Malachi 3:16

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord paid attention and listened. A book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the Lord and honor his name.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אָ֧ז נִדְבְּר֛וּ יִרְאֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֑הוּ וַיַּקְשֵׁ֤ב יְהוָה֙ וַיִּשְׁמָ֔ע וַ֠יִּכָּתֵב סֵ֣פֶר זִכָּר֤וֹן לְפָנָיו֙ לְיִרְאֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וּלְחֹשְׁבֵ֖י שְׁמֽוֹ׃

Transliteration

ʾAz nidberu yirʾe YHWH ʾish et-reʿehu wa-yaqshev YHWH wa-yishmaʿ wa-yikkatev sefer zikkaron le-fanaw le-yirʾe YHWH u-le-ḥosheve shemo.

Grammar Details

• *ʾAz*: adverb - then
• *nidberu*: Niphal perfect, 3rd common plural - they spoke
• *yirʾe*: adjective, masculine plural construct - fearers of
• *YHWH*: divine name - Yahweh/LORD
• *ʾish*: noun, masculine singular - each man
• *et*: preposition
• *reʿehu*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his neighbor/companion
• *wa-yaqshev*: waw consecutive + Hiphil imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he gave attention
• *wa-yishmaʿ*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he heard
• *wa-yikkatev*: waw consecutive + Niphal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and was written
• *sefer*: noun, masculine singular construct - book of
• *zikkaron*: noun, masculine singular - remembrance
• *le-fanaw*: preposition + noun, plural construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - before him
• *le-yirʾe*: preposition + adjective, masculine plural construct - for those who fear
• *u-le-ḥosheve*: waw conjunction + preposition + Qal participle, masculine plural construct - and for those who esteem
• *shemo*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his name

Word Meanings

• *nidberu*: spoke together/talked with one another/conversed
• *yirʾe*: fearers of/those who revere/those who stand in awe of
• *ʾish et-reʿehu*: each to his neighbor/one to another/each with his companion
• *yaqshev*: gave attention/listened attentively/paid heed
• *yishmaʿ*: heard/listened/heeded
• *yikkatev*: was written/was recorded
• *sefer zikkaron*: book of remembrance/memorial book/record book
• *le-fanaw*: before him/in his presence
• *le-yirʾe*: for those who fear/for those who revere
• *ḥosheve shemo*: those who esteem his name/those who think upon his name/those who value his name

