Malachi 3:16

Malachi 3:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.

Context of Malachi 3:16

14You have said, “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping his requirements and walking mournfully before the Lord of Armies? 15So now we consider the arrogant to be fortunate. Not only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God and escape.” At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the Lord and had high regard for his name. 17“They will be mine,” says the Lord of Armies, “my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. 18So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Malachi 3:16 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then they that fearedיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• spake oftenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• to anotherרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• hearkenedקָשַׁבqâshab · to listenH7181
• and heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• and a bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
• of remembranceזִכָּרוֹןzikrôn · memorialH2146
• was writtenכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• and that thoughtחָשַׁבchâshab · to devise: countH2803
• upon his nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034

Cross-references for Malachi 3:16

• Malachi 3:5“I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the hired worker, the widow, and the fatherless; and against those who deny justice to the resident alien. They do not fear me,” says the Lord of Armies.
• Malachi 4:2But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.
• Genesis 22:12Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”
• 1 Kings 18:3Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Obadiah was a man who greatly feared the Lord
• Job 28:28He said to mankind, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.”
• Psalms 33:18But look, the Lord keeps his eye on those who fear him — those who depend on his faithful love
• Psalms 111:10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his instructions have good insight. His praise endures forever.
• Psalms 112:1Hallelujah! Happy is the person who fears the Lord, taking great delight in his commands.
• Psalms 147:11The Lord values those who fear him, those who put their hope in his faithful love.
• Isaiah 50:10Who among you fears the Lord and listens to his servant? Who among you walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord; let him lean on his God.
• Acts 9:31So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
• Acts 10:2He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.
• Revelation 15:4Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you because your righteous acts have been revealed.
• Deuteronomy 6:6These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.
• 1 Samuel 23:16Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God,
• Esther 4:5Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who attended her, and dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what he was doing and why.

Commentaries on Malachi 3:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16They that feared the Lord - There were a few godly in the land, who, hearing the language and seeing the profligacy of the rebels above, concluded that some signal mark of God's vengeance must fall upon them; they, therefore, as the corruption increased, cleaved the closer to their Maker. There are three characteristics given of this people, viz.: - They feared the Lord. They had that reverence for Jehovah that caused them to depart from evil, and to keep…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Then they that feared the Lord spake often among themselves - The proud-speaking of the ungodly called out the piety of the God-fearing. “The more the ungodly spake against God, the more these spake among themselves for God.” Both went on until the Great Day of severance. True, as those said, the distinction between righteous and wicked was not made yet, but it was stored up out of sight. They “spake among themselves,” strengthening each other against the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-18Verses 13-18 Among the Jews at this time, some plainly discovered themselves to be children of the wicked one. The yoke of Christ is easy. But those who work wickedness, tempt God by presumptuous sins. Judge of things as they will appear when the doom of these proud sinners comes to be executed. Those that feared the Lord, spake kindly, for preserving and promoting mutual love, when sin thus abounded. They spake one to another, in the language of those…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16A scroll of remembrance was a written record of names and events connected to those people. This practice was common in the Persian world. The text does not say how many people were written in the scroll. those who feared the LORD: These people were loyal to the Lord as God, followed God's commands, and acted righteously in conduct and worship.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1813-18. He notices the complaint of the Jews that it is of no profit to serve Jehovah, for that the ungodly proud are happy; and declares He will soon bring the day when it shall be known that He puts an everlasting distinction between the godly and the ungodly. words ... stout--Hebrew, "hard"; so "the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him" (Jude 15) [Henderson]. have we spoken--The Hebrew expresses at once their assiduity and habit…Read the comment

Topics related to Malachi 3:16

• Book
• Character
• Communion
• Fear of God
• Fellowship
• God Continued...
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• Book of Remembrance
• Change
• Fellowship
• Mournfully
• Prove
• Rob
• Joel (2)
• Malachi
• Omniscience
• Vulgate

Commentaries on Malachi 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings