Section 4:1–6

One day the LORD will come and judge all people

In the Hebrew text these verses are still part of chapter 3 and are numbered 3:19–24. Some English translations follow that Hebrew verse numbering, but in this book, the notes follow the more common English convention. It is recommended that you follow the numbering system of the versions used most in your area.

Paragraph 4:1–3

4:1

Notice that 4:1 uses the same image of refining that was used in 3:1–3.

The LORD is still speaking in 4:1, but the Hebrew text does not make this explicit until 4:1d. In some languages it may be helpful to change this order and begin the verse with this speech clause. For example:

The Lord Almighty says, “The day is coming…” (Good News Translation)

4:1a

For: The Hebrew word ki which the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces a clause which further explains the time when the event in 3:18 would happen. The clause uses figures of speech to explain how people would know the difference between righteous people and wicked ones. Try to find a natural way to express this connection in your translation. In some languages the connection may be implied and may not require a connector in the text.

behold: The Hebrew word hinneh which the Berean Standard Bible translates as behold was also used in 2:3a and 3:1a. In the same way as it was used in those verses, it is used here to draw attention to what follows. In this context it also announces something which was certain to happen soon because it was the LORD who would cause it to happen.

the day is coming: This refers to the day/time when the LORD will come to judge everyone. In other parts of the Bible, this time is called “the day of the LORD.” In this context it may refer to a time period longer than a 24-hour day.

In this verse day is also used as a figure of speech. It refers to what will happen on that day, that is, the way the LORD will judge/punish people.

burning like a furnace: This verse uses a simile to compare the day when the LORD will judge people to a furnace or large oven where people/things could be burned up. On that day the LORD will punish people severely and destroy them like the fire in a furnace burns things and destroys them.

In some languages it may not be natural to compare a day with a furnace. It may be necessary to make the meaning explicit. For example:

The day ⌊when I judge people⌋ will certainly come. ⌊The judgements of⌋ that day will be like fire in an oven…

4:1b

all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble: There is a metaphor here. In 4:1a the day of judgement was compared to a furnace which would burn people/things up. In this part of the verse those who are proud and do evil are compared to stubble.

the arrogant: This is the same word which was used in 3:15a. You should translate it in a similar way here.

evildoer: The Hebrew word used here is very similar in meaning to the one which the Berean Standard Bible translates as “wicked” in 3:18a. It refers to people who do what is evil, that is, what the LORD considers to be wrong. If possible you should use the same term here as you did in 3:18.

stubble: The Hebrew word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as stubble refers to the straw which remains after the wheat grains have been removed during the harvest. It burns easily because it is very dry.

General Comment on 4:1b

In some languages it may not be clear how the arrogant and evil people are like stubble. The idea is probably that they will be destroyed very easily and quickly on the day of judgement. It may sometimes be necessary to make the meaning explicit in your translation. For example:

All the people who are arrogant and who do evil will be ⌊destroyed as quickly⌋ as stubble burns up.

4:1c

the day is coming when I will set them ablaze: This sentence continues to use the word day as a figure of speech. It represents the judgements which will happen on that day. In some languages this meaning must be made explicit. For example:

On that day ⌊of judgement⌋ that is coming I will destroy them completely.

set them ablaze: The Hebrew expression which the Berean Standard Bible translates as set them ablaze is different from the word which the Berean Standard Bible translated as “burning” in 4:1a. The expression here can be used literally to describe burning something completely, until it is only ashes. Here it is probably used as a figure of speech. It means that the people would be completely destroyed when the LORD judged them.

4:1d

says the LORD of Hosts: The speech clause, says the LORD of Hosts (or “says the LORD”) occurs many times throughout the text. It emphasizes again and again that this is a direct message from the LORD. See the note on 1:2b, 1:6e, 3:5j and 3:7e. See note 1 in “Literary structure and recurring features in Malachi” in the Introduction.

Notice that in the Berean Standard Bible this clause occurs after the speech. This is good English style. You should place it wherever is natural in your language.

the LORD of Hosts: This special title for the LORD occurs twenty-four times in Malachi. See the note on 3:1f. See also the discussion of this term in the Key biblical terms in the book of Malachi section in the Introduction.

4:1e

Not a root or branch will be left to them: This expression again emphasizes complete destruction. It symbolizes this destruction by using a figure of speech. The evil-doers would be like a plant which the LORD would completely destroy, even with all of its roots and branches.

If a literal translation is not clear in your language, there are at least two other possibilities:

• Use a simile. For example:

They will be consumed like a tree—roots and all. (New Living Translation (2004))

• Translate the meaning directly without the figure of speech. For example:

and there will be nothing left of them. (Good News Translation)

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

General Comment on 4:1a–e

In this verse the LORD uses a word picture to express what the day of judgement will be like. The picture has at least three parts:

(a) That day (or the punishments on that day) will be like a great fire in a furnace.

(b) Evil people will be destroyed like stubble is destroyed in a fire.

(c) They will be like a plant/tree that is completely burned up with all its roots and branches.

In some languages it may be difficult to use all of these word pictures in this verse. If that is true in your language, you may need to omit some of the details of the word picture. For example, Good News Translation does not mention the “furnace” or “branches and roots.”

The day is coming when all proud and evil people will burn like straw. On that day they will burn up, and there will be nothing left of them.

Express the meaning in a vivid, clear and natural way in your language.

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