The Coming of the Messenger

Malachi 3

The Lord announces that he will send his messenger to prepare the way before him and will come suddenly to his temple to purify the sons of Levi as silver and gold are refined, bringing swift judgment against sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, and those who oppress the hireling, the widow, and the orphan. He rebukes the people for withholding tithes, promises blessing if they return to him, and declares a coming day that will burn up the wicked like stubble while healing rises for those who fear his name, sending Elijah before that great and glorious day.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonBEHOLD I am about to send My messenger and he will examine the way before Me. And the lord whom ye seek—even the angel of the covenant whom you desire, will come suddenly to his temple. Behold he is coming, saith the Lord Almighty.

BrentonBehold, I send forth my messenger, and he shall survey the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come into his temple, even the angel of the covenant, whom ye take pleasure in: behold, he is coming, saith the Lord Almighty.

GreekἸδοὺ ἐξαποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου, καὶ ἐπιβλέψεται ὁδὸν πρὸ προσώπου μου, καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἥξει εἰς τὸν ναὸν ἑαυτοῦ Κύριος, ὃν ὑμεῖς ζητεῖτε, καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος τῆς διαθήκης, ὃν ὑμεῖς θέλετε· ἰδοὺ ἔρχεται, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ,

KJVBehold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

JPSBehold, I send My messenger, and he shall clear the way before Me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to His temple, and the messenger of the covenant, Whom ye delight in, Behold, he cometh, Saith the LORD of hosts.

ThomsonAnd who can abide the day of his coming? Or who can stand his appearance? Since he is coming like the fire of a refiner’s furnace, and like the soap of the fullers.

BrentonAnd who will abide the day of his coming? or who will withstand at his appearing? for he is coming in as the fire of a furnace and as the herb of fullers.

Greekκαὶ τίς ὑπομενεῖ ἡμέραν εἰσόδου αὐτοῦ; ἢ τίς ὑποστήσεται ἐν τῇ ὀπτασίᾳ αὐτοῦ; διότι αὐτὸς εἰσπορεύεται ὡς πῦρ χωνευτηρίου, καὶ ὡς ποὶα πλυνόντων.

KJVBut who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

JPSBut who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’soap;

ThomsonHe will sit refining and purifying, and will purify the sons of Levi like the silver and gold, and melt them like the gold and silver.

BrentonHe shall sit to melt and purify as it were silver, and as it were gold: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver, and they shall offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.

GreekΚαθιεῖται χωνεύων καὶ καθαρίζων ὡς τὸ ἀργύριον, καὶ ὡς τὸ χρυσίον, καὶ καθαρίσει τοὺς υἱοὺς Λευὶ, καὶ χεεῖ αὐτοὺς ὥσπερ τὸ χρυσίον καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον· καὶ ἔσονται τῷ Κυρίῳ προσάγοντες θυσίαν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ.

KJVAnd he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

JPSAnd he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver; and there shall be they that shall offer unto the LORD offerings in righteousness.

ThomsonThen shall they offer to the Lord a sacrifice in righteousness, and the sacrifice of Juda and Jerusalem will please the Lord a s in the days of old and as in former years.

BrentonAnd the sacrifice of Juda and Jerusalem shall be pleasing to the Lord, according to the former days, and according to the former years.

GreekΚαὶ ἀρέσει τῷ Κυρίῳ θυσία Ἰούδα καὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καθὼς αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ αἰῶνος, καὶ καθὼς τὰ ἔτη τὰ ἔμπροσθεν.

KJVThen shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

JPSThen shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.

ThomsonAnd I will bring to judgment before you and be a swift witness against sorcerers, and against adulteresses, and against them who swear by My name to a falsehood, and against them who deprive the hireling of his wages, and them who oppress the widow, and them who buffet the fatherless, and them who turn aside the cause of the stranger, and them who do not fear Me, saith the Lord Almighty.

BrentonAnd I will draw near to you in judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the witches, and against the adulteresses, and against them that swear falsely by my name, and against them that keep back the hireling's wages, and them that oppress the widow, and afflict orphans, and that wrest the judgment of the stranger, and fear not me, saith the Lord Almighty.

GreekΚαὶ προσάξω πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν κρίσει, καὶ ἔσομαι μάρτυς ταχὺς ἐπὶ τὰς φαρμακοὺς, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς μοιχαλίδας, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀμνύοντας τῷ ὀνόματί μου ἐπὶ ψεύδει, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστεροῦντας μισθὸν μισθωτοῦ, καὶ τοὺς καταδυναστεύοντας χήραν, καὶ τοὺς κονδυλίζοντας ὀρφανοὺς, καὶ τοὺς ἐκκλίνοντας κρίσιν προσηλύτου, καὶ τοὺς μὴ φοβουμένους με, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ.

KJVAnd I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

JPSAnd I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers; and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, The widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, Saith the LORD of hosts.

ThomsonBecause I the Lord am your God and change not; but you the sons of Jacob do not abstain

BrentonFor I am the Lord your God, and I am not changed:

GreekΔιότι ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἠλλοίωμαι·

KJVFor I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

JPSFor I the LORD change not; and ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

Thomsonfrom the iniquities of your fathers—you have turned aside My statutes and have not kept them. Turn to Me and I will turn to you, saith the Lord Almighty. Do you say, Wherein shall we turn?

Brentonbut ye, the sons of Jacob, have not refrained from the iniquities of your fathers: ye have perverted my statutes, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, saith the Lord Almighty. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Greekκαὶ ὑμεῖς οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰακὼβ οὐκ ἀπέχεσθε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδικιῶν τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν, ἐξεκλίνατε νόμιμά μου, καὶ οὐκ ἐφυλάξασθε. Ἐπιστρέψατε πρὸς μὲ, καὶ ἐπιστραφήσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ· καὶ εἴπατε, ἐν τίνι ἐπιστρέψομεν;

KJVEven 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?

JPSFrom the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, Saith the LORD of hosts. But ye say: ‘Wherein shall we return?’

ThomsonWill a man rob God? For you rob Me: and will you say, wherein have we robbed Thee? Because the tithes and the first fruits are with you,

BrentonWill a man insult God? for ye insult me. But ye say, Wherein have we insulted thee? In that the tithes and first-fruits are with you still.

GreekΜήτι πτερνιεῖ ἄνθρωπος Θεόν; διότι ὑμεῖς πτερνίζετέ με· καὶ ἐρεῖτε, ἐν τίνι ἐπτερνίσαμέν σε; ὅτι τὰ ἐπιδέκατα, καὶ αἱ ἀπαρχαὶ μεθʼ ὑμῶν εἰσι.

KJVWill a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

JPSWill a man rob God? Yet ye rob Me. But ye say: ‘Wherein have we robbed Thee?’ In tithes and heave-offerings.

Thomsonand you look away [from Me] again and again, and rob Me.

BrentonAnd ye do surely look off from me, and ye insult me.

GreekΚαὶ ἀποβλέποντες ὑμεῖς ἀποβλέπετε, καὶ ἐμὲ ὑμεῖς πτερνίζετε.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThe year is ended, and you have carried the products into your stores. Now let that which hath been plundered from Him be in His house. Turn now in this respect, saith the Lord Almighty: (see) if I will not open for you the flood-gates of heaven and pour My blessing upon you, until there is enough;

BrentonThe year is completed, and ye have brought all the produce into the storehouses; but there shall be the plunder thereof in its house: return now on this behalf, saith the Lord Almighty, see if I will not open to you the torrents of heaven, and pour out my blessing upon you, until ye are satisfied.

GreekΤὸ ἔτος συνετελέσθη, καὶ εἰσηνέγκατε πάντα τὰ ἐκφόρια εἰς τοὺς θησαυροὺς, καὶ ἔσται ἡ διαρπαγὴ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ· ἐπιστρέψατε δὴ ἐν τούτῳ, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ· ἐὰν μὴ ἀνοίξω ὑμῖν τοὺς καταῤῥάκτας τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἐκχεῶ τὴν εὐλογίαν μου ὑμῖν, ἕως τοῦ ἱκανωθῆναι·

KJVBring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

JPSBring ye the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now herewith, Saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall be more than sufficiency. .

Thomsonand send you it for food, and no more destroy the fruit of your land, so that your vine shall no more be sickly in the field, saith the Lord Almighty;

BrentonAnd I will appoint food for you, and I will not destroy the fruit of your land; and your vine in the field shall not fail, saith the Lord Almighty.

GreekΚαὶ διαστελῶ ὑμῖν εἰς βρῶσιν, καὶ οὐ μὴ διαφθείρω ὑμῶν τὸν καρπὸν τῆς γῆς, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀσθενήσῃ ὑμῶν ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ.

KJVAnd I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

JPSAnd I will rebuke the devourer for your good, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your land; Neither shall your vine cast its fruit before the time in the field, Saith the LORD of hosts.

Thomsonand all the nations will hail you blessed, for you will be a beloved land, saith the Lord Almighty.

BrentonAnd all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a desirable land, saith the Lord Almighty.

GreekΚαὶ μακαριοῦσιν ὑμᾶς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, διότι ἔσεσθε ὑμεῖς γῆ θελητὴ, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ.

KJVAnd all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

JPSAnd all nations shall call you happy; For ye shall be a delightsome land, Saith the LORD of hosts.

ThomsonYou have brought heavy accusations against Me, saith the Lord. Do you say, in what instance have we spoken against Thee?

BrentonYe have spoken grievous words against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye said, Wherein have we spoken against thee?

GreekἘβαρύνατε ἐπʼ ἐμὲ τοὺς λόγους ὑμῶν, λέγει Κύριος· καὶ εἴπατε, ἐν τίνι κατελαλήσαμεν κατὰ σοῦ;

KJVYour words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

JPSYour words have been all too strong against Me, Saith the LORD. Yet ye say: ‘Wherein have we spoken against thee?’

ThomsonYou say, Vain is he who serveth God: and what advantage is it, that we have kept His charges. For though we have walked as supplicants before the Lord Almighty,

BrentonYe said, He that serves God labours in vain: and what have we gained in that we have kept his ordinances, and in that we have walked as suppliants before the face of the Lord Almighty?

GreekΕἴπατε, μάταιος ὁ δουλεύων Θεῷ, καὶ τί πλέον, ὅτι ἐφυλάξαμεν τὰ φυλάγματα αὐτοῦ, καὶ διότι ἐπορεύθημεν ἱκέται πρὸ προσώπου Κυρίου παντοκράτορος;

KJVYe have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

JPSYe have said: ‘It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked mournfully because of the LORD of hosts?

Thomsonyet we now call strangers blessed; and all that do unlawful things are built up. Though they opposed God, yet they are saved.

BrentonAnd now we pronounce strangers blessed; and all they who act unlawfully are built up; and they have resisted God, and yet have been delivered.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἡμεῖς μακαρίζομεν ἀλλοτρίους, καὶ ἀνοικοδομοῦνται πάντες ποιοῦντες ἄνομα, καὶ ἀντέστησαν τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐσώθησαν.

KJVAnd now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

JPSAnd now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built up; yea, they try God, and are delivered.’

ThomsonAgainst these things they who feared the Lord spoke to one another; and the Lord hearkened and heard, and wrote a book of remembrance before Him for them who fear the Lord and revere His name.

BrentonThus spoke they that feared the Lord, every one to his neighbour: and the Lord gave heed, and hearkened, and he wrote a book of remembrance before him for them that feared the Lord and reverenced his name.

GreekΤαῦτα κατελάλησαν οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον, ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ· καὶ προσέσχε Κύριος, καὶ εἰσήκουσε, καὶ ἔγραψε βιβλίον μνημοσύνου ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ τοῖς φοβουμένοις τὸν Κύριον, καὶ εὐλαβουμένοις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.

KJVThen they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

JPSThen they that feared the LORD Spoke one with another; and the LORD hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.

ThomsonAnd they shall be, saith the Lord Almighty, an acquisition for Me, on the day which I make; and I will make choice of them, as a man maketh choice of a son who serveth him.

BrentonAnd they shall be mine, saith the Lord Almighty, in the day which I appoint for a peculiar possession; and I will make choice of them, as a man makes choice of his son that serves him.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσονταί μοι, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, εἰς ἡμέραν, ἣν ἐγὼ ποιῶ, εἰς περιποίησιν, καὶ αἱρετιῶ αὐτοὺς, ὃν τρόπον αἱρετίζει ἄνθρωπος τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, τὸν δουλεύοντα αὐτῷ.

KJVAnd they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

JPSAnd they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in the day that I do make, even Mine own treasure; and I will spare them, as a man spareth His own son that serveth him.

