The Meaning of Malachi 3:13 Explained

Malachi 3:13

KJV: Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

YLT: Hard against Me have been your words, Said Jehovah, and ye have said: 'What have we spoken against Thee?'

Darby: Your words have been stout against me, saith Jehovah; but ye say, What have we been speaking against thee?

ASV: Your words have been stout against me, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, What have we spoken against thee?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Your words  have been stout  against me, saith  the LORD.  Yet ye say,  What have we spoken  [so much] against thee? 

What does Malachi 3:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The people had spoken arrogantly against the Lord, yet when faced with their disrespect they asked for proof.

Context Summary

Malachi 3:13-18 - Wickedness And Pride Shall Find Judgment
The day cometh! either in the fall of Jerusalem or in some terrible catastrophe yet future. Whenever it comes may we be reckoned as God's peculiar treasure, preserved as a woman preserves her jewels in the day of calamity, Malachi 3:17. Sorrow and disaster are perpetually befalling the proud, or those that do wickedly; while on those who fear God's name the dawn of the sun of righteousness is forever breaking and growing to the perfect day. In the beams of the sun there are not only light and color, but rays which bear health and vitality to the world and to men; so in Jesus there is power to salvation. Notice how the Old Testament ends with the word curse, while the Christ's proclamation opens with Blessed.
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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 3:13 mean?

Have been harsh against Me Your words says Yahweh And yet you say what have we spoken against You
חָזְק֥וּ עָלַ֛י דִּבְרֵיכֶ֖ם אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם מַה־ נִּדְבַּ֖רְנוּ עָלֶֽיךָ

חָזְק֥וּ  Have  been  harsh 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
עָלַ֛י  against  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
דִּבְרֵיכֶ֖ם  Your  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם  And  yet  you  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
נִּדְבַּ֖רְנוּ  have  we  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
עָלֶֽיךָ  against  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.