Chapter
1 2 3 4
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Malachi 3:18
ESV Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
NIV And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
NASB So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
CSB So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
NLT Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.'
KJV Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

What does Malachi 3:18 mean?

Verses 16 and 17 described the reaction of those who responded correctly to Malachi's warnings. God promises to remember their faithfulness. This is an important vow, since the immediate context is one of severe judgment. Even though good people are often caught up in the consequences of other people's sins, God does distinguish between those who follow Him and those who do not.

Malachi's promised judgment is meant, in part, to show the world this exact divide. God's coming retribution will demonstrate which people belong to God and which people defy Him. This will not be the first such distinction made by God. God's plagues during the Exodus were meant, primarily, to show His superiority over the gods of Egypt. Other miracles during that time were dependent on the cooperation of the people—so those who obeyed were distinguished from those who rebelled.

The brief passage marked as chapter 4 will continue this message of judgment and promise. As with the end of chapter 3, God's prediction includes both wrath for the wicked and protection for the righteous.
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