translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: MAL

label: NET translator note

text: In Hebrew the phrase “my messenger” is מַלְאָכִי ( mal ’ akhi ), the same form as the prophet’s name (see note on the name “Malachi” in 1:1 ). However, here the messenger appears to be an eschatological figure who is about to appear, as the following context suggests. According to 4:5 , this messenger is “Elijah the prophet,” whom the NT identifies as John the Baptist ( Matt 11:10 ; Mark 1:2 ) because he came in the “spirit and power” of Elijah ( Matt 11:14; 17:11-12 ; Lk 1:17 ).


text: Here the Hebrew term הָאָדוֹן ( ha ’ adon ) is used, not יְהוָה ( yÿhvah , typically rendered Lord ). Thus the focus is not on the Lord as the covenant God, but on his role as master.


text: Or “gift.”


text: For location see Map5-B1 ; Map6-F3 ; Map7-E2 ; Map8-F2 ; Map10-B3 ; JP1-F4 ; JP2-F4 ; JP3-F4 ; JP4-F4 .


text: The first person pronoun (a reference to the Lord ) indicates that the Lord himself now speaks (see also v. 1 ). The prophet speaks in vv. 2-4 (see also 2:17 ).


text: Heb “those who swear [oaths] falsely.” Cf. NIV “perjurers”; TEV “those who give false testimony”; NLT “liars.”


text: Heb “and against the oppressors of the worker for a wage, [the] widow and orphan.”


text: Heb “those who turn aside.”


text: Or “resident foreigner”; NIV “aliens”; NRSV “the alien.”


text: Heb “do not change.” This refers to God’s ongoing commitment to his covenant promises to Israel.


text: Heb “turned aside from.”


text: Or “statutes” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV); NIV “decrees”; NLT “laws.”


label: NET textual note

text: The LXX presupposes an underlying Hebrew text of עָקַב (’ aqav , “deceive”), a metathesis of קָבַע ( qava ’, “rob”), in all four uses of the verb here (vv. 8-9 ). The intent probably is to soften the impact of “robbing” God, but the language of the passage is intentionally bold and there is no reason to go against the reading of the MT (which is followed here by most English versions).


text: Heb “cursed with a curse” that is, “under a curse” (so NIV, NLT, CEV).


text: The phrase “is guilty” is not present in the Hebrew text but is implied, and has been supplied in the translation for clarification and stylistic reasons.


text: The Hebrew phrase בֵּית הָאוֹצָר ( bet ha ’ otsar , here translated “storehouse”) refers to a kind of temple warehouse described more fully in Nehemiah (where the term לִשְׁכָּה גְדוֹלָה [ lishkah gÿdolah , “great chamber”] is used) as a place for storing grain, frankincense, temple vessels, wine, and oil ( Neh 13:5 ). Cf. TEV “to the Temple.”


text: Heb “the eater” ( אֹכֵל , ’ okhel ), a general term for any kind of threat to crops and livelihood. This is understood as a reference to a locust plague by a number of English versions: NAB, NRSV “the locust”; NIV “pests”; NCV, TEV “insects.”


text: Heb “and I will rebuke for you the eater and it will not ruin for you the fruit of the ground.”


text: Heb “will be” (so NAB, NRSV); TEV “your land will be a good place to live in.”


text: Heb “your words are hard [or “strong”] against me”; cf. NIV “said harsh things against me”; TEV, NLT “said terrible things about me.”


text: Heb “What [is the] profit”; NIV “What did we gain.”


text: Heb “built up” (so NASB); NIV, NRSV “prosper”; NLT “get rich.”


text: Or “test”; NRSV, CEV “put God to the test.”


text: Or “fear” (so NAB); NRSV “revered”; NCV “honored.”


text: Heb “heard and listened”; NAB “listened attentively.”


text: Heb “you will see between.” Cf. NRSV, TEV, NLT “see the difference.”