Malachi 3:16

Translations

Modern

At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.

Traditional

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

Literal

Then those who feared YHWH spoke, each man with his neighbor. And YHWH listened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those fearing YHWH, and for those esteeming His name.

Latin

Tunc locuti sunt timentes Dominum, unusquisque cum proximo suo: et attendit Dominus, et audivit, et scriptus est liber monumenti coram eo timentibus Dominum, et cogitantibus nomen ejus.

Original

Hebrew

English

At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.

Notes

Malachi 3:16

A scroll of remembrance was a written record of names and events connected to those people. This practice was common in the Persian world. The text does not say how many people were written in the scroll.
those who feared the LORD: These people were loyal to the Lord as God, followed God's commands, and acted righteously in conduct and worship.

Malachi 3:16–18

Here, the prophet acts as a recorder. He reports how the people reacted to his final message and how God responded to the conversation among those who feared the Lord. God listened to what they said (see Malachi 3:16). However, there is no sign that Malachi’s message led to real change in most of the people.

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

Prophecies of Malachic. 442 BC

Related verses

Psalm 56:8
You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle—are they not in Your book?
Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
Malachi 4:2
“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
Revelation 15:4
Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
Ezekiel 9:4
“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”
Hebrews 4:12–13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
Acts 10:2
He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.

Glossary

Book of Life Malachi, Book of Scroll of Remembrance

Topics

Book of Remembrance Books: Memorials of Conversation and Conduct of Men Character of Saints: Fearing God Communion of Saints Communion of Saints in Holy Conversation Communion of Saints: God Marks, with his Approval Fear of God: Reverence Fellowship of the Righteous God: Love of, Exemplified Godly Fear: A Characteristic of Saints Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Converse Together of Holy Things Journaling Lamb's Book of Life Righteous: Promises To, Expressed or Implied Testifying

Malachi 3:16

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics