Malachi 4:5-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Malachi 4:4-6

This is doubtless intended for a solemn conclusion, not only of this prophecy, but of the canon of the Old Testament, and is a plain information that they were not to expect any more sayings nor writing by divine inspiration, any more of the dictates of the Spirit of prophecy, till the beginning of the gospel of the Messiah, which sets aside the Apocrypha as no part of holy writ, and which therefore the Jews never received. Now that prophecy ceases, and is about to be sealed up, there are two... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 4:5

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet ,.... Not the Tishbite, as the Septuagint version wrongly inserts instead of prophet; not Elijah in person, who lived in the times of Ahab; but John the Baptist, who was to come in the power and spirit of Elijah, Luke 1:17 between whom there was a great likeness in their temper and disposition; in their manner of clothing, and austere way of living; in their courage and integrity in reproving vice; and in their zeal and usefulness in the cause of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 4:6

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children ,.... Or "with" the children, as Kimchi; and Ben Melech observes, that על is put for עם , and so in the next clause: and the heart of the children to their fathers ; or "with" their fathers; that is, both fathers and children: the meaning is, that John the Baptist should be an instrument of converting many of the Jews, both fathers and children, and bringing them to the knowledge and faith of the true Messiah; and reconcile... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 4:5

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet - This is meant alone of John the Baptist, as we learn from Luke 1:17 ; (note), in whose spirit and power he came. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 4:6

And he shall turn (convert) the heart of the fathers ( על al , with) the children - Or, together with the children; both old and young. Lest I come, and, finding them unconverted, smote the land with a curse, חרם cherem , utter extinction. So we find that, had the Jews turned to God, and received the Messiah at the preaching of John the Baptist and that of Christ and his apostles, the awful חרם cherem of final excision and execration would not have been executed upon them.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 4:5

Verse 5 The Prophet continues the same subject; for having testified to the Jews, that though God would for a time suspend the course of prophetic teaching, they yet had in the law what was sufficient for salvation, he now promises the renovation of the Church; as though he had said, “The Lord will again unexpectedly utter his voice after a long silence.” Isaiah speaks on the same subject, prophesying of the return of the people, when he says, “Comfort ye, comfort my people, will our God say.”... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 4:6

Verse 6 This verse may be viewed as containing a simple promise; but I prefer to regard it as including what is between an exhortation and a promise. The first thing is, that God reminds the Jews for what purpose he would send John, even to turn the hearts of men and to restore them to a holy unity of faith. It must therefore be noticed, that not only the Redeemer would come, but that after some intermission, as it has been said, had taken place, the doctrine of salvation would again have its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 4:4-6

§ 5. Concluding admonition to remember the Law, lest they should be liable to the curse. In order to avert this, the Lord, before his coming, would send Elijah to promote a change of heart in the nation. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 4:4-6

The sufficiency of God's successive revelations. The introduction of the appeal in Malachi 4:4 between the predictions and promises of Malachi 4:2 , Malachi 4:3 and Malachi 4:5 , Malachi 4:6 has at first sight an appearance of abruptness. The promise of Malachi 4:5 lay in the indefinite, and as we know the distant, future. Malachi proved to be the last of the prophets of the old covenant. In the long interval between Malachi and John the Baptist there were times when Israel... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 4:5

Elijah the prophet. This is not the same personage as the "messenger" in Malachi 3:1 ; for the latter comes before the first advent of the Lord, the former appears before the day of judgment; one comes to prepare the way of the Lord, and is followed immediately by Messiah's coming to his temple; the other is sent to convert the chosen people, lest the land be smitten with a curse. There seems to be no valid reason for not holding the literal sense of the words, and seeing in them a promise... read more

Group of Brands