Malachi 3:7

Translations

Modern

Yet from the days of your fathers, you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts. “But you ask, ‘How can we return?’

Traditional

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Literal

From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says YHWH of Hosts. “And you say, ‘In what way can we return?’

Latin

A diebus enim patrum vestrorum recessistis a legitimis meis, et non custodistis: revertimini ad me, et revertar ad vos, dicit Dominus exercituum. Et dixistis: In quo revertemur?

Original

Hebrew

English

Yet from the days of your fathers, you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts. “But you ask, ‘How can we return?’

Notes

Malachi 3:7

turn away: In a covenant relationship, this phrase expresses a change in loyalty by Israel or God. It usually means repentance, a complete turn back to God or a full shift toward the Lord. The command is urgent and requires an immediate response. The accusation of fake worship builds on similar charges in the second argument (see Malachi 1:6–14). God's promise to open the windows of heaven (Malachi 3:10) shows his power as a great King (see 1:14).

Malachi 3:6–12

Malachi’s fifth message repeats the first message (Malachi 1:2–5) by emphasizing God's faithfulness to his promises. He urges Israel to be equally faithful in worship, especially by giving their tithes and offerings. If Malachi is like a courtroom scene, the fifth message is the judge’s decision. The main message is repentance. God desires honest and sincere worship from his people, of which tithing is a symbol.

Theme notes and profiles

Returning to the Lord

Events

Prophecies of Malachic. 442 BC

Related verses

Zechariah 1:3
So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts.’
Romans 10:21
But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Romans 10:3
Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
Deuteronomy 31:20
When I have brought them into the land that I swore to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. Then they will turn to other gods and worship them, and they will reject Me and break My covenant.
Hosea 14:1
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity.
Isaiah 55:6–7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
Jeremiah 3:12–14
Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not be angry forever.
Nehemiah 9:28–30
But as soon as they had rest, they again did evil in Your sight. So You abandoned them to the hands of their enemies, who had dominion over them. When they cried out to You again, You heard from heaven, and You delivered them many times in Your compassion.
Leviticus 26:40–42
But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me—
Deuteronomy 4:29–31
But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Jeremiah 3:22
“Return, O faithless children, and I will heal your faithlessness.” “Here we are. We come to You, for You are the LORD our God.

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Malachi, Book of

Topics

Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Backsliders: Promises To Condescension of God: Expostulates with Backsliding Israel Malachi: Reproves God's People for Their Impiety Presumption in Reviling God Repentance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Malachi 3:7

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Translations

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