Malachi 3 4

Malachi 3:4 kjv

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

Malachi 3:4 nkjv

"Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years.

Malachi 3:4 niv

and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

Malachi 3:4 esv

Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

Malachi 3:4 nlt

Then once more the LORD will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past.

Malachi 3 verses

Malachi 3 4 Meaning

The verse declares that in the future, when God’s appointed time arrives, Judah and Jerusalem will offer righteous sacrifices. These offerings will be pleasing to the Lord, just as they were in ancient times. This future time signifies a restoration of true worship and a renewed covenant relationship with God.

Malachi 3 4 Context

Malachi 3:4 is situated in the concluding chapters of the Old Testament. Following the Babylonian exile, the people of Judah returned to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the temple and resuming worship. However, their worship had become perfunctory, marked by corrupted sacrifices, dishonesty, and a general disregard for God's commands. The people had grown complacent and were offering blemished or stolen animals. The prophet Malachi was sent to address this spiritual decline, calling the people back to sincere obedience and worship. This verse specifically points to a future restoration where their offerings will once again be acceptable to God.

Malachi 3 4 Word Analysis

• "Then": (Hebrew: וְאַחַר־ כֵּן – wə’aḥar-kēn). Indicates a sequence of events, linking this future worship to God's purification of the Levites mentioned in the preceding verses. It signifies a turning point after judgment and purification.

• "the offering": (Hebrew: מִנְחַת – minḥat). This term broadly refers to an offering, often a grain or food offering, but can also encompass other sacrifices. It implies an act of bringing something to God as a tribute and an expression of submission and devotion.

• "of Judah": (Hebrew: יְהוּדָה – Yəhûḏāh). Refers to the tribe and territory of Judah, which was the dominant remnant of Israel after the northern kingdom's fall. It also implicitly includes Jerusalem as its capital.

• "and Jerusalem": (Hebrew: וִירוּשָׁלַ͏ִם – wîrûšāl͏aiim). The holy city, the center of worship and Davidic kingship. The inclusion signifies the unified worship of God’s people in their appointed place.

• "shall be": (Hebrew: תִּהְיֶה – tihyeh). Future tense, signifying a promised future state of acceptability.

• "pleasing": (Hebrew: נִרְצָה – nirṣāh). A passive verb, meaning "to be accepted," "to be favored," or "to be found desirable." It signifies that the offerings will meet God’s standards.

• "to the LORD": (Hebrew: לַיהוָה – lāYHWH). The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with His people and His faithfulness to His promises.

• "as in the days of old": (Hebrew: כִּימֵי־ קֶדֶם – kîmê-qedem). This phrase recalls a golden era of worship, likely referring to the time of Solomon's dedication of the first temple when God's acceptance was demonstrably manifest (2 Chron. 7:1-3). It points to a restored, pristine state of worship.

• "and as in former years": (Hebrew: וּכְשָׁנִים – ûḵəšānîm). Reinforces the idea of a return to established, righteous practice. It emphasizes the normative expectation of acceptable worship.

• Group Analysis: "offering of Judah and Jerusalem": This phrase signifies a communal and geographically centered worship, highlighting that acceptable worship involves the entire community and its leadership in its designated holy city.

• Group Analysis: "pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years": This group of words underscores the quality and nature of the expected future worship, contrasting it sharply with the corrupted practices of Malachi's day. It emphasizes God's standards for holiness and sincerity in sacrifice.

Malachi 3 4 Bonus Section

The idea of God’s acceptance of sacrifices was always tied to the condition of the worshipper’s heart and adherence to God’s covenant. Malachi's contemporary audience had a transactional view of worship, thinking mere ritual was enough. This verse serves as a corrective, reminding them that God desires righteousness and sincerity, not just empty ceremonies. The promise of future acceptance by God is a core theme throughout Scripture, affirming His faithfulness to His people and His ultimate plan for reconciliation and perfected worship, centered on the Messiah.

Malachi 3 4 Commentary

This verse anticipates a future period of perfected worship after a period of divine judgment and cleansing. It contrasts with the present state where the Israelites were offering impure sacrifices, displeasing God. The prophecy points towards a time when God's covenant people, both from the lineage of Judah and residing in Jerusalem, would bring offerings that align with divine standards. This is not merely a return to the Mosaic sacrificial system's rituals but speaks of a deeper reality. The concept of "days of old" and "former years" evokes an ideal past, suggesting a restored pristine worship. This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. In Him, believers become spiritual priests (1 Peter 2:5), offering "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1) – their whole lives dedicated to God. The sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) and worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23) are the expressions of this new reality, pleasing to God through Christ's finished work. The verse, therefore, serves as a bridge between the physical sacrificial system of the Old Testament and the spiritual worship of the New Testament era.