Malachi 3:1 kjv
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:1 nkjv
"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:1 niv
"I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:1 esv
"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:1 nlt
"Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.
Malachi 3 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Malachi 3:1 | Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. | Prophecy of preparation |
| Isaiah 40:3 | A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD... | Prophecy of John the Baptist |
| Mark 1:2-3 | "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way—" | Fulfillment (Jesus) |
| Luke 1:76 | And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High... prepare his ways | John the Baptist’s role |
| John 1:23 | John replied, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness..." | John identifies himself |
| Matthew 3:3 | For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah... | Isaiah’s prophecy linked |
| Exodus 19:11 | Have them be ready by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down... | Lord's coming to Sinai |
| Isaiah 6:1 | In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted... | Divine presence |
| Zechariah 2:7 | "Come! Flee from Babylon, Zion!..." for I will expand my hands, and they will... | Zion’s deliverance |
| Revelation 1:10 | On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit... | Lord’s day and presence |
| Malachi 4:5 | See, I will send you the prophet Elijah... | Elijah precursor |
| Matthew 11:14 | And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. | Elijah identification |
| Luke 1:17 | He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah... | Elijah’s spirit |
| Isaiah 56:7 | ...my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. | Temple’s purpose |
| 1 Kings 8:10-11 | The priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud... | God’s presence in temple |
| Psalm 24:7-10 | Lift up your heads, you gates... | Messianic kingship |
| Hebrews 1:3 | ...carried all things by his powerful word. | Son’s role |
| John 2:19-21 | Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it again. | Jesus’ temple body |
| Revelation 21:22 | I did not see a temple in the city, because its temple is the Lord God... | New Jerusalem’s temple |
| Matthew 21:12-13 | Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out... | Cleansing the temple |
| 1 Corinthians 6:19 | Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit...? | Believers as temples |
| Haggai 2:6-7 | "...in a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth..." | Future shaking |
Malachi 3 verses
Malachi 3 1 Meaning
This verse announces the imminent arrival of a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord's presence. It signifies a time of judgment and purification. The Lord Himself will suddenly appear in His temple.
Malachi 3 1 Context
This verse opens Malachi's prophecy concerning God's judgment and the coming of the Messiah. The people of Judah had grown complacent, offering blemished sacrifices and neglecting their covenant. Malachi speaks as God's messenger to a people who needed a radical awakening. The historical context is post-exilic Judah, a period marked by rebuilding but also spiritual decline. This prophecy directly challenges their flawed worship and assures them of God's imminent, powerful intervention to cleanse and rectify His relationship with them.
Malachi 3 1 Word Analysis
Behold (הִנֵּה - hinnēh): An interjection commanding attention. It signals an imminent and significant event, drawing the listener into the narrative.
I (אָנֹכִי - anōḵî): The first-person singular pronoun, emphasizing that God Himself is the speaker.
will send (שָׁלַחְתִּי - shālāḥtî): Perfect tense, indicating a completed action that God has decreed or will assuredly bring about.
my (מִשְׁלַחְתִּי - mîshlāḥtî): Possessive pronoun showing ownership and direct divine commission.
messenger (מַלְאָךְ - malʾāḵ): Hebrew for messenger, often referring to a heavenly being, a human envoy, or even an angel. Here, it points to a specific individual preceding the Lord.
and (וְ - wə): A conjunction linking the sending of the messenger to his task.
he (הוּא - hûʾ): Pronoun referring to the messenger.
shall prepare (וְפִנָּה - wəphināh): Verb indicating to clear away, make smooth, or prepare. It implies making a path or removing obstacles.
the way (דֶּרֶךְ - dereḵ): A path or road, metaphorically representing the means by which access is gained.
before (לִפְנֵי - lifnê): Preposition indicating "in front of" or "in the presence of."
me (פָּנַי - pānai): Refers back to God, the Lord, emphasizing that the preparation is for His arrival.
my messenger, and he shall prepare the way: This phrase highlights the divine agency in paving the path for the Lord's coming. The messenger's role is active and purposeful.
prepare the way before me: This imagery draws from ancient customs of preparing roads for kings or divine visitations.
Malachi 3 1 Bonus Section
The dual coming predicted here—a messenger preparing the way and then the Lord Himself appearing—is a key aspect of biblical prophecy. While many scholars connect the "messenger" directly to John the Baptist and the "Lord" to Jesus Christ, the initial appearance in the temple also alludes to the Lord's symbolic presence with His people and the ultimate purification of the heavenly temple. The concept of "preparing the way" was deeply understood in the ancient Near East, where roads were cleared and made ready for royal processions or visits by deities. This earthly context amplifies the significance of God's promise to actively clear a path for Himself among His people. The prophecy lays a foundation for understanding the relational dynamics between God and humanity, emphasizing His active engagement in salvation and judgment.
Malachi 3 1 Commentary
Malachi 3:1 announces a pivotal moment in salvation history. It foretells the coming of a forerunner, most directly understood as John the Baptist, who would herald the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Lord Himself, who would then visit His temple. The verse speaks of divine initiative; God ordains and sends His own herald. The preparation of the way signifies a clearing and opening, a making ready for a glorious, yet also solemn, appearance of the Divine presence in a physical manifestation on Earth. This visitation, however, would also involve judgment and purification, a theme powerfully continued in the following verses of Malachi.