2. A prophet of Jehovah in Judah during the early part of Josiah’s reign; writer of the book bearing his name. Zephaniah was possibly a great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah.​—Zep 1:1; see ZEPHANIAH, BOOK OF.

It was in the days of Judean King Josiah (659-629 B.C.E.) that Zephaniah carried on his prophetic work.