Malachi chapter 4
English Standard Version
1"For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.
New International Version
1"Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire," says the Lord Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act," says the Lord Almighty.
New American Standard Bible
1For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,' says the Lord of armies, 'so that it will leave them neither root nor branches. 2But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall. 3And you will crush the wicked underfoot, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I am preparing,' says the Lord of armies.
Christian Standard Bible
1"For look, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble. The coming day will consume them," says the Lord of Armies, "not leaving them root or branches. 2But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall. 3You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing," says the Lord of Armies.
4"Remember the instruction of Moses my servant, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 6And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse."
New Living Translation
King James Version
1For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. 4Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 6And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
New King James Version
1“For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts. 4“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. 5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 6And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
What does Malachi chapter 4 mean?
Malachi 4 is a very brief chapter, composed of only 6 verses. These words complete Malachi's plea for Israel to be faithful to God, and give an additional warning about God's impending judgment.This particular depiction of the end times separates the experience of the wicked and the righteous using two separate metaphors. The furnace, or "oven," where the wicked will be judged is symbolic of powerful, controlled, purposeful flames (Malachi 4:1). This is not a random accident, or a careless revenge. God's justice burns very hot and very particularly. On the other hand, those who honor God will experience healing, as if from sunlight, and freedom, like baby animals released from a pen (Malachi 4:2).
Prior chapters of Malachi have focused on various kinds of unfaithfulness, both in attitude and in actions. The priests (Malachi 1:8), husbands (Malachi 2:14), and people (Malachi 2:11) of Israel have fallen away from God. However, not every single person in Israel is unfaithful, as Malachi 3:16 shows. Those who choose to honor God, or at least to respond to His correction, will be spared from the destruction that is coming (Malachi 4:3).
Malachi's structure is significantly more sophisticated than chapters and verses will show. Each of the three major messages is split into a mirror-image half, with similar themes being explored in back-and-forth order. Likewise, the entire message comes full circle. Malachi opened with a reference to the utter destruction of Edom (Malachi 1:2–5). Those who rejected God were annihilated. Israel, though unfaithful, was spared only because of the faithfulness of God (Malachi 3:6). Here, at the end of Malachi, comes a warning about judgment. This one, however, will not spare any people who reject Him.
One last promise made in this book is the appearance of Elijah, in order to bring some of the people back to repentance (Malachi 4:5–6). This is the last time God's voice will be heard for the next four centuries. Until the arrival of John the Baptist (Malachi 3:1), Israel will have to wait.
