Malachi 3:2

“And who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the fire of a refiner and like the lye of launderers.”
Malachi 3:2 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

And whoוּמִיcan endureמְכַלְכֵּלthe dayיוֹםof his coming?בּוֹאוֹAnd whoוּמִיcan standהָעֹמֵדwhen he appears?בְּהֵרָאוֹתוֹForכִּיheהוּאis like the fireכְּאֵשׁof a refinerמְצָרֵףand like the lyeוּכְבֹרִיתof launderers.מְכַבְּסִים

Allusion · Revelation 6:17

Go to Revelation 6:17

Both texts ask who will be able to stand on the day of his coming.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

בּוֹאboH935ἦλθενēlthenG2064“come, enter, arrive”
יוֹםyomH3117ἡμέραhēmeraG2250“day”
עֹמֵדomedH5975σταθῆναιstathēnaiG2476“stand, remain”

Malachi 3:2, word by word

can endureמְכַלְכֵּלmechalkel

hold

To hold, or endure something.

Where else “mechalkel” appears

the dayיוֹםyom

day of YHWH

"The day of YHWH", when he comes to judge.

Where else “yom” appears

of his comingבּוֹאbo

come

To come, arrive: "days are coming".

Where else “bo” appears

can standעֹמֵדomed

stand

To be on one's feet, firm in a place, or to rise up to act.

Where else “omed” appears

when he appearsהֵרָאוֹתheraot

appear

To let oneself be seen: YHWH let Abram see him.

Where else “heraot” appears

is like the fireאֵשׁesh

fire

Fire that burns or cooks.

Where else “esh” appears

of a refinerמְצָרֵףmetsaref

test

To test people as silver is purified.

Where else “metsaref” appears

and like the lyeבֹרִיתvorit

soap

Lye, soap made from the ashes of plants.

Where else “vorit” appears

of launderersמְכַבְּסִיםmechabsim

launderer

The one who makes a living washing and bleaching cloth and clothes.

Where else “mechabsim” appears

The context

1Look, I am sending my messenger, and he will clear the way before me; and suddenly the Lord whom you seek will come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Look, he is coming, says YHWH Tsevaot.

2 · This verse (above)

3And he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he will purify the sons of Levi and purge them like gold and like silver, and they will be for YHWH those who offer an offering in righteousness.

Read all of Malachi 3

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