Malachi 3:2
What does Malachi 3:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Malachi 3:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Malachi 3:2 means
Immediately following the promise of the Lord's coming, this verse poses a sobering question about the profound impact of His arrival. It highlights that the Lord's coming will not be for comfort alone, but for a transformative purpose, comparing Him to "a refiner's fire" and "fullers' soap." These vivid images convey an intense process of purification. Just as fire purifies precious metals by burning away dross, and strong soap cleanses fabric, the Lord's presence will bring a radical separation of impurities from what is genuine, revealing the true nature of hearts and actions.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But who can 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:
KJV
King James Version · 1611But 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:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But who can 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:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But by whom may the day of his coming be faced? and who may keep his place when he is seen? for he is like the metal-tester's fire and the cleaner's soap.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And who is bearing the day of his coming? And who is standing in his appearing? For he <FI>is<Fi> as fire of a refiner, And as soap of a fuller.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller's herb:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But who shall endure the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he will be like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' lye.
Context
Building directly on the promise of the Lord's coming in verse 1, this verse introduces the challenging aspect of that arrival. It immediately raises the stakes, moving from anticipation to the question of who can withstand this divine presence. The imagery of refining sets the tone for the subsequent verses, which will elaborate on this process, particularly concerning the priests identified in verse 3.
v.1Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts.
v.2This passage
v.3and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto Jehovah offerings in righteousness.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 25:10
And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.
- 1 Peter 2:7
For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;
- John 9:39
And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind.
- Hebrews 12:25
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:
- Jeremiah 2:22
For though thou wash thee with lye, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord Jehovah.
- Isaiah 4:4
when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning.
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