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Malachi 3:2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner's fire, like a launderer's soap.
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Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/malachi/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/malachi/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/malachi/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/malachi/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he <i>is</i> like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/malachi/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He <i>is</i> like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/malachi/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/malachi/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/malachi/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/malachi/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a smelter’s fire and like fullers’ soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/malachi/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap [which removes impurities and uncleanness].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/malachi/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s bleach.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/malachi/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire and like cleansing lye.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/malachi/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/malachi/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />On the day the Lord comes, he will be like a furnace that purifies silver or like strong soap in a washbasin. No one will be able to stand up to him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/malachi/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/malachi/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But who will be able to endure the day he comes? Who will be able to survive on the day he appears? He is like a purifying fire and like a cleansing soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/malachi/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But who will be able to endure the day when he comes? Who will be able to survive when he appears? He will be like strong soap, like a fire that refines metal. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/malachi/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But who will survive the day when he comes? Or who can stand when he appears? Because he's like a refiner's fire and a launderer's soap, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/malachi/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner?s fire, like a launderer?s soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/malachi/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire, like a launderer's soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/malachi/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is coming like a refiner's fire, and like launderer's soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/malachi/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/malachi/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderers’ soap; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/malachi/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />“And who is bearing the day of His coming? And who is standing in His appearing? For He [is] as fire of a refiner, "" And as soap of a fuller.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/malachi/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And who is bearing the day of his coming? And who is standing in his appearing? For he is as fire of a refiner, And as soap of a fuller.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/malachi/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And who enduring the day of his coming? and who standing in his being seen? for he is as the fire of the crucible, as the alkali of the fuller.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/malachi/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller's herb: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/malachi/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And who will be able to consider the day of his advent, and who will stand firm in order to see him? For he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s herb.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/malachi/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand firm when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like fullers’ lye. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/malachi/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/malachi/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/malachi/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Who endures the day in which he comes, or who can be standing when he is revealed? Because he is like the fire of a refiner and like lye that bleaches<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/malachi/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, And like fullers' soap;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/malachi/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And who will abide the day of his coming? or who will withstand at his appearing? for he is coming in as the fire of a furnace and as the herb of fullers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/malachi/3-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B6KyAs1WSHw?start=463" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/malachi/3.htm">The Coming Day of Judgment</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4310.htm" title="4310: ū·mî (Conj-w:: Interrog) -- An interrogative pronoun of persons, as mah is of things, who?; also whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix.">But who</a> <a href="/hebrew/3557.htm" title="3557: mə·ḵal·kêl (V-Piel-Prtcpl-ms) -- To comprehend, contain. A primitive root; properly, to keep in; hence, to measure; figuratively, to maintain.">can endure</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: yō·wm (N-msc) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">the day</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: bō·w·’ōw (V-Qal-Inf:: 3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">of His coming?</a> <a href="/hebrew/4310.htm" title="4310: ū·mî (Conj-w:: Interrog) -- An interrogative pronoun of persons, as mah is of things, who?; also whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix.">And who</a> <a href="/hebrew/5975.htm" title="5975: hā·‘ō·mêḏ (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To take one's stand, stand. A primitive root; to stand, in various relations.">can stand</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: bə·hê·rā·’ō·w·ṯōw (Prep-b:: V-Nifal-Inf:: 3ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">when He appears?</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">He</a> <a href="/hebrew/6884.htm" title="6884: mə·ṣā·rêp̄ (V-Piel-Prtcpl-ms) -- To smelt, refine, test. A primitive root; to fuse, i.e. Refine.">will be like a refiner’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/784.htm" title="784: kə·’êš (Prep-k:: N-cs) -- A fire. A primitive word; fire.">fire,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3526.htm" title="3526: mə·ḵab·bə·sîm (V-Piel-Prtcpl-mp) -- To wash. A primitive root; to trample; hence, to wash, whether literal or figurative.">like a launderer’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/1287.htm" title="1287: ū·ḵə·ḇō·rîṯ (Conj-w, Prep-k:: N-fs) -- Lye, alkali, potash, soap. Feminine of bor; vegetable alkali.">soap.</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/33-14.htm">Isaiah 33:14</a></span><br />The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the ungodly: “Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/6-29.htm">Jeremiah 6:29-30</a></span><br />The bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged. / They are called rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/13-9.htm">Zechariah 13:9</a></span><br />This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/66-10.htm">Psalm 66:10</a></span><br />For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/48-10.htm">Isaiah 48:10</a></span><br />See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/12-10.htm">Daniel 12:10</a></span><br />Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-7.htm">1 Peter 1:7</a></span><br />so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/3-11.htm">Matthew 3:11-12</a></span><br />I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. / His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-16.htm">Luke 3:16-17</a></span><br />John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. / His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/3-13.htm">1 Corinthians 3:13</a></span><br />his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/3-18.htm">Revelation 3:18</a></span><br />I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-17.htm">Revelation 6:17</a></span><br />For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-25.htm">Isaiah 1:25</a></span><br />I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-18.htm">Ezekiel 22:18-22</a></span><br />“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are but the dross of silver. / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because all of you have become dross, behold, I will gather you into Jerusalem. / Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to melt with a fiery blast, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, leave you there, and melt you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/4-1.htm">Malachi 4:1</a></span><br />“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:</p><p class="hdg">who may abide.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/malachi/4-1.htm">Malachi 4:1</a></b></br> 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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/5-18.htm">Amos 5:18-20</a></b></br> Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end <i>is</i> it for you? the day of the LORD <i>is</i> darkness, and not light… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/3-7.htm">Matthew 3:7-12</a></b></br> But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? … </p><p class="hdg">for.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/4-4.htm">Isaiah 4:4</a></b></br> When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/zechariah/13-9.htm">Zechariah 13:9</a></b></br> And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It <i>is</i> my people: and they shall say, The LORD <i>is</i> my God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/3-10.htm">Matthew 3:10-12</a></b></br> And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire… </p><p class="hdg">like fullers'.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/2-7.htm">Psalm 2:7</a></b></br> I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou <i>art</i> my Son; this day have I begotten thee.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-18.htm">Isaiah 1:18</a></b></br> Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/2-22.htm">Jeremiah 2:22</a></b></br> For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, <i>yet</i> thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/zechariah/5-4.htm">Abide</a> <a href="/habakkuk/3-4.htm">Appeareth</a> <a href="/zechariah/5-6.htm">Appearing</a> <a href="/zechariah/13-3.htm">Appears</a> <a href="/zephaniah/1-11.htm">Bearing</a> <a href="/nahum/1-6.htm">Endure</a> <a href="/zephaniah/3-15.htm">Faced</a> <a href="/malachi/1-10.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/ezekiel/36-30.htm">Fuller</a> <a href="/isaiah/36-2.htm">Fullers</a> <a href="/isaiah/36-2.htm">Fuller's</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-17.htm">Refiner</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-22.htm">Soap</a> <a href="/zechariah/14-12.htm">Stand</a> <a href="/zechariah/6-5.htm">Standing</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/10-11.htm">Abide</a> <a href="/matthew/2-13.htm">Appeareth</a> <a href="/matthew/2-7.htm">Appearing</a> <a href="/matthew/2-19.htm">Appears</a> <a href="/matthew/3-10.htm">Bearing</a> <a href="/matthew/17-17.htm">Endure</a> <a href="/romans/4-19.htm">Faced</a> <a href="/matthew/3-10.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/mark/9-3.htm">Fuller</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-17.htm">Fullers</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-17.htm">Fuller's</a> <a href="/malachi/3-3.htm">Refiner</a> <a href="/job/9-30.htm">Soap</a> <a href="/matthew/4-5.htm">Stand</a> <a href="/matthew/6-5.htm">Standing</a><div class="vheading2">Malachi 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/malachi/3-1.htm">Of the messenger, majesty, and grace of Christ.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/malachi/3-7.htm">Of the rebellion,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/malachi/3-8.htm">sacrilege,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/malachi/3-13.htm">and infidelity of the people.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/malachi/3-16.htm">The promise of blessing to those who fear God.</a></span><br></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><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <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> <br /><br /> </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/3.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/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But who can endure the day of His coming?</b><br>This phrase raises a rhetorical question emphasizing the awe and fear associated with the coming of the Lord. The "day of His coming" refers to the anticipated day of judgment, a theme prevalent in prophetic literature. This echoes the sentiments found in <a href="/joel/2-11.htm">Joel 2:11</a> and <a href="/amos/5-18.htm">Amos 5:18</a>, where the day of the Lord is depicted as both great and dreadful. The question implies that no one, in their own strength, can withstand the holiness and justice of God. It serves as a call to repentance and spiritual preparedness.<p><b>And who can stand when He appears?</b><br>The imagery of standing before the Lord suggests judgment and accountability. In biblical terms, to "stand" often implies being justified or found righteous (<a href="/psalms/1-5.htm">Psalm 1:5</a>). This phrase underscores the idea that only those who are purified and righteous can withstand the presence of God. It connects to <a href="/revelation/6-17.htm">Revelation 6:17</a>, where the question is asked, "For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?" This highlights the need for divine grace and redemption.<p><b>For He will be like a refiner’s fire,</b><br>The metaphor of a refiner's fire illustrates the process of purification. In ancient times, refining involved heating metals to remove impurities, symbolizing the purifying judgment of God. This imagery is consistent with passages like <a href="/zechariah/13-9.htm">Zechariah 13:9</a> and <a href="/1_peter/1-7.htm">1 Peter 1:7</a>, where trials and divine intervention serve to purify and strengthen faith. The refiner's fire is a type of Christ's work in sanctifying believers, removing sin and refining character.<p><b>like a launderer’s soap.</b><br>Launderer's soap, or fuller’s soap, was used in ancient times to clean and whiten garments. This metaphor complements the refiner's fire, emphasizing cleansing and purification. It suggests the removal of moral and spiritual impurities, aligning with <a href="/isaiah/1-18.htm">Isaiah 1:18</a>, where God invites His people to be cleansed and made white as snow. This cleansing is a type of the sanctifying work of Christ, who purifies His church, as seen in <a href="/ephesians/5-26.htm">Ephesians 5:26-27</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/malachi.htm">Malachi</a></b><br>The prophet who delivered God's message to the Israelites, calling them to repentance and foretelling the coming of the Lord.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_day_of_his_coming.htm">The Day of His Coming</a></b><br>Refers to the anticipated day of the Lord's judgment and purification.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/r/refiner's_fire.htm">Refiner’s Fire</a></b><br>A metaphor for the process of purification, removing impurities from precious metals.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/l/launderer's_soap.htm">Launderer’s Soap</a></b><br>Symbolizes cleansing and purification, removing stains and making garments clean.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The original audience of Malachi's prophecy, who were being called to return to faithfulness.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/e/endurance_in_faith.htm">Endurance in Faith</a></b><br>The question "Who can endure the day of His coming?" challenges believers to examine their faith and readiness for the Lord's return.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/purification_process.htm">Purification Process</a></b><br>Just as a refiner's fire purifies metal, God uses trials and challenges to purify our hearts and strengthen our faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_cleansing.htm">Spiritual Cleansing</a></b><br>Like a launderer's soap, God's Word and Spirit cleanse us from sin, calling us to live holy lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/anticipation_of_christ's_return.htm">Anticipation of Christ's Return</a></b><br>Believers are encouraged to live in anticipation of Christ's return, maintaining a posture of readiness and holiness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/transformation_through_trials.htm">Transformation through Trials</a></b><br>Embrace trials as opportunities for spiritual growth and transformation, trusting in God's refining work.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_malachi_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Malachi 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_'refiner's_fire'_purely_symbolic.htm">Malachi 3:2 – Is the “refiner’s fire” imagery purely symbolic, and does it conflict with any scientific or historical understanding of purification? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_believers_face_severe_hardships.htm">If Psalm 66:10 says God tests and refines like silver, why do faithful believers still experience severe hardships that seem more destructive than purifying? