Malachi 3:2

Authorized King James Version (1611)

But 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:

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וּמִ֤י מְכַלְכֵּל֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם בּוֹא֔וֹ וּמִ֥י הָעֹמֵ֖ד בְּהֵרָֽאוֹת֑וֹ כִּֽי־הוּא֙ כְּאֵ֣שׁ מְצָרֵ֔ף וּכְבֹרִ֖ית מְכַבְּסִֽים׃

Transliteration

U-mi mekhalkel et-yom boʾo u-mi ha-ʿomed be-heraʾoto ki-huʾ ke-ʾesh metsaref u-khe-borit mekhabsim.

Grammar Details

• *U-mi*: waw conjunction + interrogative pronoun - and who
• *mekhalkel*: Pilpel participle, masculine singular - enduring/sustaining
• *et*: direct object marker
• *yom*: noun, masculine singular construct - day of
• *boʾo*: Qal infinitive construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his coming
• *u-mi*: waw conjunction + interrogative pronoun - and who
• *ha-ʿomed*: definite article + Qal participle, masculine singular - the one standing
• *be-heraʾoto*: preposition + Niphal infinitive construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - when he appears
• *ki*: conjunction - for/because
• *huʾ*: 3rd person masculine singular pronoun - he
• *ke-ʾesh*: preposition + noun, feminine singular - like fire of
• *metsaref*: Piel participle, masculine singular - refiner
• *u-khe-borit*: waw conjunction + preposition + noun, feminine singular construct - and like soap/lye of
• *mekhabsim*: Piel participle, masculine plural - washers/fullers

Word Meanings

• *mekhalkel*: endure/sustain/contain/withstand
• *boʾo*: his coming/his arrival
• *ha-ʿomed*: standing/enduring/remaining
• *be-heraʾoto*: when he appears/when he reveals himself
• *metsaref*: refiner/smelter/purifier
• *borit*: soap/lye/alkali cleansing agent
• *mekhabsim*: washers/fullers/cleaners

Referenced Verses

• Zech 13:9 : 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The LORD [is] my God.
• 1 Cor 3:13-15 : 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
• Isa 4:4 : 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 judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
• Rev 6:17 : 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
• Ps 2:7 : 7 ¶ I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
• Isa 1:18 : 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
• Rev 7:14 : 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
• Rev 19:8 : 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
• Jer 2:22 : 22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, [yet] thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
• Ezek 22:14 : 14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken [it], and will do [it].
• Amos 5:18-20 : 18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end [is] it for you? the day of the LORD [is] darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 [Shall] not the day of the LORD [be] darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
• Heb 10:28-29 : 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
• Heb 12:25 : 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:
• 1 Pet 2:7-8 : 7 Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
• Rev 1:5-7 : 5 And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
• Rev 2:23 : 23 ‹And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.›
• Mal 4:1 : 1 ¶ For, 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.
• Matt 3:7-9 : 7 ¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire: 12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
• Matt 21:31-44 : 31 ‹Whether of them twain did the will of› [his] ‹father?› They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, ‹Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.› 32 ‹For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen› [it], ‹repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.› 33 ¶ ‹Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:› 34 ‹And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.› 35 ‹And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.› 36 ‹Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.› 37 ‹But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.› 38 ‹But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.› 39 ‹And they caught him, and cast› [him] ‹out of the vineyard, and slew› [him]. 40 ‹When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?› 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out [his] vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, ‹Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?› 43 ‹Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.› 44 ‹And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.›
• Matt 23:13-35 : 13 ¶ ‹But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in› [yourselves], ‹neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.› 14 ‹Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.› 15 ‹Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.› 16 ‹Woe unto you,› [ye] ‹blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!› 17 [Ye] ‹fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?› 18 ‹And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.› 19 [Ye] ‹fools and blind: for whether› [is] ‹greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?› 20 ‹Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.› 21 ‹And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.› 22 ‹And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.› 23 ‹Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier› [matters] ‹of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.› 24 [Ye] ‹blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.› 25 ‹Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.› 26 [Thou] ‹blind Pharisee, cleanse first that› [which is] ‹within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.› 27 ‹Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead› [men's] ‹bones, and of all uncleanness.› 28 ‹Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.› 29 ‹Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,› 30 ‹And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.› 31 ‹Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.› 32 ‹Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.› 33 [Ye] ‹serpents,› [ye] ‹generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?› 34 ¶ ‹Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and› [some] ‹of them ye shall kill and crucify; and› [some] ‹of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute› [them] ‹from city to city:› 35 ‹That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.›
• Matt 25:10 : 10 ‹And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.›
• Mark 9:3 : 3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
• Luke 2:34 : 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this [child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
• Luke 3:9 : 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
• Luke 3:17 : 17 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
• Luke 7:23 : 23 ‹And blessed is› [he], ‹whosoever shall not be offended in me.›
• Luke 11:37-47 : 37 ¶ And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. 38 And when the Pharisee saw [it], he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. 39 And the Lord said unto him, ‹Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.› 40 [Ye] ‹fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?› 41 ‹But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.› 42 ‹But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.› 43 ‹Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.› 44 ‹Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over› [them] ‹are not aware› [of them]. 45 Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also. 46 And he said, ‹Woe unto you also,› [ye] ‹lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.› 47 ‹Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.›
• Luke 11:52-54 : 52 ‹Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.› 53 And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge [him] vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: 54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
• Luke 21:36 : 36 ‹Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.›
• John 6:42-44 : 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, ‹Murmur not among yourselves.› 44 ‹No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.›
• John 8:41-48 : 41 ‹Ye do the deeds of your father.› Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, [even] God. 42 Jesus said unto them, ‹If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.› 43 ‹Why do ye not understand my speech?› [even] ‹because ye cannot hear my word.› 44 ‹Ye are of› [your] ‹father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.› 45 ‹And because I tell› [you] ‹the truth, ye believe me not.› 46 ¶ ‹Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?› 47 ‹He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear› [them] ‹not, because ye are not of God.› 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
• John 8:55 : 55 ‹Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.›
• John 9:39-41 : 39 ¶ And Jesus said, ‹For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.› 40 And [some] of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said unto them, ‹If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.›
• John 15:22-24 : 22 ‹If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.› 23 ‹He that hateth me hateth my Father also.› 24 ‹If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.›
• Acts 7:52-54 : 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept [it]. 54 ¶ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with [their] teeth.
• Rom 9:31-33 : 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
• Rom 11:5-9 : 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.