Malachi

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:1c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּפִתְאֹם יָבוֹא אֶל־הֵיכָלוֹ הָאָדוֹן אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּם מְבַקְשִׁים

Transliteration:

ûpitʾōm yābôʾ ʾel-hêkālô hāʾādôn ʾᵃšer-ʾattem mᵉbaqšîm

Translation (ESV):

And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וּ‏וּפִתְאֹם (ûpitʾōm) : conjunction וּ (û) + adverb פִתְאֹם (pitʾōm) : suddenly, surprisingly (HALOT).
יָבוֹא (yābôʾ) : Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of בוֹא (bôʾ) : will come.
אֶל (ʾel) : preposition : to.
הֵיכָלוֹ (hêkālô) : noun ‏הֵיכָל (hêkol) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : his temple.
הָאָדוֹן (hāʾādôn) : definite article + אָדוֹן (ʾādôn) : the Lord.
אֲשֶׁר (ʾᵃšer) : relative : whom.
אַתֶּם (ʾattem) : personal pronoun 2 m.p. : you.
מְבַקְשִׁים (mᵉbaqšîm) : Piel participle of ‏בָּקַשׁ (bāqaš) : seek.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:1d):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּמַלְאַךְ הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּם חֲפֵצִים

Transliteration:

ûmalʾak habbᵉrît ʾᵃšer-ʾattem ḥᵃpēṣîm

Translation (TNIV):

the messenger of the covenant whom you desire

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וּמַלְאַךְ (ûmalʾak) : conjunction וּ (û) + construct מַלְאַךְ (malʾak) : the messenger of.
הַבְּרִית (habbᵉrît) : definite article + בְּרִית (bᵉrît) : the covenant.
אַתֶּם (ʾᵃšer) : relative : whom.
אֲשֶׁר (ʾattem) : personal pronoun 2 m.p. : you.
חֲפֵצִים (ḥᵃpēṣîm) : Qal participle m.p. of ‏חָפֵץ (ḥāpēṣ) : desire.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:1e):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏הִנֵּה־בָא אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת

Transliteration (Accordance):

hinnê-bāʾ ʾāmar YHWH ṣᵉbāʾôt

Translation (ESV):

behold, he is coming,* says the LORD of hosts.

*See Exegesis section here re "typical henneh clause".

Glossary (meanings in this context):

הִנֵּה (hinnê) : behold.
בָא (bāʾ) : Qal participle of ‏בּוֹא (bôʾ) : he is coming.
אָמַר (ʾāmar) : Qal perfect 3 m.s. : says.
יְהוָה (YHWH) : proper name : Yahweh/the LORD.
צְבָאוֹת (ṣᵉbāʾôt) : plural of ‏צָבָא (ṣābāʾ) : who rules over all (NET).*

*Net Note: The epithet "LORD who rules over all" occurs frequently as a divine title throughout Malachi (24 times total). This name (‏יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת‎, yéhvah tsévaʾot), traditionally translated “LORD of hosts” (so KJV, NAB, NASB; cf. NIV NLT “Lord Almighty”; NCV, CEV “Lord All-Powerful”), emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 123–57.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:2a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּמִי מְכַלְכֵּל אֶת־יוֹם בּוֹאוֹ

Transliteration (Accordance):

ûmî mᵉkalkēl ʾet-yôm bôʾô

Translation (ESV):

But who can endure the day of his coming

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וּמִי (ûmî) : conjunction וּ (û) + interrogative pronoun מִי (mî) : but who?
מְכַלְכֵּל (mᵉkalkēl) : Pilpel participle of ‏כּוּל (kûl) : can endure.
אֶת (ʾet) : direct object marker.
יוֹם (yôm) : construct : the day of.
בּוֹאוֹ (bôʾô) : Qal infinitive construct of ‏בּוֹא (bôʾ) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : his coming.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:2b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּמִי הָעֹמֵד בְּהֵרָאוֹתוֹ

Transliteration (Accordance):

ûmî hāʿōmēd bᵉhērāʾôtô

Translation (ESV):

and who can stand when he appears?

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וּמִי (ûmî) : conjunction וּ (û) + interrogative pronoun מִי (mî) : and who?
הָעֹמֵד (hāʿōmēd) : definite article + Qal participle of ‏עָמַד (ʿāmad) : the one standing.
בְּהֵרָאוֹתוֹ (bᵉhērāʾôtô) : prep. בְּ (bᵉ) + Niphal inf. cstr. of ‏רָאָה (rāʾâ) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : when he appears.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:2c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי־הוּא כְּאֵשׁ מְצָרֵף

Transliteration (Accordance):

kî-hûʾ kᵉʾēš mᵉṣārēp

Translation (ESV):

For he is like a refiner’s fire

Glossary (meanings in this context):

כִּי (kî) : conjunction : for.
הוּא (hûʾ) : personal pronoun 3 m.s. : he.
כְּאֵשׁ (kᵉʾēš) : preposition כְּ (kᵉ) + construct אֵשׁ (ʾēš) : [is] like the fire of.
מְצָרֵף (mᵉṣārēp) : Piel participle of ‏צָרַף (ṣārap) : a refiner.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:2d):

‏‏‏וּכְבֹרִית מְכַבְּסִים

Transliteration (Accordance):

ûkᵉbōrît mᵉkabbᵉsîm

Translation (Stuart*):

and launderer's lye.

*Translation above and exegesis below are from Douglas Stuart, "Malachi" in The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey, volume three (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וּכְבֹרִית (ûkᵉbōrît) : conj. וּ (û) + prep. ‏כְּ (kᵉ) + construct ‏בֹּרִית (bōrît) : and like the lye of (Holladay).
מְכַבְּסִים (mᵉkabbᵉsîm) : Piel participle m.p. of ‏כָּבַס (kābas) : launderers.

Exegesis (Stuart*):

‏בֹרִית מְכַבְּסִים (launderer's lye): ‏בֹרִית means just "lye" (in spite of some modern translations, it cannot mean "soap" because soap as we know it was not available in ancient times) and some commentators have linked it to the lye used in the metal-smelting process, since several of the images in this and the following verse relate to metal smelting. Lye was indeed used in metal smelting (Isa. 1:25) because it functioned as a reagent to make metals melt faster, and lye was often one of the by-products of smelting as well. But ‏מְכַבְּסִים clearly means "launderers," so there can be little doubt that washing lye is the term under discussion.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:3a):

‏‏‏‏וְיָשַׁב מְצָרֵף וּמְטַהֵר כֶּסֶף

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉyāšab mᵉṣārēp ûmᵉṭahēr kesep

Translation (ESV):

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְיָשַׁב (wᵉyāšab) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Qal perfect 3 m.s. of ‏יָשַׁב (yāšab) : and he will sit.
מְצָרֵף (mᵉṣārēp) : Piel participle of ‏צָרַף (ṣārap) : [as] a refiner.
וּמְטַהֵר (ûmᵉṭahēr) : conjunction וּ (û) + Piel participle construct of ‏טָהָר (ṭāhār) : and purifier of.
כֶּסֶף (kesep) : silver.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:3b):

‏‏‏‏‏וְטִהַר אֶת־בְּנֵי־לֵוִי

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉṭihar ʾet-bᵉnê-lēwî

Translation (ESV):

and he will purify the sons of Levi

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְטִהַר (wᵉṭihar) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Piel perfect 2 m.s. of ‏טָהָר (ṭāhār) : and he will purify.
אֶת (ʾet) : direct object marker.
בְּנֵי (bᵉnê) : plural construct of ‏בֵּן (bēn) : the sons of.
לֵוִי (lēwî) : proper name : Levi.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:3c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏וְזִקַּק אֹתָם כַּזָּהָב וְכַכָּסֶף

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉziqqaq ʾōtām kazzāhāb wᵉkakkāsep

Translation (ESV):

and refine them like gold and silver

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְזִקַּק (wᵉziqqaq) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Piel perfect 3 m.s. of ‏זָקַק (zāqaq) : and he will refine.
‏אֹתָם (ʾōtām) : direct object marker + pronominal 3 m.p. suffix : them.
‏כַּזָּהָב (kazzāhāb) : preposition ‏‏כְּ (kᵉ) + definite article + ‏‏זָהָב (zāhāb) : like gold.
‏‏וְכַכָּסֶף (wᵉkakkāsep) : preposition ‏‏כְּ (kᵉ) + definite article + ‏‏‏כֶּסֶף (kesep) : and silver.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:3d):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְהָיוּ לַיהוָה מַגִּישֵׁי מִנְחָה בִּצְדָקָה

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉhāyû laYHWH maggîšê minḥâ biṣdāqâ

Translation (ESV):

and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְהָיוּ (wᵉhāyû) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Qal perfect 3 c.p. of ‏הָיָה (hāyâ) : and they will be.
לַיהוָה (laYHWH) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + proper name ‏יהוה (YHWH) : to Yahweh/the LORD.
‏מַגִּישֵׁי (maggîšê) : Hiphil participle m.p. construct of ‏‏נָגַשׁ (nāgaš) : ones bringing near.
‏מִנְחָה (minḥâ) : an offering.
‏בִּצְדָקָה (biṣdāqâ) : preposition ‏‏בְּ (bᵉ) + noun ‏‏צְדָקָה (ṣᵉdāqâ) : in righteousness.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:4a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְעָרְבָה לַיהוָה מִנְחַת יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִָם

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉʿārᵉbâ laYHWH minḥat yᵉhûdâ wîrûšālāim

Translation (ESV):

Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְעָרְבָה (wᵉʿārᵉbâ) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Qal perfect 3 f.s. of ‏עָרַב (ʿārab): and will be pleasing.
לַיהוָה (laYHWH) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + proper name ‏יהוה (YHWH) : to Yahweh/the LORD.
‏מִנְחַת (minḥat) : construct of ‏‏מִנְחָה (minḥâ) : the offering of.
‏יְהוּדָה (yᵉhûdâ) : proper name : Judah.
‏וִירוּשָׁלִָם (wîrûšālāim) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + proper name ‏וִירוּשָׁלִָם (yᵉrûšāalam) : and Jerusalem.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:4b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּימֵי עוֹלָם וּכְשָׁנִים קַדְמֹנִיּוֹת

Transliteration (Accordance):

kîmê ʿôlām ûkᵉšānîm qadmōnîôt

Translation (ESV):

as in the days of old and as in former years.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

כִּימֵי (kîmê) : preposition ‏כְּ (kᵉ) + plural construct of ‏יוֹם (yôm) : as [in] the days of.
עוֹלָם (ʿôlām) : antiquity.
וּכְשָׁנִים (ûkᵉšānîm) : conj. וּ (û) + prep. ‏כְּ (kᵉ) + plural of ‏שָׁנָה (šānâ) : and as [in] years.
קַדְמֹנִיּוֹת (qadmōnîôt) : adjective plural of ‏קַדְמֹנִי (qadmōnî) : earlier (HALOT).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:5a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְקָרַבְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם לַמִּשְׁפָּט

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉqārabtî ʾᵃlêkem lammišpāṭ

Translation (ESV):

"Then I will draw near to you for judgment.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְקָרַבְתִּי (wᵉqārabtî) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Qal perfect 1 c.s. of ‏קָרַב (qārab) : then I will draw near.
אֲלֵיכֶם (ʾᵃlêkem) : preposition ‏אֶל (ʾel) + 2 m.p. suffix : to you.
לַמִּשְׁפָּט (lammišpāṭ) : preposition ‏לְ (lᵉ) + definite article + ‏מִשְׁפָּט (mišpāṭ) : for judgment.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:5b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְהָיִיתִי עֵד מְמַהֵר בַּמְכַשְּׁפִים וּבַמְנָאֲפִים וּבַנִּשְׁבָּעִים לַשָּׁקֶר

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉhāyîtî ʿēd mᵉmahēr bamkaššᵉpîm ûbamnāʾᵃpîm ûbannišbāʿîm laššāqer

Translation (ESV):

I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely,

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְהָיִיתִי (wᵉhāyîtî) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Qal perfect 1 c.s. of ‏הָיָה (hāyâ) : and I will be.
עֵד (ʿēd) : a witness.
מְמַהֵר (mᵉmahēr) : Piel participle m.s. of ‏מָהַר (māhar) : swift.
‏בַּמְכַשְּׁפִים (bamkaššᵉpîm) : prep. ‏‏בְּ (bᵉ) + def. art. + Piel ptc. m.p. of ‏‏כִּשֵּׁף (kiššēp) : against the sorcerers.
‏וּבַמְנָאֲפִים (ûbamnāʾᵃpîm) : conj. ‏וּ (û) + prep. ‏‏בְּ (bᵉ) + def. art. + Piel ptc. m.p. of ‏‏נָאַף (nāʾap) : and against the adulterers.
‏וּבַנִּשְׁבָּעִים (ûbannišbāʿîm) : conj. ‏וּ (û) + prep. ‏‏בְּ (bᵉ) + def. art. + Niphal ptc. m.p. of ‏‏שָׁבַע (šābaʿ) : and against those who swear.
‏לַשָּׁקֶר (laššāqer) : prep. ‏‏לְ (lᵉ) + def. art. + pausal vocalization of ‏‏שֶׁקֶר (šeqer) : falsely.