The Meaning of Malachi 3:2 Explained

Malachi 3:2

KJV: But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

YLT: And who is bearing the day of his coming? And who is standing in his appearing? For he is as fire of a refiner, And as soap of a fuller.

Darby: But who shall endure the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he will be like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' lye.

ASV: But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But who may abide  the day  of his coming?  and who shall stand  when he appeareth?  for he [is] like a refiner's  fire,  and like fullers'  soap: 

What does Malachi 3:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Malachi 3:1-12 - A Purging From Evil
The opening verses of this chapter stir the heart like the call of a trumpet. We remember how literally they were fulfilled in the presentation of our Lord in the Temple by His parents. Unnoticed by the crowds, jostled amid the press, borne in the arms of poverty, the King suddenly came to His Temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant. Only two faithful retainers, Simeon and Anna, were there to welcome Him. But there is another and more personal reference. Let us keep the doors of our hearts wide open to the coming of the King. There may be no blare of trumpet, no flash of jewel, no cry of herald, but into your heart's secret shrine He will come. Is not this just what we need? Make haste, great Lord of all, and in our poor hearts do thy blessed work, that we may be refined as gold and silver, and offer to thee an offering in righteousness. Then will it be a delight to bring all the tithes into the storehouse. [source]

Chapter Summary: Malachi 3

1  Of the messenger, majesty, and grace of Christ
7  Of the rebellion,
8  sacrilege,
13  and infidelity of the people
16  The promise of blessing to those who fear God

What do the individual words in Malachi 3:2 mean?

But who can endure - the day of His coming and who can stand when He appears for He [is] like fire of a refiner and like soap launderer's
וּמִ֤י מְכַלְכֵּל֙ אֶת־ י֣וֹם ؟ בּוֹא֔וֹ וּמִ֥י הָעֹמֵ֖ד ؟ בְּהֵרָֽאוֹת֑וֹ כִּֽי־ הוּא֙ כְּאֵ֣שׁ מְצָרֵ֔ף וּכְבֹרִ֖ית מְכַבְּסִֽים

וּמִ֤י  But  who 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
מְכַלְכֵּל֙  can  endure 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: כּוּל  
Sense: to seize, contain, measure.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
י֣וֹם  the  day 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
؟ בּוֹא֔וֹ  of  His  coming 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
וּמִ֥י  and  who 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
הָעֹמֵ֖ד  can  stand 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
؟ בְּהֵרָֽאוֹת֑וֹ  when  He  appears 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
כְּאֵ֣שׁ  [is]  like  fire 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
מְצָרֵ֔ף  of  a  refiner 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: צָרַף  
Sense: to smelt, refine, test.
וּכְבֹרִ֖ית  and  like  soap 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֹּרִית  
Sense: lye, potash, soap, alkali (used in washing).
מְכַבְּסִֽים  launderer's 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: כָּבַס  
Sense: to wash (by treading), be washed, perform the work of a fuller.