Malachi

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:5c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּבְעֹשְׁקֵי שְׂכַר־שָׂכִיר אַלְמָנָה וְיָתוֹם

Transliteration (Accordance):

ûbᵉʿōšᵉqê śᵉkar-śākîr ʾalmānâ wᵉyātôm

Translation (ESV):

against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless,

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וּבְעֹשְׁקֵי (ûbᵉʿōšᵉqê) : conj. וּ (û) + prep. ‏בְּ (bᵉ) + Qal ptc. m.p. cstr. of ‏עָשַׁק (ʿāšaq) : and against those who cheat on.
שְׂכַר (śᵉkar) : construct of ‏שָׂכָר (śākār) : the wages of.
‏שָׂכִיר (śākîr) : a hired worker.
‏אַלְמָנָה (ʾalmānâ) : a widow.
‏וְיָתוֹם (wᵉyātôm) : conjunction ‏וְ (wᵉ) + noun ‏‏יָתוֹם (yātôm) : and an orphan.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:5d):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וּמַטֵּי־גֵר

Transliteration (Accordance):

ûmaṭṭê-gēr

Translation (Stuart*):

and victimize aliens

*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):

וּמַטֵּי (ûmaṭṭê) : conj. וּ (û) + Hiphil ptc. m.p. construct of ‏נָטָה (nāṭâ) : and victimize.
גֵר (gēr) : collective : aliens.

Exegesis (Stuart*):

‏‏וּמַטֵּי־גֵר (those who victimize aliens) [singular of ‏גֵר, alien, used collectively]): The Hiphil of ‏‏נטה (stretch, extend, bend, tilt, mislead, turn aside, pervert, etc.) has an idiomatic meaning in legal contexts that is best translated "mistreat, victimize" (Isa. 29:21; Amos 5:12, similarly Amos 2:7). ....

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:5e):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְלֹא יְרֵאוּנִי אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉlōʾ yᵉrēʾûnî ʾāmar YHWH ṣᵉbāʾôt

Translation (Stuart*):

and do not fear me (Yahweh of the Armies said).

*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):

וְלֹא (wᵉlōʾ) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + negation לֹא (lōʾ) : and not.
יְרֵאוּנִי (yᵉrēʾûnî) : Qal perfect 3 c.p. of ‏יָרֵא (yārēʾ) + 1 c.s. suffix : they fear me.
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.

Exegesis (Stuart*):

‏‏‏לֹא יְרֵאוּנִי (they do not fear me): Because of of modern psychological notions that it is harmful to portray God as one to be feared, it has become commonplace to translate ‏‏‏‏ירא in contexts where God is the object by such softer notions as "be in awe of" or "reverence." "Fear," however, is the better translation.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:6a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה לֹא שָׁנִיתִי וְאַתֶּם בְּנֵי־יַעֲקֹב לֹא כְלִיתֶם

Transliteration (Accordance):

kî ʾᵃnî YHWH lōʾ šānîtî wᵉʾattem bᵉnê-yaʿᵃqōb lōʾ kᵉlîtem

Translation (ESV):

For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

כִּי (kî) : for.
אֲנִי (ʾᵃnî) : personal pronoun 1 c.s. : I.
יְהוָה (YHWH) : proper name : Yahweh/the LORD.
לֹא (lōʾ) : factual, stated negation: [do] not.
שָׁנִיתִי (šānîtî) : Qal perfect 1 c.s. of ‏שָׁנָה (šānâ) : change
וְאַתֶּם (wᵉʾattem) : conj. וְ (wᵉ) + pers. pr. 2 m.p. אַתֶּם (ʾattem) : so you.
בְּנֵי (bᵉnê) : plural construct of ‏בֵּן (bēn) : sons of.
יַעֲקֹב (yaʿᵃqōb) : proper name : Jacob.
לֹא (lōʾ) : factual, stated negation: [are] not.
כְלִיתֶם (kᵉlîtem) : Qal perfect 2 m.p. of ‏כָּלָה (kālâ) : destroyed.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:6):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה לֹא שָׁנִיתִי וְאַתֶּם בְּנֵי־יַעֲקֹב לֹא כְלִיתֶם

Transliteration (Accordance):

kî ʾᵃnî YHWH lōʾ šānîtî wᵉʾattem bᵉnê-yaʿᵃqōb lōʾ kᵉlîtem

Translation (ESV):