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/literal_meaning_of_isaiah_4_4_historical_parallels.htm">Isaiah 4:4 speaks of cleansing by “spirit of judgment” and “spirit of burning”—how should this be interpreted in a literal sense, and is there any parallel in historical or scientific records? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'baptism_of_fire'_mean.htm">What does "baptism of fire" mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/malachi/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) This coming of the Lord to His temple acts as a crucial test (comp. <a href="/luke/2-35.htm" title="(Yes, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.">Luke 2:35</a>); the people ought, therefore, seriously to have considered how far they were prepared for that advent before they desired it so eagerly and impatiently.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/malachi/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Who may abide the day of his comings?</span> They had expected him to come and judge the heathen; the prophet warns them that they themselves shall be first judged (comp. <a href="/amos/5-18.htm">Amos 5:18</a>). "Malachi, like John the Baptist, sees the future Judge in the present Saviour" (Wordsworth); <a href="/joel/2-11.htm">Joel 2:11</a>. <span class="cmt_word">Who shall stand!</span> Who can stand up under the burden of this judgment? The Vulgate Version<span class="accented">,Quis stabit ad videndum eum?</span> points to the brightness of his presence, which eye of man cannot endure. <span class="cmt_word">Like a refiner's fire,</span> which separates the precious metal from the refuse. So the Lord at his coming shall sever the good among men from the evil (<a href="/isaiah/1-25.htm">Isaiah 1:25</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/6-29.htm">Jeremiah 6:29</a>; <a href="/zechariah/13-9.htm">Zechariah 13:9</a>). <span class="cmt_word">Like fullers' soap;</span> Septuagint, <span class="greek">ὡς ποιὰ πλυνόντων</span>, "as the grass of washers;" Vulgate, <span class="accented">quasi herba fullonum</span>, What is to be understood exactly by the "soap" (<span class="accented">borith</span>), washing herb, is not known. Probably the ashes of some plant yielding a lye, like carbonate of soda, are meant. Such plants are met with on the shores of the Mediterranean and Dead Seas, and at this day large quantities of alkalies are extracted from them and exported in different directions (see Tristram, 'Nat. Hist. of the Bible,' p. 480, etc.; comp. <a href="/isaiah/4-4.htm">Isaiah 4:4</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/2-22.htm">Jeremiah 2:22</a>). The Lord shall wash away all that is filthy (comp. <a href="/matthew/3-10.htm">Matthew 3:10, 12</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/malachi/3-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But who</span><br /><span class="heb">וּמִ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(ū·mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4310.htm">Strong's 4310: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix</span><br /><br /><span class="word">can endure</span><br /><span class="heb">מְכַלְכֵּל֙</span> <span class="translit">(mə·ḵal·kêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3557.htm">Strong's 3557: </a> </span><span class="str2">To keep in, to measure, to maintain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the day</span><br /><span class="heb">י֣וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(yō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of His coming?</span><br /><span class="heb">בּוֹא֔וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(bō·w·’ōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">And who</span><br /><span class="heb">וּמִ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(ū·mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4310.htm">Strong's 4310: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix</span><br /><br /><span class="word">can stand</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעֹמֵ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ō·mêḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5975.htm">Strong's 5975: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stand, in various relations</span><br /><br /><span class="word">when He appears?</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּהֵרָֽאוֹת֑וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·hê·rā·’ō·w·ṯōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He</span><br /><span class="heb">הוּא֙</span> <span class="translit">(hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will be like a refiner’s</span><br /><span class="heb">מְצָרֵ֔ף</span> <span class="translit">(mə·ṣā·rêp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6884.htm">Strong's 6884: </a> </span><span class="str2">To smelt, refine, test</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fire,</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּאֵ֣שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(kə·’êš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_784.htm">Strong's 784: </a> </span><span class="str2">A fire</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[like] a launderer's</span><br /><span class="heb">מְכַבְּסִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(mə·ḵab·bə·sîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3526.htm">Strong's 3526: </a> </span><span class="str2">To trample, to wash</span><br /><br /><span class="word">soap.</span><br /><span class="heb">וּכְבֹרִ֖ית</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḵə·ḇō·rîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1287.htm">Strong's 1287: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lye, alkali, potash, soap</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/malachi/3-2.htm">OT Prophets: Malachi 3:2 But who can endure the day (Malachi Mal Ml) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/malachi/3-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Malachi 3:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Malachi 3:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/malachi/3-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Malachi 3:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Malachi 3:3" /></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>