The phrase in Malachi 4:2 that is rendered as “go out from the stall” in some English translations is translated into Afar as ogok yifdigen rugaageh: “calves released from a tether” (nomads use tethers rather than stalls for animals).
righteous, righteousness
The Greek, Hebrew, and Latin terms that are translated in English mostly as “righteous” as an adjective or personified noun or “righteousness” (also as “upright(ness)” and “just(ice)”) are most commonly expressed with concept of “straightness,” though this may be expressed in a number of ways. (Click or tap here to see the details)
Following is a list of (back-) translations of various languages:
- Bambara, Southern Bobo Madaré, Chokwe (ululi), Amganad Ifugao, Chol, Eastern Maninkakan, Toraja-Sa’dan, Pamona, Batak Toba, Bilua, Tiv: “be straight”
- Laka: “follow the straight way” or “to straight-straight” (a reduplicated form for emphasis)
- Sayula Popoluca: “walk straight”
- Highland Puebla Nahuatl, Kekchí, Muna: “have a straight heart”
- Kipsigis: “do the truth”
- Mezquital Otomi: “do according to the truth”
- Huautla Mazatec: “have truth”
- Yine: “fulfill what one should do”
- Indonesian: “be true”
- Navajo (Dinė): “do just so”
- Anuak: “do as it should be”
- Mossi: “have a white stomach” (see also happiness / joy)
- Paasaal: “white heart” (source: Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)
- (San Mateo del Mar Huave: “completely good” (the translation does not imply sinless perfection)
- Nuer: “way of right” (“there is a complex concept of “right” vs. ‘left’ in Nuer where ‘right’ indicates that which is masculine, strong, good, and moral, and ‘left’ denotes what is feminine, weak, and sinful (a strictly masculine viewpoint!) The ‘way of right’ is therefore righteousness, but of course women may also attain this way, for the opposition is more classificatory than descriptive.”) (This and all above from Bratcher / Nida except for Bilua: Carl Gross; Tiv: Rob Koops; Muna: René van den Berg)
- Central Subanen: “wise-good” (source: Robert Brichoux in OPTAT 1988/2, p. 80ff. )
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “live well”
- Mezquital Otomi: “goodness before the face of God” (source for this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl: “the result of heart-straightening” (source: Nida 1947, p. 224)
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “entirely good” (when referred to God), “do good” or “not be a debtor as God sees one” (when referred to people)
- Carib: “level”
- Tzotzil: “straight-hearted”
- Ojitlán Chinantec: “right and straight”
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “walk straight” (source for this and four previous: John Beekman in Notes on Translation November 1964, p. 1-22)
- Makonde: “doing what God wants” (in a context of us doing) and “be good in God’s eyes” (in the context of being made righteous by God) (note that justify / justification is translated as “to be made good in the eyes of God.” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
- Aari: The Pauline word for “righteous” is generally rendered by “makes one without sin” in the Aari, sometimes “before God” is added for clarity. (Source: Loren Bliese)
- North Alaskan Inupiatun: “having sin taken away” (Source: Nida 1952, p. 144)
- Nyamwezi: wa lole: “just” or “someone who follows the law of God” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
- Venda: “nothing wrong, OK” (Source: J.A. van Roy in The Bible Translator 1972, p. 418ff. )
- Ekari: maakodo bokouto or “enormous truth” (the same word that is also used for “truth“; bokouto — “enormous” — is being used as an attribute for abstract nouns to denote that they are of God [see also here]; source: Marion Doble in The Bible Translator 1963, p. 37ff. ).
- Guhu-Samane: pobi or “right” (also: “right (side),” “(legal) right,” “straightness,” “correction,” “south,” “possession,” “pertinence,” “kingdom,” “fame,” “information,” or “speech” — “According to [Guhu-Samane] thinking there is a common core of meaning among all these glosses. Even from an English point of view the first five can be seen to be closely related, simply because of their similarity in English. However, from that point the nuances of meaning are not so apparent. They relate in some such a fashion as this: As one faces the morning sun, south lies to the right hand (as north lies to the left); then at one’s right hand are his possessions and whatever pertains to him; thus, a rich man’s many possessions and scope of power and influence is his kingdom; so, the rich and other important people encounter fame; and all of this spreads as information and forms most of the framework of the people’s speech.”) (Source: Ernest Richert in Notes on Translation 1964, p. 11ff.)
- German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): Gerechtheit, a neologism to differentiate it from the commonly-used Gerechtigkeit which can mean “righteousness” but is more often used in modern German as “fairness” (Berger / Nord especially use Gerechtheit in Letter to the Romans) or Gerechtestun, also a neologism, meaning “righteous deeds” (especially in Letter to the Ephesians)
- “did what he should” (Eastern Highland Otomi)
- “a clear man, good [man]” (Mairasi) (source: Enggavoter 2004)
See also respectable, righteous, righteous (person), devout, and She is more in the right(eous) than I.
complete verse (Malachi 4:2)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Malachi 4:2:
- Kupsabiny: “But the sun of righteousness will shine on you and bring you who obey me life. That is when you shall jump from joy like calves who jump for joy when they are well-fed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
- Newari: “But this will happen, for you who fear me, however, the power of righteousness will be like the rising sun. Its rays will heal your diseases. You will be glad like calves let out of their stall, jumping for joy. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
- Hiligaynon: “But you (plur.) on-the-other-hand who honor me, you (plur.) will experience my saving/deliverance to you (plur.). This (is) seems like the rising-up of the sun that its brightness gives healing. And you (plur.) will-leap/jump for joy like the calves that were-caused-to-come-out of the stall.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “But as for you who esteem me, later indeed (predictive formula) righteousness/justice will arrive like sunshine that appears (lit. comes-out) to heal/medicine you, and you will jump in your happiness like the way a cow calf does that is set-loose.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- English: “But as for you who revere me , the one who will save you will come to you like the sun shines in the morning, and enable you to become righteous (OR, do what is righteous); he will restore you and protect you like a bird protects its chicks under its wings. When he comes, you will be very joyful, like calves that go out from a barn into the pasture leaping joyfully.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.
(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
See also pronoun for “God”.
formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Translation commentary on Malachi 4:2
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 .
SIL Translator’s Notes on Malachi 4:2
4:2a
But: This verse makes a contrast between the arrogant evil-doers who were mentioned in 4:1 and those who fear the LORD. In some languages it may be helpful to make that contrast explicit. For example:
But it will be different on that day for you who revere my name.
you who fear My name: See “fear” in the note on 1:6c–d.
My name: In the Hebrew Bible, the phrase “the LORD’s name” or “his name” refers to God himself or his authority. It was also used in this way in 1:6. See the note on 1:6f. Good News Translation simply uses “me” instead of My name.
4:2b
the sun of righteousness will rise: This is a metaphor. Although commentators and English versions differ about the interpretation here, it probably refers to the coming of the Messiah (see 3:1).
This metaphor of the sun rising indicates that, as the Messiah comes, he will bring light and will end darkness. In other words, he will bring goodness and justice and destroy evil.
righteousness: The Hebrew word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as righteousness is the word ṣedaqah. It occurs frequently in the Old Testament. It is usually translated either righteousness or “justice.”
In this context it refers to the righteousness that the Messiah will bring when he comes. When he comes, he intends to cause his people to be righteous and to restore justice.
Most English versions translate ṣedaqah here as “righteousness.”
4:2c
with healing in its wings: Scholars do not agree about what this figure of speech means. The wings of the sun probably refer to the sun’s rays. This symbolizes power and protection.
So, in this context, Malachi used this figure of speech to refer to the LORD’s power to heal and protect his people from harm.
healing: The idea of healing here implies more than physical healing. It also implies spiritual healing that brings peace and well-being. In Jeremiah 33:6, the same word is used in a similar way.
In some languages a word like “healing” may refer only to physical healing. If that is true in your language, you may want to use an expression which could include spiritual healing, as well. For example:
restoration
well-being
General Comment on 4:2b–c
This passage uses the sun and its rays as figures of speech. Some ways to express the meaning are:
But for you who revere me, ⌊the one who brings⌋ righteousness will rise ⌊like⌋ the sun to deliver and restore you.
-or-
But for you who revere me, ⌊the one whom I send⌋ will rise to bring justice ⌊like⌋ the sun ⌊rises⌋ with healing in its rays.
4:2d
This verse part begins with the Hebrew conjunction w-. It introduces another event which will happen when 4:2b occurs. English versions translate it as “and” or omit it. Use a connection which is natural in your language.
you: That is, you who fear my name. See the note on 4:2a.
will go out and leap like calves from the stall: This compares the people to calves which jump playfully when their owners release them from confinement. The emphasis is on the people’s joy and freedom. It is not on the place they will leave or go to.
The LORD was implying that on the day when he comes to bring justice/righteousness, he will free his people from all that oppresses them. Some ways to translate this are:
And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and you will skip about like calves released from the stall. (NET Bible)
the stall: The Hebrew word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as the stall literally means “tying place.” It refers to the place where calves were kept and fattened. This probably implies that the calves were well fed and healthy. For example:
You will jump around, like well-fed calves. (New Century Version)
However most English versions omit this implication. Instead they focus on the calves’ freedom from the stall or from the place where they have been tied. For example:
You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall. (Good News Translation)
Express this freedom in a natural way in your language.
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