Malachi 3:13

Translations

Modern

“Your words against Me have been harsh,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against You?’

Traditional

Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

Literal

“Your words have been strong against Me,” says YHWH. “And you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’

Latin

Invaluerunt super me verba vestra, dicit Dominus.

Original

Hebrew

English

“Your words against Me have been harsh,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against You?’

Notes

Malachi 3:13

Your words against Me have been harsh: The people accused God of favoring wrongdoers and questioned his fairness (see Malachi 2:17). However, the Lord values justice (Psalms 9:16; 37:28).

Malachi 3:13–4:3

Malachi’s final message contains two distinct but related speeches. The first emphasizes serving the Lord (Malachi 3:13–18). The second compares the fate of the wicked and the righteous (Malachi 4:1–3)

Each speech ends with the messenger formula (see study note on Malachi 1:8). The prophet revisits themes from the fourth message (Malachi 3:1–5), emphasizing God's desire for honesty and faithfulness in worship, especially with the coming judgment on the day of the Lord.

If Malachi is like a courtroom scene, this last argument is the sentencing. Although wickedness seems to win over righteousness and God seems slow to judge sin in the community, the coming day of the Lord will prove God's justice. The wicked will be separated from the righteous by the fire of God's judgment.

Events

Prophecies of Malachic. 442 BC

Related verses

Malachi 2:17
You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”
Isaiah 37:23
Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
Romans 9:20
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
Malachi 1:6–8
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
2 Thessalonians 2:4
He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Job 40:8
Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
Jeremiah 8:12
Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD.
2 Chronicles 32:14–19
Who among all the gods of these nations that my fathers devoted to destruction has been able to deliver his people from my hand? How then can your God deliver you from my hand?
Exodus 5:2
But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
Job 34:7–8
What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
Malachi 2:14
Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
Psalm 10:11
He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”

Glossary

Malachi, Book of Pride

Topics

Blasphemy: General Scriptures Concerning Condescension of God: Expostulates with Backsliding Israel Infidelity: General Scriptures Concerning Malachi: Reproves God's People for Their Impiety Presumption in Reviling God

Malachi 3:13

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics