The Lord throughout is identified as Jesus Christ. Jerusalem, Zion, and the daughter of Jerusalem refer to Israel. The chapter begins with judgment on the polluted city (Jerusalem/Israel) and moves to the day when the Lord gathers the nations for the outpouring of His fierce anger (paralleling the final judgments in Revelation and the tribulation context of Matthew 24), followed by purification, restoration of the remnant, and the presence of the King of Israel in the midst of His people.

3:1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

Woe is pronounced on the filthy, polluted, and oppressing city—Jerusalem/Israel in its rebellious condition.

3:2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God.

The city (Israel) has not obeyed the voice, received correction, trusted in the Lord (Jesus), or drawn near to her God.

3:3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

Her princes act as roaring lions and her judges as evening wolves that leave nothing until morning—corrupt and devouring leadership within Israel.

3:4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

Her prophets are light (unstable/worthless) and treacherous; her priests have polluted the sanctuary and done violence to the law. False religious leadership is condemned.

3:5 The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

The just Lord (Jesus) is in the midst of the city. He does no iniquity; every morning He brings His judgment to light and does not fail. The unjust, however, know no shame.

3:6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.

The Lord (Jesus) has already cut off nations: their towers are desolate, streets waste with none passing by, cities destroyed with no inhabitant. This recalls the judgments on surrounding nations in Chapter 2 and anticipates the broader desolations of Revelation.

3:7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

The Lord (Jesus) expected that Israel would fear Him and receive instruction so that her dwelling would not be cut off, even after punishment. Instead, they rose early and corrupted all their doings.

3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

Wait upon the Lord (Jesus) until the day He rises up to the prey. His determination is to gather the nations and assemble the kingdoms so that He may pour out His indignation and all His fierce anger. All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of His jealousy. This is the climactic day of the Lord, matching the gathering of nations for judgment in Revelation (e.g., Rev 16:14–16; 19:19) and the cosmic upheaval of Matthew 24:29–30. The fire of jealousy parallels the devouring judgments of Revelation.

3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.

Then the Lord (Jesus) will turn to the people a pure language, so that they may all call upon His name and serve Him with one consent. This anticipates the pure worship of the redeemed in Revelation (Rev 5:9–14; 7:9–10; 15:3–4; 21–22).

3:10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia (Cush/Sudan-Ethiopia region), His suppliants—even the daughter of His dispersed—shall bring His offering. The scattered of Israel return with offerings.

3:11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

In that day Israel shall not be ashamed for past transgressions against the Lord (Jesus). He will remove from her midst those who rejoice in pride, and she shall no more be haughty because of His holy mountain (Jerusalem/Israel).

3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

The Lord (Jesus) will leave in the midst of Israel an afflicted and poor people who shall trust in His name—the humble remnant.

3:13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

The remnant of Israel shall do no iniquity, speak no lies, and have no deceitful tongue. They shall feed and lie down with none to make them afraid. This is the purified, secure remnant after the judgments.

3:14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

Daughter of Zion, Israel, and daughter of Jerusalem (Israel) are commanded to sing, shout, be glad, and rejoice with all the heart.

3:15 The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

The Lord (Jesus) has taken away Israel’s judgments and cast out her enemy. The King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of her; she shall not see evil any more. This is the presence of the reigning King after the tribulation and His return (cf. Matthew 24:30–31 and Revelation 19–20).

3:16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem (Israel), “Fear thou not,” and to Zion, “Let not thine hands be slack.”

3:17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

The Lord thy God (Jesus) in the midst of Israel is mighty. He will save, rejoice over her with joy, rest in His love, and joy over her with singing.

3:18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

The Lord (Jesus) will gather those who are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of Israel, and to whom its reproach was a burden.

3:19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

At that time the Lord (Jesus) will undo all that afflict Israel, save her that halteth, gather her that was driven out, and give them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

3:20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.

At that time the Lord (Jesus) will bring Israel again, in the time that He gathers them. He will make them a name and a praise among all people of the earth when He turns back their captivity before their eyes.

Chapter 3 thus moves from the present pollution and oppression of Jerusalem/Israel, through the Lord’s (Jesus’) gathering of the nations for the devouring fire of His jealousy (the climactic day of judgment paralleling Revelation and Matthew 24), to the purification of a remnant, the restoration of Israel, the pure worship of the nations, and the permanent presence of the King of Israel in the midst of His people who will no longer see evil.