Malachi 4
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mal 4:1-3 1”For 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 hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the LORD of hosts.
Mal 4:1 The Septuagint and the Vulgate begin a new chapter here, but the Masoretic Text continues chapter 3 through the end of chapter 4.
▣ “the day is coming” The term “the day” (BDB 39:8 ) becomes a technical term for the coming of YHWH. The Israelites thought it would be a day of blessing, but the prophets (esp. Amos and Joel) clearly prophesied a day of judgment beginning with the people of God. One can see from this verse how the Jews of Jesus' day expected the Messiah to come as one bringing judgment. Even John the Baptist misunderstood the nature of Jesus' first coming (cf. Mat 11:2 ff ).
▣ “burning like a furnace” Fire is often a symbol of God and His purifying activities (cf. Mal 3:2-3 ; Psa 21:9 ; Psa 50:3 ; Isa 10:17 ; Isa 66:15-16 ; Daniel 7; Daniel 9-10; Joe 2:30 ; Nah 1:5-6 ; 1Co 3:13 ; 2Pe 3:7 ). See SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/fire.html>.
▣ “will be chaff” This refers to (1) refuse from harvest time or (2) burning of the field in preparation for planting (cf. Mat 3:12-14 ).
▣ “so that it will leave them neither root or branch” This is a metaphor of complete destruction (cf. Amo 2:9 ; Isa 11:1 ; Mat 3:14 ).
Mal 4:2 “the sun of righteousness” The KJV and NKJV capitalize the term “Sun,” but this is exegetically impossible because it is a FEMININE NOUN in this context (it is usually MASCULINE). It is, however, a unique reference to the Messiah (a similar metaphor is in Isa 60:1-3 ; Isa 60:19-20 . Also note Mat 17:2 ; Rev 22:5 ).
Although a Messianic understanding is traditional (even in the rabbis, cf. b.sanh. 118a; b. 'Eruv. 43b), in context it seems to be a metaphor inaugurating the new age of restoration (cf. Isa 30:23-26 ; Isa 60:10 ). This metaphor is striking and unique, which makes it difficult to interpret. What would Malachi have understood by this phrase? The symbol of the Zoroastrian high-good god was a winged sun disk. Possibly the prophet is borrowing the well known symbol of Persian religion to describe YHWH's new day of righteousness (i.e., Psa 84:11 ).
▣ “with healing in its wings” This metaphor is possibly used of (1) the relationship between healing and light or (2) a Persian symbol for deity used in Zoroastrianism. Healing was a sign of the New Age (cf. Isa 29:18 ; Isa 35:5-6 ; Isa 42:7 ; Isa 42:16 ; Isa 42:18 ; Mat 11:5 ; Mat 12:22-25 ; Mat 15:30-31 ; Mat 21:14 ).
The healing referred to here is more of a spiritual restoration. Israel is sick in covenant rebellion (cf. Isa 1:5-6 ; Psa 103:3 ). Forgiveness will result in health, peace, and joy. The new day was really what the old day should have been, was meant to be (cf. Deuteronomy 2:8 ).
▣ “skip about like calves from the stall” This seems to be a metaphor of joy, freedom, and health (cf. Isa 35:6 ).
Mal 4:3 “And you will tread down the wicked” This is a metaphor from the wine press, which is used for the righteous finally overcoming. Some see it as a reference to Jos 10:24 and, therefore, to military victory. Notice God's victory is not immediate, but eschatological.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mal 4:4 4”Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.
Mal 4:4-6 The order of these verses is slightly altered in the Septuagint (i.e., Mal 4:5-6 ; Mal 4:4 ). The order is also slightly altered in the Masoretic Text. This seems to be related to the rabbinical thought that the Bible should end with a Covenant name for God. They also did this to the books of Isaiah and Ecclesiastes.