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Then 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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Then those who feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the LORD and thought upon his name.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Then 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then they that feared{H3373} Jehovah{H3068} spake{H1696} one{H376} with another;{H7453} and Jehovah{H3068} hearkened,{H7181} and heard,{H8085} and a book{H5612} of remembrance{H2146} was written{H3789} before{H6440} him, for them that feared{H3373} Jehovah,{H3068} and that thought{H2803} upon his name.{H8034}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then they that feared{H3373} the LORD{H3068} spake often{H1696}{(H8738)} one{H376} to another{H7453}: and the LORD{H3068} hearkened{H7181}{(H8686)}, and heard{H8085}{(H8799)} it, and a book{H5612} of remembrance{H2146} was written{H3789}{(H8735)} before{H6440} him for them that feared{H3373} the LORD{H3068}, and that thought{H2803}{(H8802)} upon his name{H8034}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But they that feare God, saye thus one to another: The LORDE cosidreth and heareth it. Yee it is before him a memoriall boke written for soch as feare the LORDE, and remembre his name.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then spake they that feared the Lorde, euery one to his neighbour, and the Lorde hearkened & heard it, and a booke of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought vpon his Name.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Then they that feared God, saide euery one to his neighbour: and the Lorde considered and hearde, and there was written a booke of remebraunce before him for them that feared the Lorde, and for them that thinke vpon his name.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Then 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Then have those fearing Jehovah spoken one to another, And Jehovah doth attend and hear, And written is a book of memorial before Him Of those fearing Jehovah, And of those esteeming His name.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another; and Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another; and Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then those in whom was the fear of the Lord had talk together: and the Lord gave ear, and it was recorded in a book to be kept in mind before him, for those who had the fear of the Lord and gave thought to his name.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then those who respected the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD took notice. A scroll was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the LORD and honored his name.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 56:8 : 8 In your anger, O God, cast them down. Hold them accountable for their wickedness.
• Rev 20:12 : 12 And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
• Deut 6:6-8 : 6 These words that I am commanding you today are to be upon your heart. 7 Teach them diligently to your children, and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
• 1 Sam 23:16-18 : 16 Then Jonathan, Saul's son, went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. 17 He said to him, 'Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father will not find you; you will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even Saul my father knows this.' 18 The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then David remained in the woods, and Jonathan returned to his house.
• 2 Sam 7:1 : 1 Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all of his enemies around him,
• 1 Kgs 18:3 : 3 Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah revered the LORD greatly.)
• 1 Kgs 18:12 : 12 But I, your servant, fear that if I leave, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you off to some place I don't know, and when I go to tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.
• 2 Chr 6:7 : 7 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
• Esth 2:23 : 23 The matter was investigated and confirmed, and both men were hanged on the gallows. This was recorded in the book of chronicles in the presence of the king.
• Esth 4:5-9 : 5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the square of the city in front of the king's gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the decree issued in Susa for their destruction, so that Hathach could show it to Esther and explain it to her, urging her to go to the king, plead for mercy, and intercede for her people. 9 Hathach returned and reported Mordecai’s message to Esther. 10 Then Esther instructed Hathach to respond to Mordecai. 11 ‘All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for anyone—man or woman—who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned, there is one law: they are to be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter, allowing them to live. But I have not been summoned to come to the king for thirty days.’ 12 When Mordecai was informed of what Esther said, 13 he sent back this reply to her: ‘Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.’ 14 If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows? Perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this. 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. 17 So Mordecai went away and did everything Esther had instructed him to do.
• Esth 6:1 : 1 That night, the king couldn’t sleep, so he commanded that the book of records, the chronicles, be brought in and read before him.
• Job 19:23-25 : 23 Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! 24 That with an iron stylus and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth.
• Job 28:28 : 28 And He said to mankind, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'
• Ps 10:4 : 4 In his pride, the wicked man says, 'He will not seek; there is no God in all his thoughts.'
• Ps 16:3 : 3 As for the holy ones who are in the land, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
• Ps 20:7 : 7 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the victorious power of His right hand.
• Ps 33:18 : 18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love.
• Ps 34:15 : 15 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
• Ps 66:16 : 16 Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell you what He has done for me.
• Ps 73:15-17 : 15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed Your children. 16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply. 17 Until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
• Ps 94:19 : 19 When anxiety overwhelmed me, Your consolations brought joy to my soul.
• Ps 104:33 : 33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live.
• Ps 111:10-112:1 : 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who obey His precepts have good understanding. His praise endures forever. 1 Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD and greatly delights in His commandments.
• Ps 119:63 : 63 I am a companion to all who fear You, to those who keep Your precepts.
• Ps 139:4 : 4 Before a word is on my tongue, You, LORD, know it completely.
• Ps 147:11 : 11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love.
• Prov 13:20 : 20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.
• Isa 26:3 : 3 You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is steadfast, because it trusts in You.
• Isa 26:8 : 8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of Your judgments, we wait for You; Your name and Your renown are the desire of our soul.
• Isa 50:10 : 10 Who among you fears the LORD and listens to the voice of his servant? Let the one who walks in darkness, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
• Isa 65:6 : 6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will pay it back into their laps.
• Ezek 9:4 : 4 The LORD said to him, 'Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and mark a sign on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the detestable things being done within it.'
• Dan 2:17-18 : 17 Then Daniel went to his house and informed his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about the matter. 18 He asked them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
• Dan 7:10 : 10 A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him. A thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court sat, and the books were opened.
• Mal 3:5 : 5 I will come near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, adulterers, and those who swear falsely; against those who defraud workers of their wages, oppress widows and orphans, and deprive foreigners of justice. They do not fear me, says the Lord of Hosts.
• Matt 12:35-37 : 35 The good person brings out good things from the good treasure of his heart, and the evil person brings out evil things from his evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the Day of Judgment, people will give an account for every idle word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
• Matt 18:19-20 : 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.
• 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 24:14-31 : 14 They were talking with each other about all the things that had happened. 15 As they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so they did not recognize him. 17 He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, replied, "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know what has happened in these days?" 19 He asked, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. What is more, it is the third day since all this happened. 22 In addition, some women of our group amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning, 23 but did not find his body. They came back and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him. 25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he disappeared from their sight.
• John 1:40-47 : 40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who had heard John's testimony and followed Jesus. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which means Christ). 42 Then he brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of Jonah. You will be called Cephas' (which when translated is Peter). 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, He said to him, 'Follow Me.' 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, 'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and so did the prophets: Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.' 46 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Nathanael asked. Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him, 'Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!'
• John 12:20-22 : 20 Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
• Acts 1:13 : 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying—Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
• Acts 2:1 : 1 When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all together in one place.
• Acts 4:23-33 : 23 After they were released, they returned to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, 'Sovereign Lord, you are the one who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.' 25 'You spoke through the mouth of your servant David, saying: Why did the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain?' 26 'The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.' 27 'Indeed, in this city, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.' 28 'They did what your hand and will had predestined to take place.' 29 'And now, Lord, consider their threats and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness.' 30 Stretch out your hand to heal, and let signs and wonders take place through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 31 After they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. 32 The multitude of believers were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they had everything in common. 33 With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
• Acts 9:31 : 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace as it was being built up. Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it was increasing in number.
• Acts 10:2 : 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with all his household. He gave many alms to the people and prayed to God continually.
• Eph 5:19 : 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
• 1 Thess 5:11 : 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
• 1 Thess 5:14 : 14 Now we urge you, brothers, admonish those who are idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
• Heb 3:13 : 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
• Heb 4:12-13 : 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.
• Heb 10:24 : 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
• Heb 12:15 : 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
• Rev 15:4 : 4 "Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
• Gen 22:12 : 12 The angel said, 'Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not harm him in any way, for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.'