Malachi 3:16
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
Study Note
Study Note
'Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name' — the 'book of remembrance' (sefer zikaron) in response to the faithful remnant's mutual encouragement is one of the most intimate images of divine attention in the prophets. The specific content — their conversation about the Lord — is permanently registered in a heavenly record, suggesting that faithful speech in the community of believers has cosmic significance. The image enters Revelation 20:12 and 21:27 as the book of life, and has been formative in Jewish and Christian traditions of journal-keeping, testimony-sharing, and the value of gathering for mutual spiritual encouragement.
Other Translations
Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another; and Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name.
Then have those fearing Jehovah spoken one to another, And Jehovah doth attend and hear, And written is a book of memorial before Him Of those fearing Jehovah, And of those esteeming His name.
Then those in whom was the fear of the Lord had talk together: and the Lord gave ear, and it was recorded in a book to be kept in mind before him, for those who had the fear of the Lord and gave thought to his name.
Cross References
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his …
And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the Lord …
And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly:
Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord …
On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; …
So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave …