Malachi 4:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."

NIV: He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction."

NASB: He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete destruction.'

CSB: And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse."

NLT: His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.'

KJV: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

NKJV: And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Revelation 11:1–13 describes an event, during the end times, when two witnesses will preach against Antichrist, and this will cause many people to repent. Malachi 4:5 predicted the eventual return of Elijah, which Christians typically interpret as a separate instance from the messenger predicted in Malachi 3:1. Jesus, speaking after the death of John the Baptist, said that Elijah was yet to come (Matthew 17:11). So, many people believe that these two witnesses will be Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1–3). However, they might not be specifically connected to this particular prophecy, and John the Baptist might well have been the complete fulfillment of this prediction.

The ending phrase of this verse is either translated as "curse," or "destruction." This is an incredibly potent Hebrew word: he'rem. This is the term used in Joshua 6:17–18 to describe God's decree for the complete and utter annihilation of Jericho. Cities or people under he'rem, or "the ban," or "the curse," were those assigned to total destruction, with nothing to be spared, captured, or kept. The same term, with the same meaning, is used in 1 Samuel chapter 15 in reference to the Amalekites.

Both in Hebrew and in English, "he'rem / curse / destruction" is the final word in this verse. And so, the very last word of the Old Testament is a warning about utter and total obliteration. The same destruction God reserved for a very few rare instances in history is now looming over Israel's head. The dire consequences of ignoring God, paired with a promise of His mercy, is God's sign off for the entire Hebrew Scriptures.

That the words of verses 4, 5, and 6 are the last prophetic message given to Israel makes them especially poignant. God would not send a prophet again until John the Baptist, some four centuries later. This message is also a foreshadowing of the structure of the New Testament. The last message of the Old Testament ends with a warning about an impending day of judgment. Likewise, Revelation, the last message of the New Testament, is about the end times and God's time of ultimate reckoning.

Malachi chapter 4 is very short, and serves only to finish off the thoughts begun in chapter 3. The impending judgment of God is described in vivid terms. Those who dishonor God will be consumed in a furnace of judgment. Those who respect Him will be healed and set free. Malachi appeals, on behalf of God, for Israel to be faithful to the covenant God made with Moses. After promising the return of Elijah, to once again appeal to the people, God will be silent for four hundred years. This silence will not be broken until the appearance of John the Baptist.

Malachi's structure is a series of back-and-forth waves. Fittingly, this short chapter brings the entire book of prophecy full circle. The opening verses described the utter destruction of Edom. Chapter 4 warns of a judgment coming in ''the day'' of the Lord, in the end times. This completes the various cycles contained in Malachi. It also marks the conclusion to the Old Testament. There will be no further words from God for four centuries, when John the Baptist announces the arrival of the Messiah.

Malachi is the last message of prophecy given to Israel prior to 400 years of silence. Israel has rebuilt the temple, following the invasions of Babylon, but they are still under foreign oppression. Israel's spiritual condition, however, is dire. Hosea depicted Israel as prone to failure, but repentant. Later, Ezekiel exposed Israel's blatant disobedience. By the time of Malachi, Israel has passed into numbness and apathy. Unlike other Old Testament prophets, Malachi takes the form of a dialogue, where Israel responds to accusations as if unaware that they've occurred. The next prophetic voice from God would not come until the ministry of John the Baptist.