Malachi 3 15

Malachi 3:15 kjv

And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

Malachi 3:15 nkjv

So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are raised up; They even tempt God and go free.' "

Malachi 3:15 niv

But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.'?"

Malachi 3:15 esv

And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.'"

Malachi 3:15 nlt

From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.'"

Malachi 3 verses

Malachi 3 15 Meaning

Malachi 3:15 captures the cynical complaint of a disheartened portion of Israel during the post-exilic period. They observed that those who acted arrogantly against God and habitually practiced wickedness not only seemed to prosper materially but also openly challenged God's authority without facing immediate divine judgment or consequence. This verse articulates their frustration, essentially saying that the ungodly are perceived as fortunate and immune to divine retribution, causing them to question the value of serving God.

Malachi 3 15 Context

Malachi prophesied during the post-exilic period, likely around the mid-5th century BCE, after the return of the exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. The initial fervor had faded, and the community faced severe spiritual and moral decline. The people were disillusioned and weary, questioning God’s love and justice, and neglecting their religious duties (like tithes and offerings). Priestly corruption, lax observance of the law, easy divorce, and intermarriage were prevalent issues.

Malachi 3:15 specifically appears within a segment (3:13-18) where the Lord confronts the people's "harsh words" against Him. This verse represents the climax of their accusation: "What gain is it for us that we have kept his charge... and walked as mourners before the LORD of hosts?" (3:14). They feel their faithful adherence to God has brought no reward, while the arrogant, those who actively defy God and commit wicked acts, apparently thrive without consequence. This lament reflects a deep-seated spiritual crisis and a misunderstanding of God's timing and justice, stemming from their limited temporal perspective on blessings and judgment.

Malachi 3 15 Word analysis

• And now (וְעַתָּה, vĕʻattah): This phrase acts as a connective, signifying a conclusion drawn from their previous statements about the futility of serving God (v. 14). It introduces their core observation and complaint.
• we call (קָרָאנוּ, qārāʾnû): From the verb קָרָא (qārāʾ), meaning "to call, to name, to proclaim." This indicates an active declaration, not merely a private thought. They are publicly asserting their belief that the arrogant are blessed, contrasting sharply with their own perceived unblessed state.
• the arrogant/proud (הַזֵּדִים, hazzēḏîm): Refers to those who are presumptuous, defiant, or insolent towards God and His commands. The root suggests boiling over or acting defiantly. These are not merely sinners by weakness but those who rebel with intentional boldness.
• blessed (אִשָּׁרוּ, ʾishshuʾrû): From the root אָשַׁר (ʾāshar), meaning "to declare fortunate or happy." The people perceive these defiant individuals as thriving, successful, and enjoying prosperity, contrary to the expectation that God would punish them. This is the opposite of the true blessedness God offers, based on righteousness.
• not only are the doers of wickedness (גַם־עֹשֵׂי רִשְׁעָה, gam-ʿōsēy rishʿāh): Literally "also the doers of wickedness." It adds another layer to their complaint. These are not just arrogant in attitude, but they habitually do evil things (rishʿāh refers to wickedness, iniquity, guilt). Their actions are consistent with their defiance.
• prospering (נִבְנוּ, nivnû): From the verb בָּנָה (bānāh), meaning "to build, establish, cause to prosper." The niphal form nivnu can mean "are built up," signifying being established, having secure lives, experiencing material success, having a stable household or lineage, or flourishing. This is the core of their perceived inequality: the wicked are "built up" by God's allowance, enjoying temporal success.
• but they also test God (וְגַם־בָּחֲנוּ אֱלֹהִים, wĕḡam-bāḥănû ʾĕlōhîm): The word בָּחַן (bāḥan) means "to test, prove, examine." In this context, it implies a defiant challenge or skeptical questioning of God's power, justice, or presence, often through deliberate transgression, seeing how far they can push without immediate consequence. This stands in stark contrast to Malachi 3:10, where God invites His people to test Him with tithes, promising blessing. The wicked, however, test Him in defiance.
• and escape (וַיִּמָּלֵטוּ, wayyimmālēṭū): From the verb מָלַט (mālaṭ), meaning "to escape, slip away, be delivered." This emphasizes their perceived immunity from the natural or divine consequences of their wickedness and defiance. They commit grievous acts, challenge God directly, yet seem to suffer no adverse effects, reinforcing the people's cynical view.

Malachi 3 15 Bonus section

The complaint in Malachi 3:15 highlights a common human tendency to judge God's justice based solely on present, visible circumstances and a materialistic view of "blessedness." It serves as a potent reminder that divine timing and the definition of true well-being often transcend human comprehension and immediate gratification. The verse sets the stage for God's crucial distinction in Malachi 3:16-18, where He affirms that He meticulously records and remembers the faithfulness of those who truly revere Him, promising them His special possession and ultimately distinguishing them from those who challenge Him. This theological tension (present injustice vs. future divine justice) is a recurrent theme throughout biblical theology, affirming God's ultimate sovereignty and His eventual, undeniable intervention.

Malachi 3 15 Commentary

Malachi 3:15 captures a profound and universal human dilemma: the apparent prosperity of the wicked in contrast to the struggles of those who seek to follow God. The people of Judah were articulating a deeply cynical view of divine justice, essentially declaring that there was no advantage to godliness. Their observations led them to a bitter conclusion: not only are the defiant considered blessed, but the actual practitioners of evil deeds thrive, daring to challenge God with their lives and actions, and remarkably, escaping any perceptible punishment. This verse is the culmination of their spiritual despondency, mirroring sentiments found in Job, Psalm 73, and Jeremiah 12.

The core of their complaint lies in a misunderstanding of God's patience, His timing, and the true nature of blessedness. They operated on a principle of immediate temporal retribution and reward, where obedience should instantly yield prosperity and sin should instantly incur punishment. When this didn't visibly occur, especially when the "ungodly" seemed to flourish, their faith faltered. Malachi's God is presented here as patient, not indifferent, but His patience is misconstrued as weakness or absence. The phrase "test God and escape" reveals a profound defiance and an experimental approach to sin, observing if God truly acts on His threats. This is an arrogant challenge to divine sovereignty.

The entire book of Malachi (and subsequent Scriptures) refutes this cynical viewpoint. Malachi 3:16-18 provides the direct divine response, emphasizing that God does take note of those who fear Him, distinguishing them, and promising a future day of judgment and vindication when the ultimate difference between the righteous and the wicked will be made manifest. True blessedness is not earthly prosperity but a secure relationship with God, promised ultimate vindication, and eternal joy, as contrasted with the temporary and fleeting success of the wicked who face inevitable judgment.