Malachi 3:2

Geneva Bible (1560)

But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall endure, when he appeareth? For he is like a purging fire, and like fullers sope.

📖 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 that third part thorowe the fire, and will fine them as the siluer is fined, and will trye them as golde is tryed: they shall call on my Name, and I will heare them: I will say, It is my people, and they shall say, The Lorde is my God.
• 1 Cor 3:13-15 : 13 Euery mans worke shalbe made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shalbe reueiled by the fire: and the fire shall trie euery mans worke of what sort it is. 14 If any mans worke, that he hath built vpon, abide, he shall receiue wages. 15 If any mans worke burne, he shall lose, but he shalbe saued himselfe: neuerthelesse yet as it were by the fire.
• Isa 4:4 : 4 When the Lord shall wash the filthines of the daughters of Zion, and purge the blood of Ierusalem out of the middes thereof by the spirite of iudgement, and by the spirit of burning.
• Rev 6:17 : 17 For the great day of his wrath is come, and who can stand?
• Ps 2:7 : 7 I will declare the decree: that is, the Lord hath said vnto me, Thou art my Sonne: this day haue I begotten thee.
• Isa 1:18 : 18 Come nowe, and let vs reason together, sayth the Lord: though your sinnes were as crimsin, they shalbe made white as snowe: though they were red like skarlet, they shalbe as wooll.
• Rev 7:14 : 14 And I saide vnto him, Lorde, thou knowest; he saide to me, These are they, which came out of great tribulation, and haue washed their long robes, and haue made their long robes white in the blood of the Lambe.
• Rev 19:8 : 8 And to her was granted, that she should be arayed with pure fine linnen and shining, for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saintes.
• Jer 2:22 : 22 Though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much sope, yet thine iniquitie is marked before me, sayeth the Lord God.
• Ezek 22:14 : 14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the dayes that I shall haue to doe with thee? I the Lorde haue spoken it, and will doe it.
• Amos 5:18-20 : 18 Woe vnto you, that desire the day of the Lord: what haue you to do with it? the day of the Lord is darkenes and not light. 19 As if a man did flee from a lyon, & a beare met him: or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Shal not the day of the Lord be darkenes, and not light? euen darkenes and no light in it?
• Heb 10:28-29 : 28 He that despiseth Moses Law, dieth without mercy vnder two, or three witnesses: 29 Of howe much sorer punishment suppose ye shall hee be worthy, which treadeth vnder foote the Sonne of God, and counteth the blood of the Testament as an vnholy thing, wherewith he was sanctified, and doeth despite the Spirit of grace?
• Heb 12:25 : 25 See that ye despise not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not which refused him, that spake on earth: much more shall we not escape, if we turne away from him, that speaketh fro heauen.
• 1 Pet 2:7-8 : 7 Vnto you therefore which beleeue, it is precious: but vnto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disalowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone to stumble at, and a rocke of offence, euen to them which stumble at the woorde, being disobedient, vnto the which thing they were euen ordeined.
• Rev 1:5-7 : 5 And from Iesus Christ, which is that faithful witnes, and that first begotten of the dead, & that Prince of the Kings of the earth, vnto him that loued vs, & washed vs from our sinnes in his blood, 6 And made vs Kings and Priests vnto God euen his Father, to him I say be glory, and dominion for euermore, Amen. 7 Beholde, he commeth with cloudes, and euery eye shall see him: yea, euen they which pearced him thorowe: and all kinreds of the earth shall waile before him, Euen 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 searche the reines and heartes: and I will giue vnto euery one of you according vnto your workes.
• Mal 4:1 : 1 For behold, the day commeth that shall burne as an ouen, and all the proude, yea, and all that doe wickedly, shall be stubble, and the day that commeth, shall burne them vp, sayeth the Lorde of hostes, and shall leaue them neither roote nor branche.
• Matt 3:7-9 : 7 Now when he sawe many of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces come to his baptisme, he said vnto them, O generations of vipers, who hath forewarned you to flee from the anger to come? 8 Bring foorth therefore fruite worthy amendement of life. 9 And thinke not to say with your selues, We haue Abraham to our father: for I say vnto you, that God is able euen of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham. 10 And now also is the axe put to the roote of the trees: therfore euery tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen downe, & cast into ye fire. 11 In deede I baptize you with water to amendement of life, but he that commeth after me, is mightier then I, whose shoes I am not worthie to beare: hee will baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire. 12 Which hath his fanne in his hand, and wil make cleane his floore, and gather his wheate into his garner, but will burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire.
