Malachi 3:1

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Behold, I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Suddenly, the Lord whom you are seeking will come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—behold, he is coming,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הִנְנִ֤י שֹׁלֵחַ֙ מַלְאָכִ֔י וּפִנָּה־דֶ֖רֶךְ לְפָנָ֑י וּפִתְאֹם֩ יָב֨וֹא אֶל־הֵיכָל֜וֹ הָאָד֣וֹן ׀ אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֣ם מְבַקְשִׁ֗ים וּמַלְאַ֨ךְ הַבְּרִ֜ית אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֤ם חֲפֵצִים֙ הִנֵּה־בָ֔א אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃

Transliteration

Hinni sholeaḥ malʾakhi u-pinnah-derekh le-panay u-fitʾom yavoʾ el-hekhalo ha-ʾadon ʾasher-ʾattem mevaqshim u-malʾakh ha-berit ʾasher-ʾattem ḥafetsim hinneh-va, ʾamar YHWH tsevaʾot.

Grammar Details

• *Hinni*: interjection with 1st person singular suffix - behold me/I
• *sholeaḥ*: Qal participle, masculine singular - sending
• *malʾakhi*: noun, masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix - my messenger
• *u-pinnah*: waw conjunction + Piel perfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he will clear/prepare
• *derekh*: noun, feminine singular construct - way/path
• *le-panay*: preposition + noun, plural construct with 1st person singular suffix - before me
• *u-fitʾom*: waw conjunction + adverb - and suddenly
• *yavoʾ*: Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he will come
• *el*: preposition - to/toward
• *hekhalo*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his temple/palace
• *ha-ʾadon*: definite article + noun, masculine singular - the Lord/master
• *ʾasher*: relative pronoun - whom/which
• *ʾattem*: 2nd person masculine plural pronoun - you
• *mevaqshim*: Piel participle, masculine plural - seeking
• *u-malʾakh*: waw conjunction + noun, masculine singular construct - and messenger of
• *ha-berit*: definite article + noun, feminine singular - the covenant
• *ḥafetsim*: adjective, masculine plural - desiring/delighting in
• *hinneh*: interjection - behold
• *va*: Qal participle, masculine singular - coming
• *ʾamar*: Qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - says/said
• *YHWH*: divine name - Yahweh/LORD
• *tsevaʾot*: noun, feminine plural - hosts/armies

Word Meanings

• *malʾakhi*: my messenger/my angel
• *pinnah*: clear/prepare/make a way
• *derekh*: way/path/road
• *fitʾom*: suddenly/unexpectedly
• *hekhalo*: his temple/his palace
• *ha-ʾadon*: the Lord/the Master/the Sovereign
• *ha-berit*: the covenant/the agreement
• *YHWH tsevaʾot*: LORD of hosts/Yahweh of armies

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Behold, 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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

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

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Behold, 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Behold, 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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Behold, 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.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Beholde, I wil sende my messaunger, which shal prepare the waye before me: and the LORDE whom ye wolde haue, shal soone come to his temple, yee euen the messaunger of the couenaunt whom ye longe for. Beholde, he commeth, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lorde whom ye seeke, shall speedely come to his Temple: euen the messenger of the couenant whom ye desire: beholde, he shall come, sayth the Lord of hostes.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Beholde, I wyll sende my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the lord whom ye seeke, shal speedyly come to his temple, and the messenger of the couenaunt whom ye desire, beholde he commeth, saith the Lorde of hoastes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ Behold, 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!" says Yahweh of hosts.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Lo, I am sending My messenger, And he hath prepared a way before Me, And suddenly come in unto his temple Doth the Lord whom ye are seeking, Even the messenger of the covenant, Whom ye are desiring, Lo, he is coming, said Jehovah of Hosts.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Behold, 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Behold, 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  See, I am sending my servant, and he will make ready the way before me; and the Lord, whom you are looking for, will suddenly come to his Temple; and the angel of the agreement, in whom you have delight, see, he is coming, says the Lord of armies.

• World English Bible (2000)

  "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!" says Yahweh of Armies.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  “I am about to send my messenger, who will clear the way before me. Indeed, the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom you long for, is certainly coming,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

Referenced Verses

• Luke 1:76 : 76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,
• Isa 63:9 : 9 In all their distress, he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and compassion, he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
• John 1:6-7 : 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
• Acts 19:4 : 4 Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him—that is, in Jesus."
• Mal 2:7 : 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.
• Isa 7:14 : 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
• Isa 9:6 : 6 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
• Matt 17:10-13 : 10 The disciples asked Him, 'Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?' 11 Jesus replied, 'Indeed, Elijah is coming and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him. Instead, they did to him whatever they pleased. In the same way, the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.' 13 Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
• Luke 2:21-32 : 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the days of purification required by the law of Moses were completed, they took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 (As it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.") 24 And they offered a sacrifice, according to what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 "Now, Lord, you can let your servant depart in peace, according to your word. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."
• Luke 2:38 : 38 At that very moment, she came up and began to give thanks to the Lord and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
• Luke 2:46 : 46 After three days, they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
• Luke 3:3-6 : 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked paths will become straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth, 6 and all humanity will see God's salvation.
• Luke 7:19-20 : 19 He sent them to the Lord to ask, 'Are You the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?' 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, 'John the Baptist has sent us to You to ask, "Are You the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?"'
• Luke 7:26-28 : 26 'But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.' 27 'This is the one about whom it is written: "Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You."' 28 'I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John the Baptist. Yet, the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.'
• Luke 19:47 : 47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were seeking to destroy him.
• Mark 1:2-3 : 2 As it is written in the prophets: 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' 3 'A voice is calling out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight.'
• Luke 1:16-17 : 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.
• Luke 2:11 : 11 Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
• Isa 40:3-5 : 3 A voice of one calling: In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
• Gen 48:15-16 : 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, 'The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,' 16 'The Angel who redeemed me from all harm, may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. May they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.'
• Exod 23:20 : 20 See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.
• Ps 110:1 : 1 The Lord said to my lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."
• Matt 3:1-3 : 1 At that time, John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, 'Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.' 3 This is the one who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: 'A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight.'
• Matt 11:10-11 : 10 This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.' 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
• Hag 2:7-9 : 7 I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts. 8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine—this is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house will be greater than that of the former, says the LORD of Hosts. And in this place I will give peace—this is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts.
• John 1:15-23 : 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, 'This is the one I spoke about when I said, “He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.”' 16 From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the one and only Son, who is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known. 19 This is the testimony of John when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, 'Who are you?' 20 He confessed and did not deny, but confessed, 'I am not the Christ.' 21 They asked him, 'Then who are you? Are you Elijah?' He said, 'I am not.' 'Are you the Prophet?' He answered, 'No.' 22 So they said to him, 'Who are you? Tell us so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?' 23 He replied, 'I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said.'
• John 1:33-34 : 33 I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.
• John 2:14-16 : 14 In the temple courts, He found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both the sheep and the oxen. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those selling doves He said, 'Get these out of here! Stop turning My Father's house into a marketplace!'
• John 3:28-30 : 28 'You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the sound of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
• Acts 7:38 : 38 This is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; he received living words to pass on to us.
• Acts 13:24-25 : 24 Before His coming, John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was finishing his course, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, One is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.'
• Hos 12:3-5 : 3 The LORD has a charge against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him for his deeds. 4 In the womb, he grasped his brother’s heel; and in his strength, he struggled with God. 5 He struggled with the angel and prevailed. He wept and pleaded for favor. He found Him at Bethel, and there He spoke with us.