Zephaniah 3:9

With the Hebrew beneath

Zephaniah 3:9, word by word

I will changeאֶהְפֹּךְehpoch

change

To change something into something else.

Where else “ehpoch” appears

the peoplesעַמִּיםamim

people

A group of people united by family, land and customs: a nation.

Where else “amim” appears

to a pureבְרוּרָהverura

purify

To remove every stain.

Where else “verura” appears

languageשָׂפָהsafa

language

The tongue proper to a people, the language it speaks.

Where else “safa” appears

so that they may callקְרֹאkero

cry out

To shout to YHWH for help, call on his name.

Where else “kero” appears

on the nameשֵׁםshem

name of YHWH

YHWH's name: himself, as he makes himself known.

Where else “shem” appears

of YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

to serve himעָבְדavd

worship

To honor and obey God, or other gods, as his people.

Where else “avd” appears

with oneאֶחָדechad

one

The number one; just one and no more.

Where else “echad” appears

shoulderשְׁכֶםshechem

shoulder

The part of the body by the neck where a load is carried.

Where else “shechem” appears

Translation note

“With one shoulder”: it can be understood as “united,” like people who all carry one and the same load.

The context