For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

כִּי (kî) : for.
אֲנִי (ʾᵃnî) : personal pronoun 1 c.s. : I.
יְהוָה (YHWH) : proper name : Yahweh/the LORD.
לֹא (lōʾ) : factual, stated negation: [do] not.
שָׁנִיתִי (šānîtî) : Qal perfect 1 c.s. of ‏שָׁנָה (šānâ) : change
וְאַתֶּם (wᵉʾattem) : conj. וְ (wᵉ) + pers. pr. 2 m.p. אַתֶּם (ʾattem) : so you.
בְּנֵי (bᵉnê) : plural construct of ‏בֵּן (bēn) : sons of.
יַעֲקֹב (yaʿᵃqōb) : proper name : Jacob.
לֹא (lōʾ) : factual, stated negation: [are] not.
כְלִיתֶם (kᵉlîtem) : Qal perfect 2 m.p. of ‏כָּלָה (kālâ) : destroyed.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:7a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏לְמִימֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם סַרְתֶּם מֵחֻקַּי

Transliteration (Accordance):

lᵉmîmê ʾᵃbōtêkem sartem mēḥuqqay

Translation (ESV):

From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes

Glossary (meanings in this context):

לְמִימֵי (lᵉmîmê) : prep. לְ (lᵉ) + prep. ‏מִן (min) + pl. cstr. of ‏יוֹם (yôm) : from the days of.
אֲבֹתֵיכֶם (ʾᵃbōtêkem) : plural of ‏אָב (ʾāb) + pronominal 2 m.p. suffix : your fathers.
סַרְתֶּם (sartem) : Qal perfect 2 m.p. of ‏‏סוּר (sûr) : you have turned aside.
מֵחֻקַּי (mēḥuqqay) : prep. ‏מִן (min) + pl. of ‏חֹק (ḥōq) + pron. 1 c.s. suffix : from my statutes.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:7b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְלֹא שְׁמַרְתֶּם

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉlōʾ šᵉmartem

Translation (ESV):

and have not kept them.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְלֹא (wᵉlōʾ) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + factual, stated negation לֹא (lōʾ) : and not.
שְׁמַרְתֶּם (šᵉmartem) : Qal perfect 2 m.p. of ‏שָׁמַר (šāmar) : you have kept them.*

*"‏וְלֹא שְׁמַרְתֶּם (and you have not kept them): The object of the verb (them) is understood rather than expressed in the Hebrew. This is a common feature of Hebrew grammar and it is by no means necessary to supply the object of the verb, such as the commonly suggested ‏משׁמתרתי (my command), based on its presence in a similar expression in verse 14." ― Douglas Stuart, "Malachi" in The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey, volume three (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:7c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏שׁוּבוּ אֵלַי וְאָשׁוּבָה אֲלֵיכֶם אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת

Transliteration (Accordance):

šûbû ʾēlay wᵉʾāšûbâ ʾᵃlêkem ʾāmar YHWH ṣᵉbāʾôt

Translation (ESV):

Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

שׁוּבוּ (šûbû) : Qal imperative 2 m.p. of ‏שׁוּב (šûb) : return.
‏אֵלַי (ʾēlay) : preposition ‏‏אֶל (ʾel) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : to me.
‏וְאָשׁוּבָה (wᵉʾāšûbâ) : conj. ‏וְ (wᵉ) + Qal impf. 1 c.s. of ‏שׁוּב (šûb) + vol. ‏ה‏ : and I will return.
‏אֲלֵיכֶם (ʾᵃlêkem) : preposition ‏‏אֶל (ʾel) + pronominal 2 m.p. suffix : to you.
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 3:7d):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַאֲמַרְתֶּם בַּמֶּה נָשׁוּב

Transliteration (Accordance):

waʾᵃmartem bammeh nāšûb

Translation (ESV):

But you say, 'How shall we return?'

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וַאֲמַרְתֶּם (waʾᵃmartem) : conj. ‏וְ (wᵉ) + Qal perf. 2 m.p. of ‏אָמַר (ʾāmar) : but you say.
בַּמֶּה (bammeh) : prep. ‏בְּ (bᵉ) + def. art. + interrogative ‏מָה (mâ) : how?
‏נָשׁוּב (nāšûb) : Qal imperfect 1 c.p. of ‏‏שׁוּב (šûb : shall we return.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:8a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏הֲיִקְבַּע אָדָם אֱלֹהִים

Transliteration (Accordance):

hᵃyiqbaʿ ʾādām ʾᵉlōhîm

Translation (ESV):

Will man rob God?

