Earlier the LORD’s righteous presence in the city (verse 5) was contrasted with the presence of the evil leaders. In a similar way here, the presence of the LORD’s righteous people in the city is contrasted with the removal of the evil leaders in verse 11.

The word translated I will leave is a form of the root often translated “remnant.” It is applied to the minority of people who trust in the LORD and obey him, and who will consequently survive the period of his judgment. In some languages it will be helpful to translate I will leave in the midst of you as “I will leave in my city (or, Jerusalem)” or “In Jerusalem I will leave….”

These people in Jerusalem are described as humble and lowly. The word used here for humble is not the same as that used in 2.3. There the term referred primarily to those who humbled themselves in obedience to the LORD. Here the term implies rather those who have been humbled and humiliated (made to lose face) by the oppression and judgment through which they have passed.

The lowly are originally simply the poor people (New English Bible here translates “poor”). Since the majority of those who remained true to the LORD came from the ranks of the poor and weak rather than those of the rich and powerful, the term “poor” gradually came to mean “faithful to the LORD” and “obedient to his commands.” Its use in passages like this one helps to explain the use of similar terms by Jesus in such passages as Matthew 5.3, 5. In languages where it is difficult to find two words with similar meaning like humble and lowly, it may be necessary to say “very humble” or “have lost much face.”

The characteristic feature of these humble and lowly people is that They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD. The name of the LORD stands for his person and qualities. To seek refuge is a metaphor which is expressed in nonfigurative language in Good News Translation as “come to me for help.” (This last phrase is included in verse 13 in Jerusalem Bible and New English Bible.)

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on the Book of Zephaniah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1989. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .