King James Version

Malachi 3:1

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

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Hebrew

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הִנְנִ֤יhinniifהֵןparticle, demonstrative, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “if”H2005lo!; also (as expressing surprise) ifbehold, if, lo, though.שֹׁלֵחַ֙sholechasendשָׁלַחverb, qal, participle, absolute — “send”, a verb used as a describing wordH7971to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)[idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, ou…מַלְאָכִ֔יmalakhiangelמֲלְאָךְnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “angel”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4397a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)ambassador, angel, king, messenger.וּפִנָּהufinahand appearפָּנָהconjunction, verb, piel, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and appear”, a completed action in a sequenceH6437to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc.appear, at (even-) tide, behold, cast out, come on, [idiom] corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look, mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to), (re-) turn (aside, away, back, face, self), [idiom] right (early).דֶ֖רֶךְderekhalongדֶּרֶךְnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “along”, the ordinary formH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).לְפָנָ֑יlefanayto a- foreפָּנִיםpreposition, noun, common, both genders, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “to a- fore”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)[phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-…וּפִתְאֹם֩ufitomand straightwayפִּתְאוֹםconjunction, adverb — “and straightway”H6597instantlystraightway, sudden(-ly).יָב֨וֹאyavoto comeבּוֹאverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to come”, an unfinished actionH935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat,…אֶלelamongאֵלpreposition — “among”H413near, with or among; often in general, toabout, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).הֵיכָל֜וֹheykhalvopalaceהֵיכָלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “palace”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1964a large public building, such as a palace or templepalace, temple.הָאָד֣וֹןhaadonthe lordאָדוֹןdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the lord”, the ordinary formH113sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.אֲשֶׁרasherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, relative — “because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…אַתֶּ֣םatemtheeאַתָּהpronoun, personal, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “thee”H859thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youthee, thou, ye, you.מְבַקְשִׁ֗יםmevaqshimbeseechבָּקַשׁverb, piel, participle, absolute — “beseech”, a verb used as a describing wordH1245to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive afterask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).וּמַלְאַ֨ךְumalakhand angelמֲלְאָךְconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and angel”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4397a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)ambassador, angel, king, messenger.הַבְּרִ֜יתhabritthe confederacyבְּרִיתdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the confederacy”, the ordinary formH1285a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league.אֲשֶׁרasherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, relative — “because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…אַתֶּ֤םatemtheeאַתָּהpronoun, personal, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “thee”H859thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youthee, thou, ye, you.חֲפֵצִים֙chafetsimdelight inחָפֵץadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “delight in”, the ordinary formH2655pleased withdelight in, desire, favour, please, have pleasure, whosoever would, willing, wish.הִנֵּהhinehloהִנֵּהparticle, demonstrative — “lo”H2009lo!behold, lo, see.בָ֔אvato comeבּוֹאverb, qal, participle, absolute — “to come”, a verb used as a describing wordH935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat,…אָמַ֖רamarsayאָמַרverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “say”, a completed actionH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…יְהוָ֥הyehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).צְבָאֽוֹתtsevaotarmyצָבָאnoun, common, both genders, plural, absolute — “army”, the ordinary formH6635a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship)appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall clear the way before Me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to His temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in, behold, he cometh, saith the LORD of hosts.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Behold, 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.

Young’s Literal Translation

Lo, I am sending My messenger, And he hath prepared a way before Me, And suddenly come in unto his temple Doth the Lord whom ye are seeking, Even the messenger of the covenant, Whom ye are desiring, Lo, he is coming, said Jehovah of Hosts.

World English Bible

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me! The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple. Behold, the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, is coming!” says Yahweh of Armies.

Darby Translation

Behold, 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 Angel of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts.

Douay-Rheims

Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold he cometh, saith the Lord of hosts.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Behold, I send forth my messenger, and he shall survey the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come into his temple, even the angel of the covenant, whom ye take pleasure in: behold, he is coming, saith the Lord Almighty.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἰδοὺ ἐξαποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου, καὶ ἐπιβλέψεται ὁδὸν πρὸ προσώπου μου, καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἥξει εἰς τὸν ναὸν ἑαυτοῦ Κύριος, ὃν ὑμεῖς ζητεῖτε, καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος τῆς διαθήκης, ὃν ὑμεῖς θέλετε· ἰδοὺ ἔρχεται, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ,

Fulfilled in

Luke 7:27 Luke 7:27 · King James VersionThis is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.Luke 7:27 · King James VersionOpen the Source
it is written · messenger before the Lord · NT explicit, Edersheim’s rabbinic list
This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Mark 1:2 Mark 1:2 · King James VersionAs it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.Mark 1:2 · King James VersionOpen the Source
As it is written · messenger before the Lord · NT explicit, Edersheim’s rabbinic list
As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Matthew 11:10 Matthew 11:10 · King James VersionFor this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.Matthew 11:10 · King James VersionOpen the Source
it is written · messenger before the Lord · NT explicit, Edersheim’s rabbinic list
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.