3:10a

Bring the full tithe: That is, “bring everything you owe God—the tenth part (tithe) of all that you produce or earn.” See the note on “tithes” in 3:8e.

into the storehouse: That is, into the storerooms in the temple. There was a special place in the temple where the tithes were brought and stored. See Nehemiah 13:12.

3:10b

so that there may be food in My house: This phrase gives the reason for 3:10a. The food probably refers to the tithes which the people gave from their crops. They were stored in rooms in the temple and used as food by the priests.

3:10c

Test Me in this: That is, learn whether I have spoken the truth. The complete sense of this will be understood better from 3:10e.

3:10d

says the LORD of Hosts: See the note on 3:1f. In Hebrew this speech clause occurs in the middle of a sentence and thought. In Hebrew this emphasizes that the LORD was the one who was speaking. In some languages it may not be natural to use the speech clause in this position in the sentence. If that is true in your language, it may be best to place the clause at the beginning or end of the sentence.

the LORD of Hosts: See the note on 3:1f.

3:10e

open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure: This is the fulfilment of 3:10c. If the people of Israel give the LORD what they owe him (their tithes), he will bless them.

The phrase open the windows of heaven is a figure of speech. It implies falling rain. People can imagine that someone opened a window high above and poured water onto the ground below. Rain is closely associated with blessing in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 11:13–14). Here the figure of speech is that the LORD would send blessings from heaven abundantly like rain would pour from the sky. In other words, it is a promise that the LORD would bless the people abundantly.

In some languages this figure of speech may not be clearly understood. If that is true in your language, there are other options for translation:

• Translate the meaning directly, and use the figure of speech as a simile. For example:

I will bless you abundantly. It will be as though I had opened windows in heaven and poured down blessings.
-or-
I will bless you with blessings as abundant as heavy rain falling from heaven.

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech, but use another way to emphasize the abundance of the LORD’s blessing. For example:

I will bless you so greatly that the blessing cannot be measured.

Use an option which is natural and clear in your language.

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