• Matt 21:31-44 : 31 Whether of them twaine did the will of the father? They saide vnto him, The first. Iesus saide vnto them, Verely I say vnto you, that the Publicanes and the harlots goe before you into the kingdome of God. 32 For Iohn came vnto you in the way of righteousnes, and yee beleeued him not: but the Publicanes, and the harlots beleeued him, and ye, though ye sawe it, were not mooued with repentance afterward, that ye might beleeue him. 33 Heare another parable, There was a certaine housholder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, & made a winepresse therein, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a strange countrey. 34 And when the time of the fruite drewe neere, hee sent his seruants to the husbandmen to receiue the fruites thereof. 35 And ye husbandmen tooke his seruants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Againe hee sent other seruants, moe then the first: and they did the like vnto them. 37 But last of all he sent vnto them his owne sonne, saying, They will reuerence my sonne. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the sonne, they saide among themselues, This is the heire: come, let vs kil him, & let vs take his inheritance. 39 So they tooke him, and cast him out of the vineyarde, and slewe him. 40 When therefore the Lorde of the vineyarde shall come, what will hee doe to those husbandmen? 41 They saide vnto him, Hee will cruelly destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard vnto other husbandmen, which shall deliuer him the fruites in their seasons. 42 Iesus saide vnto them, Read ye neuer in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders refused, the same is made the head of the corner? This was the Lordes doing, and it is marueilous in our eyes. 43 Therefore say I vnto you, The kingdome of God shalbe taken from you, and shalbe giuen to a nation, which shall bring foorth the fruites thereof. 44 And whosoeuer shall fall on this stone, he shalbe broken: but on whomsoeuer it shal fall, it will dash him a pieces.
• Matt 23:13-35 : 13 Wo therefore be vnto you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites, because ye shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men: for ye your selues go not in, neither suffer ye them that would enter, to come in. 14 Wo be vnto you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye deuoure widowes houses, euen vnder a colour of long prayers: wherefore ye shall receiue the greater damnation. 15 Wo be vnto you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye compasse sea and land to make one of your profession: and when he is made, ye make him two folde more the childe of hell, then you your selues. 16 Wo be vnto you blinde guides, which say, Whosoeuer sweareth by the Temple, it is nothing: but whosoeuer sweareth by the golde of the Temple, he offendeth. 17 Ye fooles and blinde, whether is greater, the golde, or the Temple that sanctifieth the golde? 18 And whosoeuer sweareth by the altar, it is nothing: but whosoeuer sweareth by the offering that is vpon it, offendeth. 19 Ye fooles and blinde, whether is greater, the offering, or the altar which sanctifieth the offering? 20 Whosoeuer therefore sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whosoeuer sweareth by the Temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that sweareth by heauen, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23 Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye tithe mynt, & annyse, & cummyn, & leaue the weightier matters of the law, as iudgement, and mercy and fidelitie. These ought ye to haue done, and not to haue left the other. 24 Ye blinde guides, which straine out a gnat, and swallowe a camell. 25 Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye make cleane the vtter side of the cup, and of the platter: but within they are ful of briberie and excesse. 26 Thou blinde Pharise, cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be cleane also. 27 Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye are like vnto whited tombes, which appeare beautifull outward, but are within full of dead mens bones, and all filthines. 28 So are ye also: for outwarde ye appeare righteous vnto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie. 29 Wo be vnto you, Scribes & Pharises, hypocrites: for ye build the tombes of the Prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had bene in the dayes of our fathers, we would not haue bene partners with them in the blood of the Prophets. 31 So then ye be witnesses vnto your selues, that ye are the children of them that murthered the Prophets. 32 Fulfill ye also ye measure of your fathers. 33 O serpents, the generation of vipers, howe should ye escape the damnation of hell! 34 Wherefore beholde, I send vnto you Prophets, and wise men, and Scribes, and of them ye shall kill and crucifie: and of them shall ye scourge in your Synagogues, and persecute from citie to citie, 35 That vpon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed vpon the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous, vnto the blood of Zacharias the sonne of Barachias, whome ye slewe betweene the Temple and the altar.
• Matt 25:10 : 10 And while they went to bye, the bridegrome came: and they that were readie, went in with him to the wedding, and the gate was shut.
• Mark 9:3 : 3 And his rayment did shine, and was very white, as snowe, so white as no fuller can make vpon the earth.
• Luke 2:34 : 34 And Simeon blessed them, and saide vnto Mary his mother, Beholde, this childe is appointed for the fall and rising againe of many in Israel, and for a signe which shalbe spoken against,
• Luke 3:9 : 9 Nowe also is the axe layed vnto the roote of the trees: therefore euery tree which bringeth not foorth good fruite, shalbe hewen downe, and cast into the fire.
• Luke 3:17 : 17 Whose fanne is in his hande, and hee will make cleane his floore, and will gather the wheate into his garner, but the chaffe will hee burne vp with fire that neuer shalbe quenched.
• Luke 7:23 : 23 And blessed is hee, that shall not be offended in me.
