Albert Barnes Commentary Zephaniah 3:14

"Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem." — Zephaniah 3:14 (ASV)

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem – Very remarkable throughout all these verses is the use of the sacred number three, secretly conveying to the thoughtful soul the thought of Him—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Holy and Undivided Trinity by whose operation these things will be. Threefold is the description of their being freed from sins:

1. shall not do iniquity,
2. nor speak lies,
3. neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.

Threefold is their blessedness; they shall:

1. feed,
2. lie down,
3. none shall make them afraid.

Threefold is the exhortation to joy here. (Rup.): “Sing to God the Father; shout to God the Son; be glad and rejoice in God the Holy Spirit, which Holy Trinity is One God, from whom you have received it that you are:

1. the daughter of Zion
2. Israel
3. the daughter of Jerusalem

The daughter of Zion by faith, Israel by hope, Jerusalem by charity.” And this hidden teaching of that holy mystery is continued: The LORD, God the Father, has taken away your judgments; He God, the Son, has cast out (cleared quite away) your enemy; the king of Israel, the LORD, the Holy Spirit, is in your midst! (Zephaniah 3:15). The promise is threefold:

1. you shall not see evil anymore
2. fear you not
3. let not your hands be slack

The love of God is threefold:

1. He will rejoice over you with joy
2. He will rest in His love
3. He will joy over you with singing

Again, the words in these four verses are so framed as to be fulfilled in the end. All in this life are but shadows of that fullness.

First, whether the Church or the faithful soul, she is summoned by all her names: daughter of Zion (“the thirsty,” thirsty for God), Israel (“Prince with God”), Jerusalem (“City of Peace”). By all these names, she is called to the fullest joy in God with every expression and every feeling.

Sing: it is the inarticulate, thrilling, trembling burst of joy. Shout: again, the inarticulate yet louder swell of joy, a trumpet-blast. And then too, deep within, be glad: the calm, even joy of the inward soul. Exult: the triumph of the soul which cannot contain itself for joy. And this, with the whole heart: no corner of it not pervaded with joy.

The ground of this is the complete removal of every evil, and the full presence of God.