Mal 4:4 “Remember” This is a command (BDB 26:9 , KB 26:9 , Qal IMPERATIVE, this VERB is so common in Deuteronomy, Deu 5:15 ; Deu 7:18 [twice]; Deu 8:2 ; Deu 8:18 ; Deu 9:7 ; Deu 9:27 ; Deu 15:15 ; Deu 16:3 ; Deu 16:12 ; Deu 24:9 ; Deu 24:18 ; Deu 24:22 ; Deu 25:17 ; Deu 32:7 ). Privilege brings responsibility! We need to hide God's word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him (cf. Deu 4:9 ; Deu 6:12 ; Deu 8:11-20 : Psa 103:2 ).
▣ “the statutes and ordinances” See Special Topic: Terms for God's Revelation <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/revelation_terms.html>.
▣ “HoREB “ This (BDB 32:5 ) is another name for Mt. Sinai (cf. Exodus 1:9-23 ). Some have speculated that Horeb (Hebrew word) is the mountain range and Sinai (non-Hebrew word) is the individual peak.
SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LOCATION OF MT. SINAI <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/mount_sinai_location.html>
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mal 4:5-6 5”Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”
Mal 4:5 “I am going to send Elijah the prophet” The rabbis (i.e., b. Sanh 11:8 a), the Septuagint, and some early Church fathers were expecting Elijah, the prophet, to return literally (cf. Sir 48:10 ff). Elijah and Moses met with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (cf. Mat 17:4 ). However, the words of Jesus seem to relate this passage to John the Baptist (cf. Mal 3:1 ; Mat 11:7-14 ; Mat 17:10-13 ; Mar 9:11-13 ; Luk 1:17 ). John denies this title in Joh 1:19-23 , but apparently he was denying that he was Elijah reincarnated.
▣ “the great and terrible day of the LORD” This day is characterized in two ways:
1. “great,” BDB 15:2 , these two descriptions are often used together (i.e., YHWH's acts of redemption, cf. Deu 10:21 ; Job 5:9 ; Job 9:10 ; Job 37:5 ; Psa 71:19 ; Psa 106:21 )
2. “terrible,” BDB 43:1 , KB 43:2 , Niphal PARTICIPLE. Its basic meaning if “fear” or “awe.” Therefore, it can stand for
a. a day of judgment
b. a day of the awesome deeds of YHWH
1) used of YHWH Himself in Deu 10:21 ; 2Sa 7:23 ; Psa 47:3 ; Ps. 68:36; Psa 76:8 ; Isa 64:2 . He is “great and awful” (cf. Deu 7:21 ; Deu 10:17 ; Neh 1:5 ; Neh 4:8 ; Neh 9:32 ; Dan 9:4 )
2) used of YHWH's name in Deu 28:58 ; Psa 99:3 ; Psa 111:9 ; Mal 1:14 3) YHWH's coming day in Joe 2:11 ; Joe 3:4 ; and here
Mal 4:6 “He will restore” This VERB (BDB 99:6 , KB 142:7 , Hiphil PERFECT) is used often in Malachi (cf. Mal 1:4 ; Mal 2:6 ; Mal 3:7 [thrice],18; Mal 4:6 , see notes at Mal 3:7 ). This is the regular Hebrew word for repentance (lit. “turn” or “turn back”). In this context it has a double focus:
1. return the post-exilic community to the faith of their fathers
2. return stability to the family structure of the faith community
▣ “curse” The literal word is herem (BDB 35:6 , cf. Lev 27:28-29 ; Deu 25:16-17 ; Jos 6:17 and 1Sa 3:15 ff). This is the term which is used of something being dedicated to God, and it becoming so holy that it must be completely destroyed.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. What is the cultural setting of Mal 3:14 ?
2. Explain “the book of remembrances.”
3. How is service related to our righteousness before God? (cf. Mal. 4:18)
4. Explain the two unique terms found in Mal 4:2 and how they relate to the Messiah.
5. Is John the Baptist the predicted prophet Elijah?
