Malachi 4:1

Malachi 4:1. the day i.e. "the day" predicted in the preceding verse, with which this verse coheres closely. The commencing of a new chapter here in A.V. (and LXX., after Vulg., though not in our present Hebrew Bibles) is unfortunate. The R.V. rightly prints from Malachi 3:13 to Malachi 4:3 inclusive in a continuous paragraph.

that shall burn as an oven Rather, it burneth as a furnace, R.V. Comp. ἡ γὰρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει, ὅτι ἐν πυρὶ ἀποκαλύπτεται, for the day shall declare it, because it (the day) is revealed in fire, 1 Corinthians 3:13.

all the proud … all that do wickedly The judgment passed on them by the scoffers (Malachi 3:15) shall be signally reversed.

root nor branch A sudden change of figure from the straw or "stubble" to the tree which succumbs to the raging fire, till neither root nor branch remains.