Malachi 4:1
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Study Note
Study Note
The penultimate oracle of Malachi — and of the entire Hebrew prophetic canon in most canonical orderings — describes the coming Day of the LORD as an oven in which the arrogant and evildoers will be consumed as stubble. The severity of the judgment image (no root or branch remaining) contrasts sharply with the healing sunrise of verse 2, creating the binary that characterizes the eschatological tradition: comprehensive destruction for the wicked, restoration for those who fear God. John the Baptist's preaching of 'unquenchable fire' (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17) draws directly on this Malachian imagery, situating his ministry within the Day-of-the-LORD expectation. Placing this oracle at the end of the prophetic canon creates a hermeneutical horizon of expected divine intervention.
Other Translations
For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Jehovah of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
For, lo, the day hath come, burning as a furnace, And all the proud, and every wicked doer, have been stubble, And burnt them hath the day that came, Said Jehovah of Hosts, That there is not left to them root or branch,
For see, the day is coming, it is burning like an oven; all the men of pride and all who do evil will be dry stems of grass: and in the day which is coming they will be burned up, says the Lord of armies, till they have not a root or a branch.
Cross References
And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy …
His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.
Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up …
Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon …
And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the …
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, …
Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in …
Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and …