ThomsonAnd when you shall be converted, you shall see the difference between a righteous man and one who is unrighteous; and between him who serveth God and him who serveth not.

BrentonThen shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, and between him that serves God, and him that serves him not.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπιστραφήσεσθε, καὶ ὄψεσθε ἀναμέσον δικαίου, καὶ ἀναμέσον ἀνόμου, καὶ ἀναμέσον τοῦ δουλεύοντος Θεῷ, καὶ τοῦ μὴ δουλεύοντος.

KJVThen shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

JPSThen shall ye again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.

ThomsonFOR behold a day is coming, heated like an oven, which shall set them on fire. And all aliens and all workers of iniquity shall be like stubble. The day which is coming shall blaze upon them, saith the Lord Almighty, and of them neither root nor branch shall be left.

BrentonFor, behold, a day comes burning as an oven, and it shall consume them; and all the aliens, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that is coming shall set them on fire, saith the Lord Almighty, and there shall not be left of them root or branch.

GreekΔιότι ἰδοὺ ἡμέρα ἔρχεται καιομένη ὡς κλίβανος καὶ φλέξει αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἔσονται πάντες οἱ ἀλλογενεῖς, καὶ πάντες οἱ ποιοῦντες ἄνομα, καλάμη, καὶ ἀνάψει αὐτοὺς ἡ ἡμέρα ἡ ἐρχομένη, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, καὶ οὐ μὴ ὑπολειφθῇ ἐξ αὐτῶν ῥίζα οὐδὲ κλῆμα.

KJVFor, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

JPSFor, behold, the day cometh, It burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall set them ablaze, Saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

ThomsonBut to you who fear My name the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth and leap for joy like young bullocks loosed from yokes.

BrentonBut to you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise, and healing shall be in his wings: and ye shall go forth, and bound as young calves let loose from bonds.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνατελεῖ ὑμῖν τοῖς φοβουμένοις τὸ ὄνομά μου ἥλιος δικαιοσύνης, καὶ ἴασις ἐν ταῖς πτέρυξιν αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐξελεύσεσθε, καὶ σκιρτήσετε ὡς μοσχάρια ἐκ δεσμῶν ἀνειμένα.

KJVBut unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

JPSBut unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall.

ThomsonAnd you shall trample down the wicked, for they will be like ashes under your feet on the day which I make, saith the Lord Almighty.

BrentonAnd ye shall trample the wicked; for they shall be ashes underneath your feet in the day which I appoint, saith the Lord Almighty.

GreekΚαὶ καταπατήσετε ἀνόμους, διότι ἔσονται σποδὸς ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ ἐγὼ ποιῶ, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ.

KJVAnd ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

JPSAnd ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I do make, Saith the LORD of hosts.

ThomsonNow behold, I will send you Elias the Thesbite before that great and awful day of the Lord cometh;

BrentonAnd, behold, I will send to you Elias the Thesbite, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes;

GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστελῶ ὑμῖν Ἠλίαν τὸν Θεσβίτην, πρὶν ἐλθεῖν τὴν ἡμέραν Κυρίου τὴν μεγάλην καὶ ἐπιφανῆ,

KJVBehold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

JPSBehold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming Of the great and terrible day of the LORD.

Thomsonwho will turn again the heart of father to the son and the heart of one man to another that I may not come and smite the land with utter destruction.

Brentonwho shall turn again the heart of the father to the son, and the heart of a man to his neighbour, lest I come and smite the earth grievously.

Greekὃς ἀποκαταστήσει καρδίαν πατρὸς πρὸς υἱὸν, καὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ, μὴ ἔλθω καὶ πατάξω τὴν γῆν ἄρδην.

KJVAnd he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

JPSAnd he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the land with utter destruction.[Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.]

ThomsonRemember the law of Moses, My servant, for I gave him in charge at Choreb statutes and rules of rectitude for all Israel.

BrentonRemember the law of my servant Moses, accordingly as I charged him with it in Choreb for all Israel, even the commandments and ordinances.

GreekΜνήσθητε νόμου Μωυσῆ τοῦ δούλου μου, καθότι ἐνετειλάμην αὐτῷ ἐν Χωρὴβ πρὸς πάντα τὸν Ἰσραὴλ, προστάγματα καὶ δικαιώματα.

KJV—

JPS—