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Malachi 3:4

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Malachi 3:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto Jehovah, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto Jehovah, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.
Malachi 3:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Malachi 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts.
2But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner`s fire, and like fuller`s soap:
3and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto Jehovah offerings in righteousness.
4Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto Jehovah, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.
5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner [from his right], and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts.
6For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
7From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts. But ye say, Wherein shall we return?
← Malachi 3:3Malachi 3:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, etc.] Or “sweet”f73; grateful and well pleasing to him, as all spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God through Christ, being offered up in the faith of his atoning sacrifice and righteousness, without which it is impossible to please God: as in the days of old, and as in former years: under the first temple, and when the tabernacle was set up by Moses, and in the times of the patriarchs; and even before the flood, and as early as Abel, who offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, (<581104>Hebrews 11:4-6).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“as in the days of old-- (Mal 1:11; Mal 2:5-6). The "offering" (Mincha, Hebrew) is not expiatory, but prayer, thanksgiving, and self-dedication (Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15; Pe1 2:5).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Then (And) shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem - The “law,” the new revelation of God, was to Isaiah 2:3. “go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Judah and Jerusalem then are here the Christian Church. “They shall be, pleasant (literally sweet) unto the Lord.” It is a reversal (using the self-same word) of what God had said of them in the time of their religious decay Hosea 9:4. “they shall not offer wine-offerings to the Lord, neither shall they be sweet unto Him; Jeremiah 6:20. your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto Me.” As in the days of old - , before the days of degeneracy; as it stands in the ancient Liturgies “Vouchsafe to…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The offerings - The services and duties of the whole Christian church. Pleasant - Well pleasing to him. Malachi 3:5”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the offering: Isa 1:26, Isa 1:27, Isa 56:7; Jer 30:18-20, Jer 31:23, Jer 31:24; Eze 20:40, Eze 20:41, Eze 43:26, Eze 43:27; Zac 8:3, Zac 14:20, Zac 14:21 as: Ch1 15:26, Ch1 16:1-3, Ch1 21:26, Ch1 29:20-22; Ch2 1:6, Ch2 7:1-3, Ch2 7:10-12; Ch2 8:12-14, Ch2 29:31-36, Ch2 30:21-27, Ch2 31:20, Ch2 31:21; Jer 2:2, Jer 2:3 former: or, ancient Malachi 3:5”
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Related study paths

Read Malachi 3 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification