1See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
The Hebrew that is translated as “Lord of hosts” in English (or: “Yahweh of Armies” [translation by John Goldingay, 2018], “Hashem, Master of Legions” [ArtScroll Tanach translation, 2011]) is translated in various ways:
Kankanaey: “God the Highest Ruler” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: Lord Almighty” (source: Newari Back Translation)
Kutu: Mndewa Imulungu or “Lord with all power” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Mandarin Chinese: Wànjūnzhī Yēhéhuá / Shàngzhǔ (万军之耶和华 / 上主) or “Jehovah / Lord of 10,000 [=all] armies”
Mandinka: “Yawe God of the universe” (source: Rob Koops)
German (Luther) Bible the second part of the name is transliterated: Herr Zebaoth or “Lord Zebaoth” (Swedish, Finnish and Latvian use the same translation strategy). The Russian Orthodox Synod translation uses a transliteration of the second part of the designation as well: Господь Саваоф / Gospod’ Savaof.
The traditional French translation of l’Eternel/Yahve/le Seigneur/Seigneur des armées (“Lord of the armies”) presents a problem when listened to, as Jean-Marc Babut explains (in The Bible Translator 1985, p. 411ff. ):
“For the hearer, the traditional translation l’Eternel/Yahvé/le Seigneur des armées can easily be taken in a bad sense: there is nothing, in fact, to prevent the listener from hearing l’Eternel désarmé, ‘the Eternal One disarmed’ or ‘stripped of his power’! (…). Thus the Bible en français courant [publ. 1997] has decided to use the expression Seigneur/Dieu de l’univers, “Lord/God of the Universe”. This formula, which has an undeniably liturgical ring, seems to have been favorably received by users.”
Other, later French Bibles who have chosen a similar strategy, include Parole de Vie (publ. 2017) with Seigneur de l’univers or Bible Segond 21 (publ. 2007) with l’Eternel, le maître de l’univers.
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Malachi 4:1:
Kupsabiny: “The God of authority is saying, ‘Listen (plur.), the day when people will be judged is coming and there will be a big fire on that day. On that day all rebels and sinners will be burned. those people will be completely burned like dry grass.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Behold! That day is coming like a burning furnace. In that day, all the proud and wicked will be burnt up like straw. That day will burn them up so that not even roots and branches will be left, says The LORD Almighty.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “The LORD Almighty said, ‘Very surely that the day will-come that I will-punish. This will-be like the fiery furnace. I will- punish all the proud/arrogant ones and (all who) do bad (thing) like the burning of straw. They will-be like a wood/tree which was-burned that not even a root and branch was-left.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “God the Highest Ruler says, ‘Look because the punishing of all who are arrogant and who are-doing evil is soon. On that day, they will be like weeds that are-burned-up in a vigorously-burning fire and absolutely none will-be-left.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
English: “This is also what the Commander of the armies of angels says: ‘There will be a time that I will judge and punish people. When that happens, it will be like a very hot furnace. At that time, all the proud and wicked people will be burned up like stubble burns. They will be burned up completely, like roots and branches and everything else on a tree burns completely in a very hot fire.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, iw-are-ru (言われる) or “say” is used.
As noted in “Introducing Malachi,” the verses numbered 4.1-6 in most English versions are numbered 3.19-24 in Hebrew. Modern versions in other European languages, along with Catholic versions in English such as Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible and New American Bible, follow the Hebrew numbering system. In this Handbook the Hebrew verse number will be placed in square brackets [ ] underneath the corresponding English verse number at the beginning of comments for each verse.
Although there is no justification for beginning a new chapter here in terms of the discourse structure, in areas where the tradition of numbering the last six verses of Malachi as 4.1-6 is dominant, translators are advised to follow it. There is no justification for including a section heading at 4.1. See the notes on the section heading at 3.13.
For behold: The Hebrew conjunction translated For indicates that there is no sharp break from the previous verses. This verse gives the reason for the statements in 3.18. The particle translated behold shows the beginning of a new subunit within the flow of the argument. Good News Translation lacks anything equivalent to either For or behold, and by inserting a new section heading, it is positively misleading about the structure of the dispute that covers 3.13–4.3. See the comments introducing 3.13–4.3 above. Translators are strongly advised to maintain a visible link with 3.16-18, especially if they are obliged to begin a new chapter at this verse. The manner in which the link is shown will vary according to the resources of the translator’s language. Among English versions the most imaginative approach is found in Beck, who renders For behold as “You see.” This expression at this point not only draws attention to what follows but also indicates that there is a link backwards to 3.18.
