Malachi 3:4

3:4 The offerings ¹  of Judah and Jerusalem ²  will be pleasing to the Lord as in former times and years past.

Malachi 1:4

1:4 Edom ³  says, “Though we are devastated, we will once again build the ruined places.” So the Lord who rules over all ⁴  responds, “They indeed may build, but I will overthrow. They will be known as ⁵  the land of evil, the people with whom the Lord is permanently displeased.

[3:4]  ¹ tn Or “gift.”

[3:4]  ² map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[1:4]  ³ sn Edom, a “brother” nation to Israel, became almost paradigmatic of hostility toward Israel and God (see Num 20:14-21; Deut 2:8; Jer 49:7-22; Ezek 25:12-14; Amos 1:11-12; Obad 10-12).

[1:4]  ⁴ sn The epithet Lord who rules over all occurs frequently as a divine title throughout Malachi (24 times total). This name (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, yÿhvah tsÿva’ot), traditionally translated “Lord of hosts” (so KJV, NAB, NASB; cf. NIV NLT “Lord Almighty”; NCV, CEV “Lord All-Powerful”), emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 123-57.

[1:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “and they will call them.” The third person plural subject is indefinite; one could translate, “and people will call them.”