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Selected Verse: Malachi 3:3 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mal 3:3	Strong Concordance	And he shall sit [03427] as a refiner [06884] and purifier [02891] of silver [03701]: and he shall purify [02891] the sons [01121] of Levi [03878], and purge [02212] them as gold [02091] and silver [03701], that they may offer [05066] unto the LORD [03068] an offering [04503] in righteousness [06666].
	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
sit--The purifier sits before the crucible, fixing his eye on the metal, and taking care that the fire be not too hot, and keeping the metal in, only until he knows the dross to be completely removed by his seeing his own image reflected (Rom 8:29) in the glowing mass. So the Lord in the case of His elect (Job 23:10; Psa 66:10; Pro 17:3; Isa 48:10; Heb 12:10; Pe1 1:7). He will sit down to the work, not perfunctorily, but with patient love and unflinching justice. The Angel of the Covenant, as in leading His people out of Egypt by the pillar of cloud and fire, has an aspect of terror to His foes, of love to His friends. The same separating process goes on in the world as in each Christian. When the godly are completely separated from the ungodly, the world will end. When the dross is taken from the gold of the Christian, he will be for ever delivered from the furnace of trial. The purer the gold, the hotter the fire now; the whiter the garment, the harder the washing [MOORE]. purify . . . sons of Levi--of the sins specified above. The very Levites, the ministers of God, then needed cleansing, so universal was the depravity. that they may offer . . . in righteousness--as originally (Mal 2:6), not as latterly (Mal 1:7-14). So believers, the spiritual priesthood (Pe1 2:5).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

sit--The purifier sits before the crucible, fixing his eye on the metal, and taking care that the fire be not too hot, and keeping the metal in, only until he knows the dross to be completely removed by his seeing his own image reflected (Rom 8:29) in the glowing mass. So the Lord in the case of His elect (Job 23:10; Psa 66:10; Pro 17:3; Isa 48:10; Heb 12:10; Pe1 1:7). He will sit down to the work, not perfunctorily, but with patient love and unflinching justice. The Angel of the Covenant, as in leading His people out of Egypt by the pillar of cloud and fire, has an aspect of terror to His foes, of love to His friends. The same separating process goes on in the world as in each Christian. When the godly are completely separated from the ungodly, the world will end. When the dross is taken from the gold of the Christian, he will be for ever delivered from the furnace of trial. The purer the gold, the hotter the fire now; the whiter the garment, the harder the washing [MOORE].

purify . . . sons of Levi--of the sins specified above. The very Levites, the ministers of God, then needed cleansing, so universal was the depravity.

that they may offer . . . in righteousness--as originally (Mal 2:6), not as latterly (Mal 1:7-14). So believers, the spiritual priesthood (Pe1 2:5).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And He shall sit - o as a King and Judge on His throne, with authority, yet also to try accurately the cause of each, separating seeming virtues from real graces; hypocrites, more or less consciously, from His true servants. He shall purify o the sons of Levi - These had been first the leaders in degeneracy, the corrupters of the people by their example and connivance. Actually Act 6:7, "a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." Barnabas also was a Levite. Act 4:36. But more largely, as Zion and Jerusalem are the titles for the Christian Church, and Israel who believed was the true Israel, so "the sons of" Levi are the true Levites, the Apostles and their successors in the Christian priesthood. It was through three centuries of persecutions that the Church was purified by fire. That they may offer - , literally "and they shall be unto thy Lord offers of a meal-offering in righteousness," i. e., they shall be such, and that, habitually, abidingly. Again, here and in the next words, "and the meal-offering of Judah shall be pleasant unto the Lord," it is remarkable, that the "meal-offering," to which the holy eucharist corresponds, is alone mentioned. Of bloody offerings Malachi is silent, for they were to cease. In righteousness - , as Zacharias prophesied, "that we might serve Him in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life."

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
He shall fit - As resolved to attend his work and finish it. He shall purify - The effect of this fiery trial, shall be the thorough cleansing of the persons that are to pass through it. Sons of Levi - Either the Jewish Levites, or all Christians, who are made priests unto God. In righteousness - That they may offer themselves, their souls and bodies to God, in righteousness and true holiness.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
He shall sit as a refiner - Alluding to the case of a refiner of metals, sitting at his fire; increasing it when he sees necessary, and watching the process of his work. The sons of Levi - Those who minister in their stead under the New covenant, for the Old Levitical institutions shall be abolished; yet, under the preaching of our Lord, a great number of the priests became obedient to the faith, Act 6:7; and, as to the others that did not believe, this great Refiner threw them as dross into the Roman fire, that consumed both Jerusalem and the temple.

