Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
Parallel translations
- WEB “Your words have been stout against me,” says Yahweh. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against you?’
- BSB “Your words against Me have been harsh,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against You?’
- NKJV “Yourwords have been harsh against Me,” Says the Lord, “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’
- NASB “Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’
- NLT “You have said terrible things about me,” says the Lord. “But you say, ‘What do you mean? What have we said against you?’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God confronts the people for speaking harsh, arrogant words against Him, which they deny having spoken.
Overview
This begins the book's final dispute, exposing the people's defiant speech against God even as they feign innocence. Their words, detailed in the next verses, reveal hearts hardened by cynicism. The verse reminds us that God hears all our words and that grumbling against Him is a serious matter, calling us instead to humble trust.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Mal 2:17Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
- Rom 9:20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
- Isa 37:23Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
- 2 Th 2:4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
- Mal 1:6–8A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
- Mal 2:14Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
- Job 40:8Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
- Jer 8:12Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
- 2 Chr 32:14–19Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?
- Job 34:7–8What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
- Exod 5:2And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
- Mal 3:8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
- Isa 28:14–15Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
- Ps 10:11He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
- Isa 5:19That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The messenger who prepares the way, the sun of righteousness rising with healing, and the Lord suddenly coming to his temple set the stage for the gospel that opens with John and Jesus.
How Malachi 3:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.