Glossary (meanings in this context):

הֲיִקְבַּע (hᵃyiqbaʿ) : interrogative הֲ (hᵃ) + Qal impf. 3 m.s. of ‏קָבַע (qābaʿ) : Will ... rob?
אָדָם (ʾādām) : man.
אֱלֹהִים (ʾᵉlōhîm) : God.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:8b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏כִּי אַתֶּם קֹבְעִים אֹתִי

Transliteration (Accordance):

kî ʾattem qōbᵉʿîm ʾōtî

Translation (NET):

You indeed are robbing me

Glossary (meanings in this context):

כִּי (kî) : indeed.
אַתֶּם (ʾattem) : personal pronoun 2 m.p. : you.
קֹבְעִים (qōbᵉʿîm) : Qal participle m.p. of ‏קָבַע (qābaʿ) : [are] robbing.
אֹתִי (ʾōtî) : direct object marker ‏אֵת (ʾēt) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : me.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:8c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַאֲמַרְתֶּם בַּמֶּה קְבַעֲנוּךָ

Transliteration (Accordance):

waʾᵃmartem bammeh qᵉbaʿᵃnûkā

Translation (NET):

but you say, 'how are we robbing you?

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וַאֲמַרְתֶּם (waʾᵃmartem) : preposition ‏וְ (wᵉ) + Qal perfect 3 m.p. of ‏אָמַר (ʾāmar) : but you say.
בַּמֶּה (bammeh) : how?
קְבַעֲנוּךָ (qᵉbaʿᵃnûkā) : Qal perfect 1 c.p. of ‏קָבַע (qābaʿ) + 2 m.s. suffix : [are] we robbing you.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:8d):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏הַמַּעֲשֵׂר וְהַתְּרוּמָה

Transliteration (Accordance):

hammaʿᵃśēr wᵉhattᵉrûmâ

Translation (NET):

In tithes and contributions!

*Net Note: The tithes and contributions mentioned here are probably those used to sustain the Levites (see Num 18:8, 11, 19, 21–24).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

הַמַּעֲשֵׂר (hammaʿᵃśēr) : definite article + ‏מַעֲשֵׂר (maʿᵃśēr) : the tithe.
וְהַתְּרוּמָה (wᵉhattᵉrûmâ) : conj. וְ (wᵉ) + definite article + ‏תְּרוּמָה (tᵉrûmâ) : and the offering!*

*‏הַמַּעֲשֵׂר וְהַתְּרוּמָה (tithes and offerings!; literally, the tithe and the offering): Grammatically, this expression appears to be a simple exclamation. ― Douglas Stuart, "Malachi" in The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey, volume three (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998).

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:9a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏בַּמְּאֵרָה אַתֶּם נֵאָרִים

Transliteration (Accordance):

bammᵉʾērâ ʾattem nēʾārîm

Translation (Stuart*):

You have been cursed

*Translation above and Note 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):

בַּמְּאֵרָה (bammᵉʾērâ) : prep. ‏בְּ (bᵉ) + definite article + ‏מְאֵרָה (mᵉʾērâ) : with the curse.
אַתֶּם (ʾattem) : personal pronoun 2 m.p. : you.
נֵאָרִים (nēʾārîm) : Niphal participle m.p. of ‏ארר (ʾārar) : are cursed.

Note (Stuart*):

‏‏‏בַּמְּאֵרָה אַתֶּם נֵאָרִים (you are cursed): The translation sometimes provided for these words "you are cursed with a curse," is abnormal English, produced by failure to appreciate the resumptive style common to Hebrew.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Malachi 3:9b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְאֹתִי אַתֶּם קֹבְעִים

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉʾōtî ʾattem qōbᵉʿîm

Translation (Stuart*):

yet it is I you are robbing

*Translation above and Note 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):

וְאֹתִי (wᵉʾōtî) : conj. וְ (wᵉ) + direct object marker + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : yet [it is] I.
אַתֶּם (ʾattem) : personal pronoun 2 m.p. : you.
קֹבְעִים (qōbᵉʿîm) : Qal participle m.p. of ‏קָבַע (qābaʿ) : are robbing.

Note (Stuart*):

‏‏‏‏וְאֹתִי אַתֶּם קֹבְעִים (yet it is I you are robbing!): The initial position of the object pronoun in the clause indicates that it is emphasized, as in my translation. The וְ is rendered "yet" according to the demands of the Hebrew parataxis in context. Continuing action (you are robbing) is suggested by the use of the present participle ‏‏‏‏‏קֹבְעִים.