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⁵ Ye [846] also [2532], as [5613] lively [2198] stones [3037], are built up [3618] a spiritual [4152] house [3624], an holy [40] priesthood [2406], to offer up [399] spiritual [4152] sacrifices [2378], acceptable [2144] to God [2316] by [1223] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].

⁷ Ye offer [05066] polluted [01351] bread [03899] upon mine altar [04196]; and ye say [0559], Wherein have we polluted [01351] thee? In that ye say [0559], The table [07979] of the LORD [03068] is contemptible [0959].
⁸ And if ye offer [05066] the blind [05787] for sacrifice [02076], is it not evil [07451]? and if ye offer [05066] the lame [06455] and sick [02470], is it not evil [07451]? offer [07126] it now unto thy governor [06346]; will he be pleased [07521] with thee, or accept [05375] thy person [06440]? saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
⁹ And now, I pray you, beseech [02470] [06440] God [0410] that he will be gracious [02603] unto us: this hath been by your means [03027]: will he regard [05375] your persons [06440]? saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
¹⁰ Who is there even among you that would shut [05462] the doors [01817] for nought? neither do ye kindle [0215] fire on mine altar [04196] for nought [02600]. I have no pleasure [02656] in you, saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], neither will I accept [07521] an offering [04503] at your hand [03027].
¹¹ For from the rising [04217] of the sun [08121] even unto the going down [03996] of the same my name [08034] shall be great [01419] among the Gentiles [01471]; and in every place [04725] incense [06999] shall be offered [05066] unto my name [08034], and a pure [02889] offering [04503]: for my name [08034] shall be great [01419] among the heathen [01471], saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
¹² But ye have profaned [02490] it, in that ye say [0559], The table [07979] of the LORD [03068] is polluted [01351]; and the fruit [05108] thereof, even his meat [0400], is contemptible [0959].
¹³ Ye said [0559] also, Behold, what a weariness [04972] is it! and ye have snuffed [05301] at it, saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]; and ye brought [0935] that which was torn [01497], and the lame [06455], and the sick [02470]; thus ye brought [0935] an offering [04503]: should I accept [07521] this of your hand [03027]? saith [0559] the LORD [03068].
¹⁴ But cursed [0779] be the deceiver [05230], which [03426] hath in his flock [05739] a male [02145], and voweth [05087], and sacrificeth [02076] unto the Lord [0136] a corrupt thing [07843]: for I am a great [01419] King [04428], saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], and my name [08034] is dreadful [03372] among the heathen [01471].

⁶ The law [08451] of truth [0571] was in his mouth [06310], and iniquity [05766] was not found [04672] in his lips [08193]: he walked [01980] with me in peace [07965] and equity [04334], and did turn [07725] many [07227] away [07725] from iniquity [05771].

⁷ That [2443] the trial [1383] of your [5216] faith [4102], being much [4183] more precious [5093] than of gold [5553] that perisheth [622], though [1223] [1161] it be tried [1381] with fire [4442], might be found [2147] unto [1519] praise [1868] and [2532] honour [5092] and [2532] glory [1391] at [1722] the appearing [602] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]:

¹⁰ For [1063] they verily [3303] for [4314] a few [3641] days [2250] chastened [3811] us after [2596] their own [846] pleasure [1380]; but [1161] he for [1909] our profit [4851], that [1519] we might be partakers [3335] of his [846] holiness [41].

¹⁰ Behold, I have refined [06884] thee, but not with silver [03701]; I have chosen [0977] thee in the furnace [03564] of affliction [06040].

³ The fining pot [04715] is for silver [03701], and the furnace [03564] for gold [02091]: but the LORD [03068] trieth [0974] the hearts [03826].

¹⁰ For thou, O God [0430], hast proved [0974] us: thou hast tried [06884] us, as silver [03701] is tried [06884].

¹⁰ But he knoweth [03045] the way [01870] that I take [05978]: when he hath tried [0974] me, I shall come forth [03318] as gold [02091].

²⁹ For [3754] whom [3739] he did foreknow [4267], he [4309] also [2532] did predestinate [4309] to be conformed [4832] to the image [1504] of his [846] Son [5207], that [1519] he [846] might be [1511] the firstborn [4416] among [1722] many [4183] brethren [80].

³⁶ And [1161] Joses [2500], who [3588] by [5259] the apostles [652] was surnamed [1941] Barnabas [921], (which [3739] is [2076], being interpreted [3177], The son [5207] of consolation [3874],) a Levite [3019], and of the country [1085] of Cyprus [2953],

⁷ And [2532] the word [3056] of God [2316] increased [837]; and [2532] the number [706] of the disciples [3101] multiplied [4129] in [1722] Jerusalem [2419] greatly [4970]; and [5037] a great [4183] company [3793] of the priests [2409] were obedient [5219] to the faith [4102].