Malachi 3:3
"And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

And he shall sit as a refiner, and purifier of silver,.... Kimchi interprets this, as he does the latter part of the preceding verse Mal 3:2 , of the day, and not of the Lord, which he compares to a judge that sits and separates the guilty from the innocent; see Co1 3:13 but it is to be understood of the Lord himself, and expresses his diligence in sitting and separating good men and principles from bad ones, just as silver is purified and refined from dross. Maimonides (a) understands the passage of the Messiah; for he says, "in the days of the King Messiah, when his kingdom is restored, and all Israel shall be gathered to him, all will have their genealogies set right

by his mouth, through the Holy Spirit that rests upon him, as it is said, "he shall sit a refiner and purifier":'' as a refiner sits and observes his metal while it is melting, and waits the proper time to pour it out and separate the dross from it; so Christ is here represented as sitting, while his people are purifying and refining by the various ways and means he makes use of: it denotes the continued care of Christ over them; his eye is upon them, that nothing be lost but their dross and corruption; and his patience in waiting to be gracious to them, and do them good; and his diligent attention to the proper season of doing it; designing by all that he does, not their hurt and damage, but their real good, for he saves them, though it be by fire; and indeed every trial and affliction is for the purifying of their souls, and the brightening of their graces, and increasing their spiritual experience, light, and knowledge. And he shall purify the sons of Levi; the priests, either literally understood, some of these were converted from their evil principles and practices, and became obedient to the doctrines of the Gospel, Act 6:7 or figuratively, the apostles of Christ and ministers of the Gospel, who were made clean by him; or rather all the people of God, who are made priests as well as kings, and are a royal priesthood, and are purified by Christ, both by his blood, and the imputation of his righteousness, by which they become without spot and blemish, and as white as snow; and by the Spirit in sanctification, he sprinkling clean water upon them, and purifying their hearts by faith in the blood of Jesus; and also by afflictive dispensations of Providence sanctified unto them. Mention is made of the priests and Levites, because these were so very corrupt in the times of Christ, and as appears from the preceding chapters. And purge them as gold and silver; are purged in the fire from their dross: this shows of what worth and value, and in what esteem the Lord's people are to him; he reckons of them as gold and silver, and as his peculiar treasure: and it suggests, that before conversion they are joined unto and mixed with wicked men, comparable to dross; and that they have in them the dross, corruption, and impurity of sin; which is original and natural to them, and inherent in them, and which can only be removed by the grace of God and blood of Christ. That they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; themselves, their bodies and souls; the sacrifices of prayer, praise, and alms deeds; to the offering up of which in righteousness, in sincerity and truth, in an upright way, it is necessary that a person should be purified by the blood of Christ, and sanctified by the grace of his Spirit. (a) Hilchot Melachim, c. 12. sect. 3.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (17 words)

H3427 יָשַׁב
Definition:

8,19וישב,Judges 1:13ואשב,dwell; Phoenicianישבdwell; ZinjirliישבsitDHMSendsch. 58; Assyrianašâbu,sit,dwell, DlHWB 244; Arabicleap, jump, Himyer. dialectsit, Lane2919; EthiopicII. 1secum cohabitare face 8,19וישב,Judges 1:13ואשב,dwell; Phoenicianישבdwell; ZinjirliישבsitDHMSendsch. 58; Assyrianašâbu,sit,dwell, DlHWB 244; Arabicleap, jump, Himyer. dialectsit, Lane2919; EthiopicII. 1secum cohabitare face

Possible Meanings:
  • remain (semantic_range)
H6884 צָרַף
Definition:

29, suffixצְרָפָ֑תְהוּPsalm 105:19; 2masculine singular suffixצְרַפְתָּנִיPsalm 17:3, etc.;Imperfect1singularאֶצְרֹףIsaiah 1:25, suffixאֶצְרְפֶנּוּJudges 7:4;Imperativemasculine singularצרופהPsalm 26: 29, suffixצְרָפָ֑תְהוּPsalm 105:19; 2masculine singular suffixצְרַפְתָּנִיPsalm 17:3, etc.;Imperfect1singularאֶצְרֹףIsaiah 1:25, suffixאֶצְרְפֶנּוּJudges 7:4;Imperativemasculine singularצרופהPsalm 26:

Possible Meanings:
  • smelt (semantic_range)
  • refine (semantic_range)
  • test (semantic_range)
  • smelt (semantic_range)
  • refine (semantic_range)
H2891 טָהֵר
Definition:

3212t.; 3 feminine singularטָֽהֲרָהLeviticus 12:7;Leviticus 15:28;טָהֵ֑רָהLeviticus 12:8etc., + 5 t.Perfect; ImperfectיִטְהַרLeviticus 15:13;Job 4:17etc., + 9 t.Imperfect; Imperativeטְהָ֑ר2 Kings 5:10 3212t.; 3 feminine singularטָֽהֲרָהLeviticus 12:7;Leviticus 15:28;טָהֵ֑רָהLeviticus 12:8etc., + 5 t.Perfect; ImperfectיִטְהַרLeviticus 15:13;Job 4:17etc., + 9 t.Imperfect; Imperativeטְהָ֑ר2 Kings 5:10

Possible Meanings:
  • clearness (semantic_range)
  • lustre (semantic_range)
H3701 כֶּסֶף
Definition:

9silver, money(Late Hebrewid.; Phoenician, Zinjirliכסף; Aramaicכַּסְמָּא; PalmyreneכספאVogNo. 23; Assyriankaspu; probably thepalemetal Thes and others, compare RSJPh xiv,125) —׳כabsoluteGenesis 20:16+ 9silver, money(Late Hebrewid.; Phoenician, Zinjirliכסף; Aramaicכַּסְמָּא; PalmyreneכספאVogNo. 23; Assyriankaspu; probably thepalemetal Thes and others, compare RSJPh xiv,125) —׳כabsoluteGenesis 20:16+

H2891 טָהֵר
Definition:

3212t.; 3 feminine singularטָֽהֲרָהLeviticus 12:7;Leviticus 15:28;טָהֵ֑רָהLeviticus 12:8etc., + 5 t.Perfect; ImperfectיִטְהַרLeviticus 15:13;Job 4:17etc., + 9 t.Imperfect; Imperativeטְהָ֑ר2 Kings 5:10 3212t.; 3 feminine singularטָֽהֲרָהLeviticus 12:7;Leviticus 15:28;טָהֵ֑רָהLeviticus 12:8etc., + 5 t.Perfect; ImperfectיִטְהַרLeviticus 15:13;Job 4:17etc., + 9 t.Imperfect; Imperativeטְהָ֑ר2 Kings 5:10

Possible Meanings:
  • clearness (semantic_range)
  • lustre (semantic_range)
H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H1121 בֵּן
Definition:

25+;ֵ˜בּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16 25+;ֵ˜בּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16

Possible Meanings:
  • son (semantic_range)
  • son (semantic_range)
  • children (semantic_range)
  • youth (semantic_range)
  • young men (semantic_range)
H3878 לֵוִי
Definition:

34(J) interpreted asjoined, i. e. husband to wife;Numbers 18:2,4 (P; apparently in word-play) of Levites asjoined to, attendant upon, Aaron; originally asattached to, accompanyingIsrael from Egypt, La 34(J) interpreted asjoined, i. e. husband to wife;Numbers 18:2,4 (P; apparently in word-play) of Levites asjoined to, attendant upon, Aaron; originally asattached to, accompanyingIsrael from Egypt, La

H2212 זָקַק
Definition:

27;Isaiah 25:6. (Aramaicזְקַק; perhaps kindred with Assyrianza‡i‡u,wind, AsrbAnnals vi. 64 andAramaic,זִיקָּאviolent wind, violent rain with whirlwind) —QalImperfect3masculine pluralיָזֹ֫קּוּJob 28:1o 27;Isaiah 25:6. (Aramaicזְקַק; perhaps kindred with Assyrianza‡i‡u,wind, AsrbAnnals vi. 64 andAramaic,זִיקָּאviolent wind, violent rain with whirlwind) —QalImperfect3masculine pluralיָזֹ֫קּוּJob 28:1o

Possible Meanings:
  • bind, fetter (semantic_range)
  • restraint (semantic_range)
  • skin (semantic_range)
  • obligation (semantic_range)
  • ring (semantic_range)
H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H2091 זָהָב
Definition:

12gold(Late Hebrewid.; ArabicSabeanדֿהבe.g. Os29DHMZMG 1883, 338; Aramaicדְּהַב,, PalmyreneדהבאVogNo. 23) —׳זabsoluteGenesis 2:11364t.; constructGenesis 2:126t.; suffixזְהָבִי1 Kings 20:72t.;זְהָֽבְךָ 12gold(Late Hebrewid.; ArabicSabeanדֿהבe.g. Os29DHMZMG 1883, 338; Aramaicדְּהַב,, PalmyreneדהבאVogNo. 23) —׳זabsoluteGenesis 2:11364t.; constructGenesis 2:126t.; suffixזְהָבִי1 Kings 20:72t.;זְהָֽבְךָ

Possible Meanings:
  • golden oil (semantic_range)
H3701 כֶּסֶף
Definition:

9silver, money(Late Hebrewid.; Phoenician, Zinjirliכסף; Aramaicכַּסְמָּא; PalmyreneכספאVogNo. 23; Assyriankaspu; probably thepalemetal Thes and others, compare RSJPh xiv,125) —׳כabsoluteGenesis 20:16+ 9silver, money(Late Hebrewid.; Phoenician, Zinjirliכסף; Aramaicכַּסְמָּא; PalmyreneכספאVogNo. 23; Assyriankaspu; probably thepalemetal Thes and others, compare RSJPh xiv,125) —׳כabsoluteGenesis 20:16+

H1961 הָיָה
Definition:

1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu 1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu

Possible Meanings:
  • fall out (semantic_range)
  • come to pass (semantic_range)
  • become (semantic_range)
  • be (semantic_range)
  • Fall out (semantic_range)
H3068 יְהוָֹה
Definition:

7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when 7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when

Possible Meanings:
  • Yahweh (semantic_range)
  • the one bringing into being (semantic_range)
  • life-giver (semantic_range)
H5066 נָגַשׁ
Definition:

14+,יִגָּ֑שׁPsalm 91:7,וַיִּגַּשׁGenesis 18:23+; 3 feminine singularוַתִּגַּשׁGenesis 33:7; 2masculine singularתִּגַּשֿׁIsaiah 65:5; 3masculine pluralיִגְּשׁוּIsaiah 41:1+,יִגָּ֑שׁוּExodus 24:2,יִגַּ֑ 14+,יִגָּ֑שׁPsalm 91:7,וַיִּגַּשׁGenesis 18:23+; 3 feminine singularוַתִּגַּשׁGenesis 33:7; 2masculine singularתִּגַּשֿׁIsaiah 65:5; 3masculine pluralיִגְּשׁוּIsaiah 41:1+,יִגָּ֑שׁוּExodus 24:2,יִגַּ֑

Possible Meanings:
  • draw near (semantic_range)
  • approach (semantic_range)
  • draw near (semantic_range)
  • come near (semantic_range)
  • draw near (semantic_range)
H4503 מִנְחָה
Definition:

381t.; constructמִנְחַתLeviticus 2:722t.; suffixמִנְחָתִיGenesis 33:103t.; + 41 t. suffixes singular; plural suffixמִנְחֹתֶיךָPsalm 20:4;מִנְחֹתֵיבֶםNumbers 29:39;Amos 5:22; —1gift, presentGenesis 32: 381t.; constructמִנְחַתLeviticus 2:722t.; suffixמִנְחָתִיGenesis 33:103t.; + 41 t. suffixes singular; plural suffixמִנְחֹתֶיךָPsalm 20:4;מִנְחֹתֵיבֶםNumbers 29:39;Amos 5:22; —1gift, presentGenesis 32:

Possible Meanings:
  • offering (semantic_range)
H6666 צְדָקָה
Definition:

6+81 t.; constructצִדְקַתDeuteronomy 33:21+5 t.; suffixצִדְקָתִיGenesis 30:33+, etc.; pluralצְדָקוֺתIsaiah 33:15+3t.; constructצִדְקוֺתJudges 5:11+; suffixצִדְקֹתֶיךָDaniel 9:16, etc.; —1righteousness 6+81 t.; constructצִדְקַתDeuteronomy 33:21+5 t.; suffixצִדְקָתִיGenesis 30:33+, etc.; pluralצְדָקוֺתIsaiah 33:15+3t.; constructצִדְקוֺתJudges 5:11+; suffixצִדְקֹתֶיךָDaniel 9:16, etc.; —1righteousness

Possible Meanings:
  • right doing (semantic_range)

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