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 li…

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’ soap:"

— Malachi 3:2, King James Version

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Malachi 3:2 in Other Translations

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Malachi 3 — Context

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 shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

4

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

5

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 3:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Malachi 3:2 say?
Malachi 3:2 in the King James Version reads: “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:”
Where is Malachi 3:2 in the Bible?
Malachi 3:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Malachi, chapter 3, verse 2.
Who wrote Malachi?
Malachi is traditionally attributed to Malachi. It was written c. 430 BC.
What is the book of Malachi about?
Malachi closes the Old Testament with a series of disputations: God says one thing, the people say another, and God answers. He confronts faithless priests, broken marriages, and stingy worship, then promises a coming messenger who will prepare the way of the LORD.
What are the major themes of Malachi?
Malachi explores themes including Covenant Faithfulness, Worship, Tithing, Marriage, Coming Messenger. These themes shape the meaning and context of Malachi 3:2.
What translation should I read Malachi 3:2 in?
Malachi 3:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Malachi 3:2?
Malachi 3:2 reads (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:” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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