CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Malachi 4:6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/malachi/4-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/39_Mal_04_06.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Malachi 4:6 - The Great Day of the LORD" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/malachi/4-6.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/malachi/4-6.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/malachi/">Malachi</a> > <a href="/malachi/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 6</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad6.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/malachi/4-5.htm" title="Malachi 4:5">◄</a> Malachi 4:6 <a href="/matthew/1-1.htm" title="Matthew 1:1">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/malachi/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/malachi/4.htm">New International Version</a> 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.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/malachi/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> 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.” <a href="/esv/malachi/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> 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.” <a href="/bsb/malachi/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.” <a href="/kjv/malachi/4.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/malachi/4.htm">New King James Version</a> 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.” <a href="/nasb_/malachi/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> 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.” <a href="/nasb/malachi/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/malachi/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.” <a href="/lsb/malachi/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land, devoting it to destruction.” <a href="/amp/malachi/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers [a reconciliation produced by repentance], so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse [of complete destruction].” <a href="/csb/malachi/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> 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.” <a href="/hcsb/malachi/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> 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.&#8221 <a href="/asv/malachi/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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. <a href="/cev/malachi/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> He will lead children and parents to love each other more, so that when I come, I won't bring destruction to the land. <a href="/erv/malachi/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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. <a href="/gwt/malachi/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> He will change parents' attitudes toward their children and children's attitudes toward their parents. If not, I will come and reclaim my land by destroying you." <a href="/gnt/malachi/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> He will bring fathers and children together again; otherwise I would have to come and destroy your country." <a href="/isv/malachi/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> and he will turn the hearts of fathers to children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I'll come, strike the land, and utterly destroy it." <a href="/msb/malachi/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.? <a href="/net/malachi/4.htm">NET Bible</a> He will encourage fathers and their children to return to me, so that I will not come and strike the earth with judgment." <a href="/nheb/malachi/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> 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. <a href="/wbt/malachi/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> 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. <a href="/web/malachi/4.htm">World English Bible</a> 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.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/malachi/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And he has turned back the heart of fathers to sons, "" And the heart of sons to their fathers, "" Before I come and have utterly struck the land!” <a href="/ylt/malachi/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And he hath turned back the heart of fathers to sons, And the heart of sons to their fathers, Before I come and have utterly smitten the land! <a href="/slt/malachi/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he turned back the heart of the fathers to the sons, and the heart of the sons to the fathers, lest I shall come and strike the earth with utter destruction.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/malachi/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> 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 strike the earth with anathema. <a href="/cpdv/malachi/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he will turn the heart of the fathers to the sons, and the heart of the sons to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with anathema. <a href="/nabre/malachi/4.htm">New American Bible</a> He will turn the heart of fathers to their sons, and the heart of sons to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the land with utter destruction. <a href="/nrsvce/malachi/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/malachi/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers before I come and smite the earth to ruin. <a href="/hpbt/malachi/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> For he shall turn the heart of fathers against the children and the heart of the children against their fathers, before I will come and I will strike the Earth with destruction.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/malachi/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> 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 land with utter destruction. <a href="/sep/malachi/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> who shall turn again the heart of the father to the son, and the heart of a man to his neighbour, lest I come and smite the earth grievously. <a href="/parallel/malachi/4-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B6KyAs1WSHw?start=735" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/malachi/4.htm">The Great Day of the LORD</a> …5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. 6<a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: wə·hê·šîḇ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To turn back, in, to retreat, again">And he will turn</a> <a href="/hebrew/3820.htm" title="3820: lêḇ- (N-msc) -- The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre">the hearts</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ā·ḇō·wṯ (N-mp) -- Father">of the fathers</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Above, over, upon, against">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bā·nîm (N-mp) -- A son">their children,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3820.htm" title="3820: wə·lêḇ (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre">and the hearts</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bā·nîm (N-mp) -- A son">of the children</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Above, over, upon, against">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ă·ḇō·w·ṯām (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- Father">their fathers.</a> <a href="/hebrew/6435.htm" title="6435: pen- (Conj) -- Removal, lest">Otherwise,</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: ’ā·ḇō·w (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- To come in, come, go in, go">I will come</a> <a href="/hebrew/5221.htm" title="5221: wə·hik·kê·ṯî (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-1cs) -- To strike">and strike</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Untranslatable mark of the accusative case"></a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land">the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/2764.htm" title="2764: ḥê·rem (N-ms) -- A net, a doomed object, extermination">with a curse.”</a> <div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/luke/1-17.htm">Luke 1:17</a> And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” <a href="/matthew/11-14.htm">Matthew 11:14</a> And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. <a href="/matthew/17-11.htm">Matthew 17:11-13</a> Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. / But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” / Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist. <a href="/mark/9-11.htm">Mark 9:11-13</a> And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” / He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected? / But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.” <a href="/luke/1-16.htm">Luke 1:16</a> Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God. <a href="/isaiah/40-3.htm">Isaiah 40:3-5</a> A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. / Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain. / And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. <a href="/joel/2-28.htm">Joel 2:28-32</a> And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. / Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. / I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. ... <a href="/jeremiah/31-33.htm">Jeremiah 31:33</a> “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. <a href="/ezekiel/37-23.htm">Ezekiel 37:23-24</a> They will no longer defile themselves with their idols or detestable images, or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all their apostasies by which they sinned, and I will cleanse them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God. / My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My ordinances and keep and observe My statutes. <a href="/deuteronomy/6-6.htm">Deuteronomy 6:6-7</a> These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. <a href="/proverbs/22-6.htm">Proverbs 22:6</a> Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. <a href="/isaiah/49-6.htm">Isaiah 49:6</a> He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.” <a href="/isaiah/61-1.htm">Isaiah 61:1-3</a> The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, / to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, / to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. <a href="/jeremiah/3-22.htm">Jeremiah 3:22</a> “Return, O faithless children, and I will heal your faithlessness.” “Here we are. We come to You, for You are the LORD our God. <a href="/hosea/3-5.htm">Hosea 3:5</a> Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>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.turn.<a href="/luke/1-16.htm">Luke 1:16,17,76</a> And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God… lest.<a href="/isaiah/61-2.htm">Isaiah 61:2</a> To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;<a href="/daniel/9-26.htm">Daniel 9:26,27</a> And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined… <a href="/zechariah/11-6.htm">Zechariah 11:6</a> For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.and smite.<a href="/deuteronomy/29-19.htm">Deuteronomy 29:19-29</a> And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: … <a href="/isaiah/24-6.htm">Isaiah 24:6</a> Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.<a href="/isaiah/43-28.htm">Isaiah 43:28</a> Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/zechariah/10-9.htm">Children</a> <a href="/malachi/3-9.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/malachi/1-3.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/zechariah/14-17.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/malachi/3-7.htm">Fathers</a> <a href="/malachi/4-2.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/malachi/2-2.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/zechariah/12-5.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/zechariah/10-6.htm">Restore</a> <a href="/zechariah/14-18.htm">Smite</a> <a href="/zechariah/14-18.htm">Strike</a> <a href="/malachi/3-5.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/malachi/3-18.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/zechariah/14-11.htm">Utter</a> <a href="/zechariah/11-17.htm">Utterly</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/2-16.htm">Children</a> <a href="/matthew/5-44.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/matthew/5-5.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/matthew/10-21.htm">Fathers</a> <a href="/matthew/1-20.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/matthew/3-8.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/matthew/3-2.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/matthew/17-11.htm">Restore</a> <a href="/matthew/5-39.htm">Smite</a> <a href="/matthew/4-6.htm">Strike</a> <a href="/matthew/2-12.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/matthew/2-22.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/matthew/5-11.htm">Utter</a> <a href="/matthew/12-20.htm">Utterly</a><div class="vheading2">Malachi 4</div>1. <a href="/malachi/4-1.htm">God's judgment on the wicked;</a> 2. <a href="/malachi/4-2.htm">and his blessing on the good.</a> 4. <a href="/malachi/4-4.htm">He exhorts to the study of the law;</a> 5. <a href="/malachi/4-5.htm">and tells of Elijah's coming and office.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/malachi/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/malachi/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/malachi/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, This phrase speaks to a restoration of familial relationships, emphasizing reconciliation and unity within the family unit. In the context of Malachi, this is a prophetic promise of renewal and repentance. The "he" refers to Elijah the prophet, as mentioned in <a href="/malachi/4-5.htm">Malachi 4:5</a>, who is to come before the "great and dreadful day of the LORD." This turning of hearts is a spiritual revival that prepares the people for the coming of the Lord. It reflects the importance of family in God's covenant community, where the faith and values are passed down through generations. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where John the Baptist is seen as fulfilling this role (<a href="/luke/1-17.htm">Luke 1:17</a>), preparing the way for Jesus Christ by calling people to repentance and restoring relationships.and the hearts of the children to their fathers. This continuation of the theme of reconciliation highlights the mutual nature of the restoration process. It is not only the responsibility of the fathers to turn towards their children but also the children towards their fathers. This mutual turning signifies a holistic healing of relationships, which is essential for the community's spiritual health. In the broader biblical narrative, this reflects the restoration of the covenant relationship between God and His people, where both parties turn towards each other in love and obedience. The emphasis on intergenerational unity underscores the biblical principle of honoring one's parents (<a href="/exodus/20-12.htm">Exodus 20:12</a>) and the role of the family in God's redemptive plan.Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.” This phrase serves as a warning of the consequences of failing to heed the call to repentance and reconciliation. The "curse" mentioned here is a reference to the covenant curses outlined in <a href="/deuteronomy/28.htm">Deuteronomy 28</a>, which would befall Israel if they turned away from God. The Hebrew word for "curse" here is "cherem," which implies total destruction or devotion to destruction. This warning underscores the seriousness of the call to repentance and the dire consequences of disobedience. It also points to the eschatological judgment that will come upon the earth, as seen in the prophetic literature. The New Testament reiterates this theme, where the coming of Christ brings both salvation and judgment (<a href="/matthew/3-12.htm">Matthew 3:12</a>). This final verse of the Old Testament leaves the reader with a sense of urgency and anticipation for the coming Messiah, who will ultimately fulfill the promise of restoration and avert the curse through His redemptive work.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/m/malachi.htm">Malachi</a> The last prophet of the Old Testament, whose name means "my messenger." He delivered God's message to the Israelites, calling them to repentance and faithfulness. 2. <a href="/topical/f/fathers_and_children.htm">Fathers and Children</a> Symbolic of the generational relationships within the community of Israel. This verse emphasizes the restoration of familial and covenantal relationships. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_land.htm">The Land</a> Refers to the land of Israel, which is under threat of a curse if the people do not turn back to God. 4. <a href="/topical/e/elijah_the_prophet.htm">Elijah the Prophet</a> Mentioned in the preceding verse (<a href="/malachi/4-5.htm">Malachi 4:5</a>), he is prophesied to come before the "great and dreadful day of the LORD," symbolizing a call to repentance. 5. <a href="/topical/c/curse.htm">Curse</a> Represents the consequences of disobedience and broken relationships with God and each other.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/r/restoration_of_relationships.htm">Restoration of Relationships</a> God desires reconciliation within families as a reflection of His covenant with His people. <a href="/topical/g/generational_faithfulness.htm">Generational Faithfulness</a> The turning of hearts signifies the importance of passing down faith and values from one generation to the next. <a href="/topical/r/role_of_repentance.htm">Role of Repentance</a> True repentance involves restoring broken relationships, both with God and within families. <a href="/topical/a/avoiding_the_curse.htm">Avoiding the Curse</a> Disobedience and broken relationships lead to consequences; turning to God brings blessing and restoration. <a href="/topical/p/prophetic_fulfillment.htm">Prophetic Fulfillment</a> The prophecy of Elijah's coming is fulfilled in John the Baptist, showing God's faithfulness to His promises.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_malachi_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Malachi 4</a> <a href="/q/what_does_'fathers'_hearts_to_kids'_mean.htm">What does "turning fathers' hearts to children" mean?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_'holy_to_the_lord'_mean.htm">What does 'turning fathers' hearts to children' mean?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_childlike_faith.htm">What defines having faith like a child?</a> <a href="/q/how_are_john_the_baptist_and_elijah_linked.htm">What is the connection between John the Baptist and Elijah?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/malachi/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) And he shall turn . . . to their fathers.--This does not refer to the settlement of family disputes, such as might have arisen from marriage with foreign wives. "The fathers are rather the ancestors of the Israelitish nation, the patriarchs, and generally the pious forefathers . . . The sons, or children, are the degenerate descendants of Malachi's own time and the succeeding ages."--Keil. "The hearts of the godly fathers and ungodly sons are estranged from one another. The bond of union--viz., the common love of God--is wanting. The fathers are ashamed of their children, and the children of their fathers."--Hengstenberg. (Comp. particularly <a href="/context/isaiah/29-22.htm" title="Therefore thus said the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.">Isaiah 29:22-24</a>, and the paraphrastic citation of <a href="/malachi/4-6.htm" title="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.">Malachi 4:6</a> in <a href="/luke/1-17.htm" title="And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.">Luke 1:17</a>.)Curse.--Better, ban. (Comp. <a href="/zechariah/14-11.htm" title="And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.">Zechariah 14:11</a>.) As with the conclusion of Isaiah, Lamentations, and Ecclesiastes, so here the Jew read in the synagogue the last verse but one over again after the last verse, to avoid concluding with words of ill omen, thus: "Behold I send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of JEHOVAH."#define description=DESC#define abbreviation=ABBR . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/malachi/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 6. - He shall turn, etc.; i.e., taking the preposition, rendered "to," in the sense of "with," he shall convert one and all, fathers and children, young and old, unto the Lord. Or, in agreement with the versions, he shall bring back the Jews then living to the faith of their ancestors, who rejoiced to see the day of Christ (<a href="/john/8-56.htm">John 8:56</a>); and then the patriarchs, who for their unbelief had disowned them, shall recognize them as true Israelites, true children of Abraham. Others explain - He shall unite the Jews who are our fathers in the faith to us Christians who are their children (see <a href="/luke/1-17.htm">Luke 1:17</a>, where the angel Gabriel quotes part of the passage, and applies it to John the Baptist). The heart. Here not the seat of the intellectual powers, but of love and confidence, which lead to union and concord. Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse; or, smite the land with the ban. This is an allusion to the ban threatened in the Law, which involved extermination (see <a href="/leviticus/27-29.htm">Leviticus 27:29</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/13-16.htm">Deuteronomy 13:16, 17</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Deuteronomy 20:16, 17</a>). So Elijah shall come and preach repentance, as the Baptist did at Christ's first coming; and unless the Jews listen to him and turn to Christ, they shall be destroyed, shall share in that eternal anathema which shall fall on the ungodly at the day of judgment. <a href="/commentaries/malachi/4-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>And he will turn וְהֵשִׁ֤יב (wə·hê·šîḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> To turn back, in, to retreat, again the hearts לֵב־ (lêḇ-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3820.htm">Strong's 3820: </a> The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre of the fathers אָבוֹת֙ (’ā·ḇō·wṯ) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> Father to עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against their children, בָּנִ֔ים (bā·nîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son and the hearts וְלֵ֥ב (wə·lêḇ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3820.htm">Strong's 3820: </a> The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre of the children בָּנִ֖ים (bā·nîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son to עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against their fathers. אֲבוֹתָ֑ם (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯām) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> Father Otherwise, פֶּן־ (pen-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6435.htm">Strong's 6435: </a> Removal, lest I will come אָב֕וֹא (’ā·ḇō·w) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go and strike וְהִכֵּיתִ֥י (wə·hik·kê·ṯî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5221.htm">Strong's 5221: </a> To strike the land הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land with a curse.” חֵֽרֶם׃ (ḥê·rem) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2764.htm">Strong's 2764: </a> A net, a doomed object, extermination <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/malachi/4-6.htm">Malachi 4:6 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/malachi/4-6.htm">Malachi 4:6 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/malachi/4-6.htm">Malachi 4:6 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/malachi/4-6.htm">Malachi 4:6 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/malachi/4-6.htm">Malachi 4:6 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/malachi/4-6.htm">Malachi 4:6 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/malachi/4-6.htm">Malachi 4:6 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/malachi/4-6.htm">Malachi 4:6 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/malachi/4-6.htm">Malachi 4:6 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/malachi/4-6.htm">Malachi 4:6 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/malachi/4-6.htm">OT Prophets: Malachi 4:6 He will turn the hearts of the (Malachi Mal Ml) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/malachi/4-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Malachi 4:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Malachi 4:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/1-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 1:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 1:1" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>