Whereas in verse 1 the LORD made statements about the wicked, speaking of them in the third person, in verses 2-3 he speaks to the faithful directly, addressing them in the second person.

But for you who fear my name: This verse and the next contrast the destiny of the faithful with that of the wicked described in verse 1. But should therefore be a strong term if translators have to choose between different conjunctions indicating contrast. You who fear my name are the same group of people as “those who feared the LORD and thought on his name” in 3.16. As before, the name stands for the person, and fear for “respect,” so Good News Translation is justified in rendering this expression as “you who obey me.” This may be a useful model for some translators.

The sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings: There are several translation questions in this clause. The phrase sun of righteousness occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament, so its meaning has been the subject of debate. In Christian tradition going back to early times, this phrase has been interpreted as relating to the coming of the Messiah. While there may be truth in this interpretation from a Christian perspective, it seems unlikely that this was the prophet’s main intention, and translators should avoid building such an interpretation into their translation. A number of English versions (Moffatt, Beck, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation, New King James Version ) follow King James Version in spelling “Sun” with a capital “S.” This spelling does suggest a reference to the Messiah, and translators should not follow it. The same versions (with the addition of New English Bible) translate “his wings/rays” rather than its wings, and this further strengthens the suggestion. (Beck and New King James Version even spell “His” with a capital “H.”) It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word for sun, which is usually masculine, is in this sentence feminine, so a literal translation would be “her wings,” but only Hill translates like that. This is a warning to translators not to read more into a text than the original writer intended. If translators wish to point out the tradition of interpreting this verse in relation to the Messiah, they should do so in a footnote (as Jerusalem Bible does), not in the text.

What then is the meaning of the expression sun of righteousness? The Hebrew word translated righteousness has a wide range of meaning associated with the idea of vindicating people and actions that are in accordance with the will of God. Thus New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible here translate it as “justice” and Contemporary English Version as “victory.” The phrase “saving power” in Good News Translation is based on a similar understanding, but is unfortunately quite unnatural style. Translators may render it as “justice,” “victory,” “vindication,” or even “salvation.” Possible models for sun of righteousness are “the sun that brings righteousness/justice” and “the sun that shows publicly that you [or, people] are right” (see the alternative models at the end of the verse).

For you … the sun … shall rise is a vivid and striking metaphor (compare 2 Sam 23.4; Psa 84.11), and if possible, translators should keep a figure of speech here. However, it may be clearer in some languages to turn the metaphor into a simile, as Good News Translation has with “will rise on you like the sun,” or perhaps “will shine on you like the sun.” The whole expression you … the sun of righteousness shall rise may then be understood to mean something like “the light of the sun will show that you are right.” For other possible restructurings, see the discussion below.

With healing in its wings: All over the ancient world from Egypt to Persia, the sun was pictured as a winged disk, and this is probably the symbolism behind Malachi’s figure of speech. Healing has the sense of restoring physical and psychological injuries to perfect condition. The sun is also associated with healing in Isa 30.26 and 58.8. In its wings is generally thought to be a figurative way of referring to the rays of the sun, so Good News Translation and numerous other versions translate wings as “rays.” The word translated wings can also mean a fold of a garment in which things could be carried (for instance Hag 2.12; Zech 8.23), much as a modern pocket. However, in English the idea of the sun having pockets is even more difficult than the idea of it having wings! New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “with healing in the folds of its garments” as an alternative rendering in a footnote and in some languages this may be a possible model.

Other possibilities for the first part of this verse are “As for you who follow me truly, that day will be a day of salvation for you. As the sun rises in the sky, so true judgment will spread across your land. The sun’s warmth will heal your wounds and sicknesses” and “As for you people who honor me with one heart, when dawn comes on that day, the sun will pull down truth and salvation on you. Its warmth will heal you.”

You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall: Here the figure changes, both in its form (a simile instead of a metaphor) and in its content. The imagery here seems to be of the faithful people leaping for joy like young cows let out into a field after being confined in a stall. It is also possible that calves kept in a stall were destined for fattening and slaughter (compare Amos 6.4). In that case, being released from the stall would be like being saved from execution. Whatever the exact background, the point of the picture seems to be joy, so Good News Translation renders “You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall.”

In most languages translators should be able to keep the picture of the calves. However, the picture of a winged sun bringing victory and healing may be too difficult for readers to understand, and in that case, a restructuring may be necessary, such as is done in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch. A possible model based on Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is:

• But for you who have been faithful to me, on that day the sun will rise. Its light will show publicly that you are right, and all your wounds will be healed. You will jump for joy like calves let out of a stall into a pasture.

Another model is:

• But for you who honor me, salvation will come upon you just as the rising sun heals you with its rays. You will jump….

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Malachi. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .