Malachi 3:18

Translations

Modern

So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

Traditional

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Literal

And you will return and see between the righteous one the wicked one, between the one serving God and between the one who does not serve Him.”

Latin

Et convertemini, et videbitis quid sit inter justum et impium, et inter servientem Deo et non servientem ei.

Original

Hebrew

English

So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

Notes

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

Matthew 25:46
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Psalm 58:10–11
The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
Genesis 18:25
Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Joshua 24:15
But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
Malachi 3:14–15
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?
Acts 27:23
For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
John 12:26
If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Jeremiah 12:15
But after I have uprooted them, I will once again have compassion on them and return each one to his inheritance and to his land.
2 Thessalonians 1:5–10
All this is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
Isaiah 3:10–11
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
Romans 2:5–6
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Malachi 1:4
Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.

Glossary

Malachi, Book of Righteousness

Topics

God: Judge, and his Justice Righteous: Promises To, Expressed or Implied Serving God Wicked (People): Contrasted with Righteous People

Malachi 3:18

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?