"For then I will restore to the peoples a
pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD (יהוה) , To serve Him
with one
accord.”
(Zep.
3:9)
כִּֽי־אָז אֶהְפֹּךְ אֶל־עַמִּים שָׂפָה
בְרוּרָה לִקְרֹא כֻלָּם בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה לְעָבְדֹו שְׁכֶם
אֶחָֽד׃
Some Theories of the Pure
Language
The Hebrew words for “pure language” is “ בְדֹו שְׁכֶם barar saphah”
There are several theories of what the “pure language” is that
Zephaniah had prophesied. Here are some of them.
The language of the people when
they built the Tower of Babel.
“Now the whole earth had one
language and one speech.”(Gen. 11:1).
Problem: “And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one
language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to
do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their
language, that they may not understand one another's speech." (Gen. 11:6-7) That language was
used by man for seIf-glorification to reach heaven without God. It could not
have been a pure language.
The language that God spoke to Abraham.
Problem: God would only speak to people in the language that they
could understand. The first time that God spoke to Abraham he was living in
Ur of the Chaldeans (Gen. 11:31; 12:1; 15:7). Abraham's father Terah was an
Idol worshiper (Josh. 24:2). What Abraham spoke was a language of idol
worshipers and unbelievers. The Babylonians spoke the same language as the
Chaldeans. God also spoke to Abimelech, king of Gerar, who was not a
believer (Gen. 20:1-7). It is an impure language.
The language that God spoke to Moses.
Problem: The children of Israel were in Egypt for 430
years (Ex. 12:41; Gal. 3:17). They have been influenced by Egyptian culture
and possibly some of its language as well. Moses was adopted as the son of
Pharoah's daughter until he was 40 years old, and he lived in the land of
Midian for 40 years. It is doubtful whether or not Moses was speaking a pure
language.
Aramaic, the language that Jesus
spoke.
Problem: Aramaic is the ancient language of the Semitic family
group, which includes the Assyrians, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Arameans,
Hebrews, and Arabs. It is not a pure language.
The Hebrew language that is used in the Old Testament
It had been a lost language amongst the Jewish
Diaspora for more than 2,000 years. It was only restored to Israel when it
became a nation again in 1948.
Problem: The prophecy states: “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all
may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord.” The plural word “peoples”
includes Jews and Gentiles. The “pure language” has to unite all believers –
Jews and Gentiles. Hebrew is the official language of Israel; but no other
nation uses that language. Up till today the Jews still do not “call on the name of the LORD” (יהוה) . They still call Him “Adonai” (אֲדֹנָי)
The Extreme Exclusive
Sacred Name Movement has caused much confusion and division among
the believers by their teaching that unless a person calls on the Hebrew names
of God and the Savior they are not saved. This is a false teaching.
Zephaniah's prophecy of “a pure language” does not refer to Hebrew.
The Truth about “a Pure
Language”
The word “pure” describes the character of God (Job 4:17). It means
perfectly holy that God approves (Ex. 39:30; 2 Sam. 22:27). Pure means without
sin (Job 33:9). “The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of
earth, Purified seven times.” (Psm. 12:6; 119:140) “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without
hypocrisy.” (Jas.
3:17). The “pure language” is a heavenly language.
The Pure Language must come from
God:
The “pure language” cannot be a human
language that comes from man. It can only be a language that comes from God.“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in
one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty
wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there
appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4) Speaking with tongues as the Spirit
gives utterance is the “pure language” that comes from God. and is not from
man.
The Pure Language must come from the Lord Jesus Christ:
In
the Great Commission the Lord Jesus said: “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does
not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe:
In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;” (Mk. 16:15-17) Speaking with tongues is one of the
signs given by the Lord Jesus Christ who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit (Mt. 3:11). Speaking with tongues is the “pure language”.
The Pure Language must come from the Holy Spirit:
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what
we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for
us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows
what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints
according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for
good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose.” (Rom. 8:26-28) The “groanings which cannot be uttered” when the Holy
Spirit “makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” is the
“pure language” given by the Holy Spirit.
The Pure Language is used for speaking to God in the Spirit
“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one
understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” (1 Cor. 14:2) “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is
unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I
will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will
also sing with the understanding.” (1 Cor. 14:14-15) The
“pure language” is a prayer language.
The Pure Language may sound like Rivers of
Living Water
“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out,
saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in
Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living
water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him
would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet
glorified.” (Jn. 7:37-39)
“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of
many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the
Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” (Rev. 19:6) When a Spirit-filled congregation prays in
the spiritual tongue in one accord it may sound like “rivers of living water.”
The Pure Language is given by God in the New Birth
“Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the
flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel
that I said to you, "You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes,
and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it
goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (Jn. 3:5-8) The “pure language” may have the sound of
the wind and you “cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.” (ref. Acts
2:2-4)
The Pure Language is the Perfected Praise of God
“and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to
them, "Yes. Have you never read, "Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise'?" (Mt. 21:16) When Christians experience the New Birth they speak “a pure language” like “babes and nursing infants” learning to speak a new language.
Speaking with tongues is “perfected praise.”
The Pure Language may sound like Stammering Lips
Isaiah prophesied:“For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people,
To whom He said, "This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,"
And, "This is the refreshing"; Yet they would not hear.” (Isa. 28:11-12) The apostle Paul quoted Isaiah's
prophecy to explain that “stammering lips and another tongue” refers to the
Pentecostal experience of speaking with tongues (1 Cor. 14:21-22).
The Pure Language gives Christians Rest and
Refreshing
The “pure language” “is
"the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest," (Isa. 28:11-12). The Lord
Jesus Christ has promised to give Christians “rest”. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My
burden is light." (Mt. 11:28-30) “So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I
also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to
them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn. 20:21-22)
The Truth about the Restoration of “a Pure Language”
"For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may
call on the name of the LORD (יהוה), , To serve Him with one accord.” (Zep. 3:9)
The first time that
God gave His people the “pure language” of speaking with tongues was on the Day
of Pentecostal which was in the First Century. As the centuries passed the
Church declined in spirituality, and as a result the “pure language” was lost.
Zephaniah prophesied the “pure language” would be restored in the End Time.
Joel's prophecy of the Former
and Latter Rains indicates the two periods of
God's outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are now living in the End Time and God
has restored the “Pure Language” so that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can
worship our heavenly Father in spirit and truth by calling on the “name of the LORD (יהוה) , To serve Him with one accord.” (Jn. 4:23-24; Zep. 3:9)
The
Pure Language of
God