Keraia
Malachi 3

Malachi 3:17

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

Translations

Modern
“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.
Traditional
And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Literal
“And they will be unto Me,” says YHWH of Hosts, “On the day when I am making a treasured possession; and I will have compassion on them, as when a man has compassion on his son, the one serving him.
Latin
Et erunt mihi, ait Dominus exercituum, in die qua ego facio, in peculium: et parcam eis, sicut parcit vir filio suo servienti sibi.

Original

Hebrew
English
“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.

Notes

Malachi 3:17

treasured possession: Israel held a special place as God’s people. They belonged to him as his own possession.

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

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Malachi, Book of

Topics

Compared To Saints: Jewels God: Love of, Exemplified Heaven: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Jewels: Figurative Precious Stones: Saints Righteous: Jewels Righteous: Promises To, Expressed or Implied