Specifically concerned with the book of the prophet Zephaniah, this monograph examines the ancient witnesses to the text. Zandstra compares three ancient versions - the Latin Vulgate, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Greek Septuagint - against the original Hebrew of the text. Historically this study was the first attempt of this kind with the book of Zephaniah. After giving a brief history of each of these primary versions, Zandstra proceeds to demonstrate their influence on the textual criticism of Zephaniah. Considering the interdependence of these versions upon one another, the author explores the departures of these versions from the Masoretic Text and variants derived from the consonantal text. Although the text of Zephaniah is brief, this historic study has remained a major tool for those who have studied this prophet since its publication.

Sidney Zandstra (1883-1961) was a pastor of the Reformed Church in America. He served in parishes in Little Falls and Lodi, New Jersey in the early twentieth century. This current work is the publication of his 1909 Columbia University dissertation.