Malachi 3 7

Malachi 3:7 kjv

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Malachi 3:7 nkjv

Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the LORD of hosts. "But you said, 'In what way shall we return?'

Malachi 3:7 niv

Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'

Malachi 3:7 esv

From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?'

Malachi 3:7 nlt

Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "But you ask, 'How can we return when we have never gone away?'

Malachi 3 verses

Malachi 3 7 Meaning

From ancient days you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, "How shall we return?"

Malachi 3 7 Context

This verse is part of a chastisement and exhortation given by the prophet Malachi to the post-exilic Jewish community in Jerusalem. The people have returned from Babylonian exile, but they have failed to uphold their covenant responsibilities, particularly in their worship and in their treatment of the vulnerable. They have become complacent and are not giving God His due. The specific context here is God calling His people back to faithfulness, reminding them of their ancestral sin of turning away from His statutes and commandments. This spiritual drift has led to curses and a perceived lack of God's blessing. Malachi is speaking on behalf of God to correct this unfaithfulness and to offer a conditional promise of restoration if they repent and return to Him.

Malachi 3 7 Word Analysis

• "From" (מִן - min): Signifies origin or cause. It emphasizes the historical departure from obedience.
• "Ancient days" (יָמִים – yamim, קֶדֶם – qedem): Yamim refers to "days" or "times," indicating a significant duration. Qedem denotes "ancient times," "before," or "east," implying a remote past, a beginning point, or a settled way. The combination stresses a long-standing apostasy.
• "You" (אַתֶּם – attem): Plural pronoun, directly addressing the community, not just individuals.
• "Have turned aside" (סַרְתֶּם – sartem): From the root סוּר (sur), meaning "to turn aside," "to depart," "to leave." It denotes a deliberate deviation from the path of obedience and God's statutes.
• "From My statutes" (חֻקּוֹתַי – huqotai): Huqot is the plural of huqqah, meaning "statute," "ordinance," "custom," or "law." -ai signifies "My." It refers to the established laws and ordinances given by God, which they had forsaken.
• "And" (וְ – we): A conjunction linking the clauses.
• "Have not kept them" (לֹא שְׁמַרְתֶּם – lo shemartem): Lo is the negative particle "not." Shamar means "to guard," "to keep," "to preserve," "to observe." It highlights their failure in diligent adherence and practice of God's laws.
• "Return" (שׁוּבוּ – shuvu): Imperative form of the verb שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn back," "to return." This is a direct command and invitation to repent and restore their relationship with God.
• "To Me" (אֵלַי – elai): To Me. A direct object pronoun specifying the direction of their return – back to God Himself.
• "And I" (וַאֲנִי – wa'ani): And I. God explicitly states His own action following their return.
• "Will return" (אָשׁוּב – ashuv): First-person singular imperfect verb from שׁוּב (shuv). This is a promise of reciprocal action – God will draw near or restore favor to them.
• "To you" (אֲלֵיכֶם – aleikhem): To you (plural). A promise directed back to the community.
• "Says" (נְאֻם – neum): A formula often used by prophets to introduce God's words, meaning "utterance" or "oracle."
• "The LORD of hosts" (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת – Yehovah Tzva’ot): The name signifies God as the commander of heavenly armies, emphasizing His sovereignty, power, and authority.
• "But" (וְ – we): Conjunction introducing a contrast.
• "You say" (אֹמְרִים – omrim): Present participle, "you are saying," indicating their current attitude of questioning and disbelief.
• "How" (בַּמֶּה – bammah): "In what," "wherewith," "how." This word expresses their doubt or their inability to comprehend the practical steps of returning.
• "Shall we return?" (נָשׁוּב – nashuv): First-person plural imperfect from שׁוּב (shuv), mirroring God’s promise with a question of how to practically achieve it.

Word Groups:

• "From ancient days you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them": This phrase captures a history of disobedience, a departure from the divinely ordained path. It's not a new failing but a long-standing pattern of not guarding or observing God’s laws.
• "Return to Me, and I will return to you": This is a powerful statement of covenant reciprocity. God’s favor and presence are conditional on their renewed faithfulness. It is a core principle of the Israelite covenant relationship.
• "But you say, 'How shall we return?'": This question reveals a disconnect. They acknowledge a need to return but are either ignorant of the way or, more likely, are questioning the feasibility or nature of such a return due to their deep-seated apostasy.

Malachi 3 7 Bonus Section

The Hebrew verb שׁוּב (shuv), "to return," appears prominently in this verse, used by God and then questioned by the people. This emphasis on "returning" highlights repentance not just as a change of mind but as a physical, directional change in behavior and loyalty. The concept of "turning back" is central to prophetic calls throughout the Old Testament and is echoed in the New Testament by Jesus' own command to repent (Mark 1:15). The people's question implies a desensitization to their sin and a lack of understanding about how to break free from their ingrained disobedience, pointing to a potential need for God to stir their hearts and reveal the path. The phrase "LORD of hosts" (Yehovah Tzva’ot) reinforces God's power to both judge apostasy and restore faithfulness.

Malachi 3 7 Commentary

This verse presents a fundamental truth about the covenant relationship between God and His people. God's grace is evident in His initiating call to return. He has not abandoned them, despite their prolonged disobedience spanning generations. The offense was not a single lapse but a consistent rejection of God's standards ("statutes" and "not kept them"). Their return is framed as a deliberate choice—a turning back. God’s promise, "I will return to you," is profoundly significant. It signifies God restoring His presence, favor, and blessings. This is not automatic but is contingent upon their action. The people's question, "How shall we return?", reveals their spiritual state. They are so far removed that the path back is unclear, suggesting a need for divine enablement or a clarification of what return entails. It points to a deep spiritual malaise where even the way to repentance seems obscure.

• Practical Application: True return involves more than just an intellectual acknowledgment of sin; it requires a tangible turning from sinful practices back to obedience. This could involve correcting worship, living justly, and upholding the covenant. When individuals or communities sincerely turn back to God, they can expect a renewed experience of His presence and favor, mirroring His promise to draw near to them.