OET interlinear MAL 3:6

3:6

As this is a new section, it may be helpful in some languages to begin this verse with a speech clause like, “The LORD says.” This will make it clear that the LORD was still speaking, the same as he was doing at the end of the previous section.

3:6a

Because: The Hebrew word ki which the BSB translates as Because introduces the reasonAnother possible way to interpret kî here is as an “assertive intensifier,” that is, it means something like “truly, indeed.” This verse is then asserting or insisting on a truth which may be contrary to the expectation of the hearers. See Verhoef (1987). for the following statement in 3:6b.A third interpretation is suggested by Glazier-McDonald (1987 ⁽¹⁾), taking kî as causal, introducing the reason why Yahweh has not changed: ‘because I am Yahweh, I have not changed.’ The statement ‘because I am Yahweh I have not changed’ then serves as the basis for the Yahweh’s appeal to the people to repent and return to him (3:6–12).Carl Follingstad (personal communication) has this to say in support of the first interpretation given in the Notes: “In many cases, kî is used to metarepresent a correcting thought relative to some assumed incorrect one held by the hearer. This is called assertive focus in Functional Grammar. In the English example, ‘he went’ versus ‘he DID go,’ the ‘did’ [termed ‘do periphrasis’] with focus intonation in the second sentence marks assertive focus—it means that the proposition ‘he went’ is not only stated, but positively asserted relative to some hesitant or contrary presupposition, whether implied or explicitly stated previously by the speaker himself in the context…it is primarily the focus intonation on NOT that is the equivalent of kî in English.…kî in Mal 3:6 is probably metarepresenting (or asserting) a correcting proposition relative to one which the speaker assumes the hearer/reader has at that point. Yahweh (through the prophet representing Yahweh) assumes the hearer/reader has overlooked, is hesitant about, or disbelieves the proposition ‘I the Lord do not change (contrary to your presupposition that I may change, or lack of appreciation or belief that I still judge the unjust, etc).’”For further discussion on the function of kî in Hebrew discourse, see Follingstad (2001). Some ways to express the connection in English are:

Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished. (NET)

I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed. (NLT)

I am the Lord, and I do not change. And so you, the descendants of Jacob, are not yet completely lost. (GNT)

I, the LORD, do not change: The people of Israel had not kept the LORD’s covenant. And in 2:17–3:5, the LORD warned them that he would judge them. So a reader might expect that the LORD would abandon the people of Israel and destroy them completely. But what the LORD said here was contrary to that expectation. He was reminding the people that he never changes, and therefore, in spite of all their unfaithfulness, he would still keep his covenant with them. So this section, 3:6–18, called the people of Israel to repent and begin to follow him again.

3:6b

you descendants of Jacob: This refers to the people of Israel. It may be helpful to your readers to use a footnote to explain that the expression descendants of Jacob here refers to the people of Israel.

Jacob: The name Jacob, rather than “Israel,” is often used in passages which focus on the weakness of the people of Israel. The name Jacob reminds people of a human being with weaknesses and frailty. “Israel” was the name God gave Jacob when he gave him a special position as the ancestor of the people of Israel.

have not been destroyed: The Hebrew verb which the BSB translates as have not been destroyed has the basic meaning of “bring to an end.” Scholars understand it in different ways in this verse:

1. It means “have not been destroyed” or “have not ceased to exist.” In this context it implies that God had not destroyed the people of Israel because he never changes. This implies that he will remain faithful to the covenant he made with them. For example:

   So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. (NIV) (BSB, NIV, GNT, RSV, CEV, NLT, NCV, GW, KJV, NASB, NET)

2. It means “have not ceased to be sons (descendants) of Jacob.” This interpretation follows the LXX. It probably involves an implied reference to the meaning of the name “Jacob,” that is, “deceiver.” In this context it implies that they have not ceased to be deceivers like their ancestor Jacob. This meaning relates closely to the idea of the following verse. For example:

   and you have not ceased to be children of Jacob. (REB) (NJB, REB, NJPS)

It is recommended that you follow option (1).