Malachi 3:18
"Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Then shall ye return,.... Either the wicked, who will be "converted" (z), as some render the word, and will have a different view of things, and change their minds and language; or they that feared the Lord, who at the time before spoken of will have a new turn of thought, and another and clear discerning of persons and things, and better judge of the dispensations of Providence: some that refer this to the resurrection of the dead, and the last judgment, understand it, as Abarbinel does, of the returning of souls to their bodies, when indeed the difference between persons after described will be

very discernible; but it seems to refer to the time of Christ's first coming, and Jerusalem's destruction: and discern between the righteous and the wicked; the difference between such who are really and truly righteous, who are here meant, even such who believe in Christ, and are justified by his righteousness; and those that are wicked, as all by nature are: though sometimes this character designs the more profane and abandoned, and even professors of religion; the difference between these is not always easily discerned; as for the righteous, they are not known and discerned by the world; and by reason of afflictions, temptations, and sins, they are apt to judge wrong of themselves; and sometimes are so left to fall into sin, that they look like others: and there are wicked men under the appearance of righteous men, as were the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ's time; but by the destruction that came upon them, and the preservation of such as believed in Christ, it was discernible who were wicked, and who were righteous; indeed, at the last day, this difference will be more visible; in the bodies of the righteous, which will be raised glorious, when those of the wicked will not; in their souls, having on the wedding garment, the robe of Christ's righteousness, and perfectly holy; and in their situation, being set at Christ's right hand, and the wicked at his left; and by the characters that will be given of them by the Judge, and the different sentences passed and executed on them: between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not; that is, between such persons that serve the Lord, and him only, privately and publicly, in righteousness and true holiness, in spirit and in truth, with faith and fervency, with reverence and fear, heartily and willingly, seeking his glory, without any dependence on their services; and those that are ungodly, or only outwardly serve the Lord, for sinister ends, and with selfish views, and according to their own inventions, and the traditions of men, and not the will of God, as the Scribes and Pharisees; between whom, and Christ's sincere disciples and followers, the awful day, described in the next chapter Mal 4:1 , will make a manifest difference. (z) "et convertemini", Cocceius, Gussetius, so Pagninus, Montanus; "conversi", Drusius, Junius & Tremellius. Next: Malachi Chapter 4 Sacred Texts | Bible « Previous: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: Malachi: Mala... Index Next: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: Malachi: Mala... »

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (11 words)

H7725 שׁוּב
Definition:

33+, 3 feminine singularשָׁ֫בָהRuth 1:15+,וְשָׁבַתconsecutiveEzekiel 46:17(Ges§ 72o, but Co Toy Kraeוְשֶׁבָה), 2 masculine singularשַׁבְתָּPsalm 85:2, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיָשׁוּבHosea 11: 33+, 3 feminine singularשָׁ֫בָהRuth 1:15+,וְשָׁבַתconsecutiveEzekiel 46:17(Ges§ 72o, but Co Toy Kraeוְשֶׁבָה), 2 masculine singularשַׁבְתָּPsalm 85:2, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיָשׁוּבHosea 11:

Possible Meanings:
  • turn back (semantic_range)
  • return (semantic_range)
  • turn back (semantic_range)
  • return (semantic_range)
  • turn back (semantic_range)
H7200 רָאָה
Definition:

7, compareריחspectacleDeuteronomy 1:12; Sabeanראיsee, expectDHMZMG xxix (1875), 506,599; Arabicsee, so Ethiopicᵑ7רֵו,רֵיוָאhumanappearance, features, etc. (compare Hebrewרְָאִי2)); —Qal1141Perfect3mas 7, compareריחspectacleDeuteronomy 1:12; Sabeanראיsee, expectDHMZMG xxix (1875), 506,599; Arabicsee, so Ethiopicᵑ7רֵו,רֵיוָאhumanappearance, features, etc. (compare Hebrewרְָאִי2)); —Qal1141Perfect3mas

Possible Meanings:
  • vision (semantic_range)
H0996 בֵּין
Definition:

4(Baer)בֵּן,בֵּינִי,ֵ˜בּינְךָ,בֵינֵךְ,בֵּינוֺ(בֵּינָיוJoshua 3:4;Joshua 8:11Qr); with plural suffix in plural formבֵּינֵינוּ(בֵּנֵינוּ), etc.; alsoבֵּינוֺתEzekiel 10:2(twice in verse);Ezekiel 10:6(twi 4(Baer)בֵּן,בֵּינִי,ֵ˜בּינְךָ,בֵינֵךְ,בֵּינוֺ(בֵּינָיוJoshua 3:4;Joshua 8:11Qr); with plural suffix in plural formבֵּינֵינוּ(בֵּנֵינוּ), etc.; alsoבֵּינוֺתEzekiel 10:2(twice in verse);Ezekiel 10:6(twi

Possible Meanings:
  • between (semantic_range)
H6662 צַדִיק
Definition:

9+; pluralצַדִּיקִיםExodus 23:8+, etc.; —1just, righteous, in government:a.of Davidic king2 Samuel 23:3;צֶמַהּJeremiah 23:5;Zechariah 9:9(""victorious).b.of judges,Ezekiel 23:45;Proverbs 29:2(see Toy; 9+; pluralצַדִּיקִיםExodus 23:8+, etc.; —1just, righteous, in government:a.of Davidic king2 Samuel 23:3;צֶמַהּJeremiah 23:5;Zechariah 9:9(""victorious).b.of judges,Ezekiel 23:45;Proverbs 29:2(see Toy;

H7563 רָשְׁע
Definition:

23+; pluralרְשָׁעִיםIsaiah 13:11+; constructרִשְׁעֵיPsalm 75:93t. feminine singularרְשָׁעָהEzekiel 3:18(strike out Co),Ezekiel 3:19(רָשָׁעCo); —1usually as substantive,one guilty of crime, deserving p 23+; pluralרְשָׁעִיםIsaiah 13:11+; constructרִשְׁעֵיPsalm 75:93t. feminine singularרְשָׁעָהEzekiel 3:18(strike out Co),Ezekiel 3:19(רָשָׁעCo); —1usually as substantive,one guilty of crime, deserving p

Possible Meanings:
  • be wicked (semantic_range)
  • act wickedly (semantic_range)
  • be wicked (semantic_range)
  • act wickedly (semantic_range)
  • be guilty (semantic_range)
H0996 בֵּין
Definition:

4(Baer)בֵּן,בֵּינִי,ֵ˜בּינְךָ,בֵינֵךְ,בֵּינוֺ(בֵּינָיוJoshua 3:4;Joshua 8:11Qr); with plural suffix in plural formבֵּינֵינוּ(בֵּנֵינוּ), etc.; alsoבֵּינוֺתEzekiel 10:2(twice in verse);Ezekiel 10:6(twi 4(Baer)בֵּן,בֵּינִי,ֵ˜בּינְךָ,בֵינֵךְ,בֵּינוֺ(בֵּינָיוJoshua 3:4;Joshua 8:11Qr); with plural suffix in plural formבֵּינֵינוּ(בֵּנֵינוּ), etc.; alsoבֵּינוֺתEzekiel 10:2(twice in verse);Ezekiel 10:6(twi

Possible Meanings:
  • between (semantic_range)
H5647 עָבַד
Definition:

18+; suffixעֲבָדוֺMalachi 3:18+; 3 masculine pluralעָֽבְדוּDeuteronomy 7:4;עָבָ֑דוּNumbers 4:26, + 64 t. Perfect;Imperfect3masculine singularיַעֲבֹדGenesis 25:23+; suffixיַעַבְדֵ֫נִיExodus 4:23;יַעַבְ 18+; suffixעֲבָדוֺMalachi 3:18+; 3 masculine pluralעָֽבְדוּDeuteronomy 7:4;עָבָ֑דוּNumbers 4:26, + 64 t. Perfect;Imperfect3masculine singularיַעֲבֹדGenesis 25:23+; suffixיַעַבְדֵ֫נִיExodus 4:23;יַעַבְ

Possible Meanings:
  • slave (semantic_range)
  • servant (semantic_range)
H0430 אֱלהִים
Definition:

33; on number of occurrences ofאֵל,אֱלוֺהַּ,אֱלֹהִיםcompare also Nesl. c,)1pluralin number.a.rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power 33; on number of occurrences ofאֵל,אֱלוֺהַּ,אֱלֹהִיםcompare also Nesl. c,)1pluralin number.a.rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

Possible Meanings:
  • divine ones (semantic_range)
  • angels (semantic_range)
  • gods (semantic_range)
H0834 אֲשֶׁר
Definition:

1according to TsepreghiDiss. Lugd. p. 171MühlauBö. Lb. ii. 79 n.StaMorg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167HomZMG 1878, 708 ff.Müll§ 153SayceHebraica. ii. 51LagM. i. 255 &especially KraeHebraica. vi. 298 ff 1according to TsepreghiDiss. Lugd. p. 171MühlauBö. Lb. ii. 79 n.StaMorg. Forsch. 1875, 188; Lb. § 167HomZMG 1878, 708 ff.Müll§ 153SayceHebraica. ii. 51LagM. i. 255 &especially KraeHebraica. vi. 298 ff

Possible Meanings:
  • Asher (semantic_range)
  • happy one (semantic_range)
  • Felix (semantic_range)
  • the tribe (semantic_range)
H3808 לֹא
Definition:

11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, 11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay,

H5647 עָבַד
Definition:

18+; suffixעֲבָדוֺMalachi 3:18+; 3 masculine pluralעָֽבְדוּDeuteronomy 7:4;עָבָ֑דוּNumbers 4:26, + 64 t. Perfect;Imperfect3masculine singularיַעֲבֹדGenesis 25:23+; suffixיַעַבְדֵ֫נִיExodus 4:23;יַעַבְ 18+; suffixעֲבָדוֺMalachi 3:18+; 3 masculine pluralעָֽבְדוּDeuteronomy 7:4;עָבָ֑דוּNumbers 4:26, + 64 t. Perfect;Imperfect3masculine singularיַעֲבֹדGenesis 25:23+; suffixיַעַבְדֵ֫נִיExodus 4:23;יַעַבְ

Possible Meanings:
  • slave (semantic_range)
  • servant (semantic_range)

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