Similar to the other prophetic books, Zephaniah prophesies a cycle of judgment followed by repentance for the wayward Israelite people. Unlike the other prophets, Zephaniah was the grandson of a king and therefore offers a unique perspective into the corruption and sin that perpetrated many of the rulers of that era. In these passages, Zephaniah urges a return to godliness, so that the people of Israel might be saved from the approaching judgment of God.