• Luke 11:37-47 : 37 And as hee spake, a certaine Pharise besought him to dine with him: and hee went in, and sate downe at table. 38 And when the Pharise saw it, he marueiled that he had not first washed before dinner. 39 And the Lord saide to him, In deede yee Pharises make cleane the outside of the cuppe, and of the platter: but the inwarde part is full of rauening and wickednesse. 40 Ye fooles, did not he that made that which is without, make that which is within also? 41 Therefore, giue almes of those thinges which you haue, and beholde, all thinges shall be cleane to you. 42 But wo be to you, Pharises: for ye tithe the mynt and the rewe, and all maner herbs, and passe ouer iudgement & the loue of God: these ought yee to haue done, and not to haue left the other vndone. 43 Wo be to you, Pharises: for ye loue the vppermost seats in the Synagogues, and greetings in the markets. 44 Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye are as graues which appeare not, and the men that walke ouer them, perceiue not. 45 Then answered one of the Lawyers, and saide vnto him, Master, thus saying thou puttest vs to rebuke also. 46 And he sayde, Wo be to you also, yee Lawyers: for yee lade men with burdens grieuous to be borne, and yee your selues touche not the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Wo be to you: for ye builde the sepulchres of the Prophetes, and your fathers killed them.
• Luke 11:52-54 : 52 Wo be to you, Lawyers: for ye haue taken away the key of knowledge: ye entred not in your selues, and them that came in, ye forbade. 53 And as he sayde these things vnto them, the Scribes and Pharises began to vrge him sore, and to prouoke him to speake of many things, 54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catche some thing of his mouth, whereby they might accuse him.
• Luke 21:36 : 36 Watche therefore, and pray continually, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these thinges that shall come to passe, and that ye may stand before the Sonne of man.
• John 6:42-44 : 42 And they said, Is not this Iesus that sonne of Ioseph, whose father and mother wee knowe? Howe then sayth he, I came downe from heauen? 43 Iesus then answered, and saide vnto them, Murmure not among your selues. 44 No man can come to mee, except the Father, which hath sent mee, drawe him: and I will raise him vp at the last day.
• John 8:41-48 : 41 Ye do the workes of your father. Then said they to him, We are not borne of fornication: we haue one Father, which is God. 42 Therefore Iesus sayde vnto them, If God were your Father, then woulde ye loue mee: for I proceeded foorth, and came from God, neither came I of my selfe, but he sent me. 43 Why doe ye not vnderstande my talke? because ye cannot heare my worde. 44 Ye are of your father the deuill, and the lustes of your father ye will doe: hee hath bene a murtherer from the beginning, and abode not in the trueth, because there is no trueth in him. When hee speaketh a lie, then speaketh hee of his owne: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. 45 And because I tell you the trueth, yee beleeue me not. 46 Which of you can rebuke me of sinne? and if I say the trueth, why do ye not beleeue me? 47 He that is of God, heareth Gods wordes: yee therefore heare them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Iewes, and said vnto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritane, and hast a deuil?
• John 8:55 : 55 Yet ye haue not knowen him: but I knowe him, and if I should say I know him not, I should be a liar like vnto you: but I knowe him, and keepe his worde.
• John 9:39-41 : 39 And Iesus sayd, I am come vnto iudgement into this world, that they which see not, might see: and that they which see, might be made blinde. 40 And some of the Pharises which were with him, heard these things, & sayd vnto him, Are we blinde also? 41 Iesus sayd vnto them, If ye were blinde, ye should not haue sinne: but nowe ye say, We see: therefore your sinne remaineth.
• John 15:22-24 : 22 If I had not come and spoken vnto them, they shoulde not haue had sinne: but nowe haue they no cloke for their sinne. 23 He that hateth me, hateth my Father also. 24 If I had not done workes among them which none other man did, they had not had sinne: but nowe haue they both seene, and haue hated both me, and my Father.
• Acts 7:52-54 : 52 Which of the Prophets haue not your fathers persecuted? & they haue slaine them, which shewed before of the comming of that Iust, of whome ye are now the betrayers and murtherers, 53 Which haue receiued the Lawe by the ordinance of Angels, and haue not kept it. 54 But when they heard these thinges, their heartes brast for anger, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
• Rom 9:31-33 : 31 But Israel which followed the Lawe of righteousnes, could not arteine vnto the Law of righteousnes. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the workes of the Lawe: for they haue stumbled at the stumbling stone, 33 As it is written, Beholde, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone, and a rocke to make men fall: and euery one that beleeueth in him, shall not be ashamed.
• Rom 11:5-9 : 5 Euen so then at this present time is there a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if it be of grace, it is no more of workes: or els were grace no more grace: but if it be of workes, it is no more grace: or els were worke no more worke. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that he sought: but the election hath obteined it, and the rest haue bene hardened, 8 According as it is written, God hath giuen them the spirit of slumber: eyes that they should not see, and eares that they should not heare vnto this day. 9 And Dauid sayth, Let their table be made a snare, and a net, and a stumbling blocke, euen for a recompence vnto them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened that they see not, and bowe downe their backe alwayes.