Malachi 3:2

But by whom may the day of his coming be faced? and who may keep his place when he is seen? for he is like the metal-tester's fire and the cleaner's soap.

Bible in Basic English

In The King James Version

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’ sope:

In Context

1See, I am sending my servant, and he will make ready the way before me; and the Lord, whom you are looking for, will suddenly come to his Temple; and the angel of the agreement, in whom you have delight, see, he is coming, says the Lord of armies.

3He will take his seat, testing and cleaning the sons of Levi, burning away the evil from them as from gold and silver; so that they may make offerings to the Lord in righteousness.

Read all of Malachi 3

Cross References

Genesis 19:28And looking in the direction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the lowland, he saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke of an oven.

Job 28:1Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out.

Isaiah 1:18Come now, and let us have an argument together, says the Lord: how may your sins which are red like blood be white as snow? how may their dark purple seem like wool?

Jeremiah 2:22For even if you are washed with soda and take much soap, still your evil-doing is marked before me, says the Lord God.

Amos 5:18Sorrow to you who are looking for the day of the Lord! what is the day of the Lord to you? it is dark and not light.

Malachi 4:1For see, the day is coming, it is burning like an oven; all the men of pride and all who do evil will be dry stems of grass: and in the day which is coming they will be burned up, says the Lord of armies, till they have not a root or a branch.

Matthew Henry on Malachi 3:2-7

Evangelical Predictions; The Advent of Christ Predicted. ( b. c. 400.) 1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. 2 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: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he… Read the whole commentary →

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