The day comes, burning like an oven: The definite article the before day (contrast Zech 14.1) indicates that this is a reference back to the day already mentioned in 3.17, and strengthens the way the whole dispute 3.13–4.3 holds together as a unit. The present tense comes suggests that the action will occur very soon, so in some languages it may be better to say “is about to come” or “will soon come” (compare Beck, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). It is unusual and striking to speak of a day as burning. If possible, translators should keep the picture, but if it would sound too unnatural, it would be possible to say “the day is coming when it will be as hot as a burning oven” or “the day is coming that will bring burning heat [or, fire] like that of an oven.” In languages where “day” and “sun” are the same, it may be necessary to restructure the first part of the verse as follows: “Look! That day/sun is coming soon. It will bring fire like the fire of an oven.”
The word translated oven may mean either a portable earthenware oven (compare Gen 15.17; Lev 11.35) or a baker’s oven, presumably a large, fixed item (compare Lev 26.26; Hos 7.4, 6, 7). Translators should try to avoid a term that refers only to a modern gas or electric oven. Languages that use ideophones may have one to describe intense heat or a blazing fire. Such a word would be very suitable here, especially if ovens are not well known.
When all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble: The terms rendered arrogant and evildoers are the same as in 3.15 and should be translated in the same way. See the comments there. The words will be stubble are a metaphor, continuing the picture of burning. In many languages it will be clearer to make this a simile, as do Good News Translation with “like straw,” and Contemporary English Version with “as though they were straw.” The word that Revised Standard Version renders stubble may refer to the stalks left standing in a field after the grain is cut (Isa 5.24; 40.24; Nahum 1.10), or to “straw” (Good News Translation, Moffatt, Beck, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation), that is, the cut stalks when separated from the head of the grain (Exo 5.12; Job 41.28-29), or to “chaff” (New English Bible, New American Standard Bible), meaning the dry husks from which the grains have been removed (Job 13.25; Psa 83.13; Jer 13.24; compare Verhoef). The point is that each of these burns up easily, quickly, and completely. In the context of an oven, the meaning here is likely to be chaff or straw rather than stubble. In languages that have different terms for these three items, translators may use whichever one sounds most natural in a figurative setting. Good News Translation restructures the first half of the verse to make the “proud and evil people” the subject of “will burn like straw,” and this may be a useful model in some languages.
The whole picture of burning symbolizes the LORD’s anger against the wicked, and is a frequent image in the Old Testament (compare Isa 30.27; Jer 4.4; 21.12; Zeph 1.18; 3.8). This may be stated directly if necessary, as in the second model given at the end of the discussion on this verse (compare Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).
The day that comes shall burn them up: This clause continues the imagery of the day being the agent of the burning. In many languages it will be helpful to restructure to “when the day comes, they will burn up” or “when that day comes, the heat [or, fire] will burn them up.” If the arrogant and the evildoers were made the subject of the verb “burn” in the first half of the verse, then it will be likely that they remain the subject in this clause also.
Says the LORD of hosts: In the notes on 3.17, it was recommended that the quotation formula says the LORD of hosts should in the present verse be restructured as a first person statement, as in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente. If this is done, it will probably be best to begin a new sentence, and to open it with “I, the LORD Almighty, say that when the day comes….”
So that it will leave them neither root nor branch: As is shown by so that, this clause describes the consequence of the burning. It is not entirely certain whether the phrase neither root nor branch changes the metaphor or not. If the nouns root and branch are to be understood literally, then they speak of a tree, and the figure of straw has changed (compare New Living Translation). However, it is possible that “root and branch” was a fixed phrase, simply meaning “completely” without reference to the literal sense of its components. In this case the figure has probably not changed. This particular phrase is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament, though a similar one (“I destroyed his fruit above, and his roots beneath”) occurs in Amos 2.9, and the combination of “fruit” and “root” is used with a positive sense in 2 Kgs 19.30 and Isa 37.31. The overall sense of the passage is that the wicked will be utterly destroyed. In the Aramaic Targum, root and branch are interpreted as “son and grandson” (Chary). While this interpretation is appropriate at the level of ideas, it is not a satisfactory example for translators to follow. In languages where a mixture of metaphors would not be clear or natural, it may be better to translate the phrase in a nonfigurative way. Again, languages that use ideophones may have a suitable one for something that is completely burned.
Alternative translation models for the whole verse are:
• See, this is because the day is coming when all the proud and wicked people will burn up like chaff in an oven. I, the LORD Almighty, say that when that day comes, they will be completely burnt up, and nothing at all will be left.
• This is because the day will indeed come when my anger will burn up all the arrogant and evil people like straw in an oven. On that day the fire will burn them to ashes, and not a stalk or a root will be left. I, the LORD Almighty, declare it.
• This second model maintains the same figure throughout the verse by changing branch to “stalk,” which goes more appropriately with “straw” (as in Jerusalem Bible).
Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Malachi. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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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