Malaquias 4
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Malaquias 4:1-3
4:1 The Septuagint and the Vulgate begin a new chapter here, but the Masoretic Text continues chapter 3 through the end of chapter 4. ▣ "the day is coming" The term "the day" (BDB 398) becomes a technical term for the coming of YHWH. The Israelites thought it would be a day of blessing, but the prophets (esp. Amos and Joel) clearly prophesied a day of judgment beginning with the people of God. One can see from this verse how the Jews of Jesus' day expected the Messiah to come as one bringing judgment. Even John the Baptist misunderstood the nature of Jesus' first coming (cf. Matt. 11:2ff ). Special Topic: The Last Days Special Topic: The Day of the Lord ▣ "burning like a furnace" Fire is often a symbol of God and His purifying activities (cf. Mal. 3:2-3; Ps. 21:9; 50:3; Isa. 10:17; 66:15-16; Dan. 7;9-10; Joel 2:30; Nahum 1:5-6; 1 Cor. 3:13; 2 Peter 3:7). Special Topic: Fire ▣ "will be chaff" This refers to (1) refuse from harvest time or (2) burning of the field in preparation for planting (cf. Matt. 3:14-12). ▣ "so that it will leave them neither root or branch" This is a metaphor of complete destruction (cf. Amos 2:9; Isa. 11:1; Matt. 3:14). 4:2 "the sun of righteousness" The KJV and NKJV capitalize the term "Sun," but this is exegetically impossible because it is a FEMININE NOUN in this context (it is usually MASCULINE). It is, however, a unique reference to the Messiah (a similar metaphor is in Isa. 60:1-3,19-20. Also note Matt. 17:2; Rev. 22:5). Although a Messianic understanding is traditional (even in the rabbis, cf. b.Sanh. 118a; b. 'Eruv. 43b), in context it seems to be a metaphor inaugurating the new age of restoration (cf. Isa. 30:23-26; 60:103). This metaphor is striking and unique, which makes it difficult to interpret. What would Malachi have understood by this phrase? The symbol of the Zoroastrian high-good god was a winged sun disk. Possibly the prophet is borrowing the well known symbol of Persian religion to describe YHWH's new day of righteousness (i.e., Ps. 84:11). ▣ "with healing in its wings" This metaphor is possibly used of the relationship between healing and light a Persian symbol for deity used in Zoroastrianism Healing was a sign of the New Age (cf. Isa. 29:18; 35:5-6; 42:7,16,18; Matt. 11:5; 12:22-25; 15:30-31; 21:14). The healing referred to here is more of a spiritual restoration. Israel is sick in covenant rebellion (cf. Isa. 1:5-6; Ps. 103:3). Forgiveness will result in health, peace, and joy. The new day was really what the old day should have been, was meant to be (cf. Deuteronomy 27-30). ▣ "skip about like calves from the stall" This seems to be a metaphor of joy, freedom, and health (cf. Isa. 35:6). 4:3 "And you will tread down the wicked" This is a metaphor from the wine press, which is used for the righteous finally overcoming. Some see it as a reference to Jos. 10:24 and, therefore, to military victory. Notice God's victory is not immediate, but eschatological.
Malaquias 4:4
4:4-6 The order of these verses is slightly altered in the Septuagint (i.e., Mal. 4:5, 6, and 4). The order is also slightly altered in the Masoretic Text. This seems to be related to the rabbinical thought that the Bible should end with a Covenant name for God. They also did this to the books of Isaiah and Ecclesiastes. 4:4 "Remember" This is a command (BDB 269, KB 269, Qal IMPERATIVE, this VERB is so common in Deuteronomy, 5:15; 7:18 [twice]; 8:2,18; 9:7,27; 15:15; 16:3,12; 24:9,18,22; 25:17; 32:7). Privilege brings responsibility! We need to hide God's word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him (cf. Deut. 4:9; 6:12; 8:11-20: Ps. 103:2). ▣ "the statutes and ordinances" See Special Topic: Terms for God's Revelation. ▣ "Horeb" This (BDB 325) is another name for Mt. Sinai (cf. Exodus 19-23). Some have speculated that Horeb (Hebrew word) is the mountain range and Sinai (non-Hebrew word) is the individual peak. Special Topic: The Location of Mt. Sinai
Malaquias 4:5-6
4:5 "I am going to send Elijah the prophet" The rabbis (i.e., b. Sanh 118a), the Septuagint, and some early Church fathers were expecting Elijah, the prophet, to return literally (cf. Ecclesiasticus 48:10ff). Elijah and Moses met with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (cf. Matt. 17:4). However, the words of Jesus seem to relate this passage to John the Baptist (cf. Mal. 3:1; Matt. 11:7-14; 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13; Luke 1:17). John denies this title in John 1:19-23, but apparently he was denying that he was Elijah reincarnated. ▣ "the great and terrible day of the Lord" This day is characterized in two ways: "great," BDB 152, these two descriptions are often used together (i.e., YHWH's acts of redemption, cf. Deut. 10:21; Job 5:9; 9:10; 37:5; Ps. 71:19; 106:21) "terrible," BDB 431, KB 432, Niphal PARTICIPLE. Its basic meaning if "fear" or "awe." Therefore, it can stand for a day of judgment a day of the awesome deeds of YHWH (1) used of YHWH Himself in Deut. 10:21; 2 Sam. 7:23; Ps. 47:3; 68:36; 76:8; Isa. 64:2. He is "great and awful" (cf. Deut. 7:21; 10:17; Neh. 1:5; 4:8; 9:32; Dan. 9:4) (2) used of YHWH's name in Deut. 28:58; Ps. 99:3; 111:9; Mal. 1:14 (3) YHWH's coming day in Joel 2:11; 3:4; and here Special Topic: The Day of the Lord 4:6 "He will restore" This VERB (BDB 996, KB 1427, Hiphil PERFECT) is used often in Malachi (cf. Mal. 1:4; 2:6; 3:7[thrice],18; 4:6, see notes at Mal. 3:7). This is the regular Hebrew word for repentance (lit. "turn" or "turn back"). In this context it has a double focus: return the post-exilic community to the faith of their fathers return stability to the family structure of the faith community ▣ "curse" The literal word is herem (BDB 356, cf. Lev. 27:28, 29; Deut. 25:16-17; Jos. 6:17 and 1 Sam. 3:15ff). This is the term which is used of something being dedicated to God, and it becoming so holy that it must be completely destroyed. Special Topic: Curse