Malachi 4:1-3
“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.”
King James Version · the opening — all 3 verses are below
More of Malachi 4 on this siteMalachi 4:4-6 · Malachi 4:5
The Day of the LORD burning the wicked like stubble in an oven, the great eschatological fire of judgment.
Read the whole passage — all 3 verses (KJV)
4:1For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
4:2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
4:3And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
Fulfillment References
Luke 1:78 Matthew 13:40-42
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe day comes that burns as an oven for the proud — 'But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings' (4:2). The Sun of righteousness is the Lord Jesus, the Dayspring from on high (Luke 1:78), the Light of the world whose rising brings healing and life. The same day is judgment to the wicked and salvation to those who fear the Name — the Name revealed in Christ.
JewishThe closing prophecy of the Hebrew Bible's prophets — the coming day burning the wicked, and healing rising for the God-fearing; the 'sun of righteousness' as God's saving advent.
CatholicThe Sun of righteousness fulfilled in Christ (echoed in Advent's 'O Oriens'); the day of judgment and healing.
Protestant'The Sun of righteousness... with healing in his wings' applied to Christ (cf. Luke 1:78; 'Hark! the Herald Angels Sing').
AcademicThe 'sun of righteousness' image has ancient Near Eastern solar-justice background, read messianically in later tradition.
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Audio narration (listen to this prophecy read aloud), cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, a prophetic timeline, network maps, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.