Keraia
Malachi 3

Malachi 3:14

The Book of Remembrance · Malachi 3:13–18
Read Malachi 3

Translations

Modern
You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?
Traditional
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?
Literal
You have said, ‘To serve God is futile! What gain is that we have kept His charge, that we have walked as mourners before the face of YHWH of Hosts?
Latin
Et dixistis: Quid locuti sumus contra te? Dixistis: Vanus est qui servit Deo: et quod emolumentum quia custodivimus præcepta ejus, et quia ambulavimus tristes coram Domino exercituum?

Original

Hebrew
English
You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?

Notes

Malachi 3:14

  • What have we gained: People believed that doing good deeds would lead to material blessings (Deuteronomy 28).

  • walking mournfully: People thought that showing sadness or wearing funeral clothes showed true repentance, as if these actions were righteous by themselves (see Matthew 6:1–18).

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.

Theme notes and profiles

Preaching to a Tough Crowd

Events

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Malachi, Book of

Topics

Blasphemy: General Scriptures Concerning Condescension of God: Expostulates with Backsliding Israel God: Providence of, Mysterious and Misinterpreted Hypocrisy: General Scriptures Concerning Infidelity: General Scriptures Concerning Malachi: Reproves God's People for Their Impiety Murmuring: Against God Murmuring: Against: The Service of God Skepticism: General Scriptures Concerning Vanity: Evil People: Regard God's Service As Vanity: The Wicked: Count God's Service As