughter of Put" would then be parallel to "beyond the rivers of Cush." Others have assumed that somewhat after the analogy of "daughter of Zion" in the sense of Zion with those inhabiting it, "the daughter of my dispersed" might mean those composing(comprised in) my dispersed. "My dispersed" must certainly refer to Jews; the view of Hitzig that they are the same as "those that escape" of the Gentiles and carry tidings of the greatness of Jehovah to all nations (Isaiah 66:18-19), has no probability. The general meaning of the verse would be that the most distant nations would bring back God's dispersed people the Jews as an offering to Him (Isaiah 66:20): From beyond the rivers of Cush shall they bring my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed as mine offering. The term "suppliants" seems unnatural in the connexion. After all, the other sense appears at least equally probable: Beyond the rivers of Cush they shall offer me incense, the daughter of[Put] shall bring me an offering, the reference being to the service of Jehovah by all the nations. Comp. Isaiah 18:7; Isaiah 45:14; Psalms 72:10.