Mal 4:6 | TNotes | STEP | 4:6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children: Two key themes prominent in Malachi and the Old Testament prophets in general are the turning of hearts and the ministry of reconciliation. Turn is the Old Testament term for repentance and indicates a complete change of loyalties. Turning toward God results in reconciliation between generations (see 2 Cor 5:18-20 ). • strike the land with a curse: The word curse implies total destruction (see Deut 7:26 ; 1 Sam 15:18 ; Zech 14:11 ). The people of Israel who did not respond to God’s prophet would face utter oblivion, as had been the fate of their Canaanite predecessors (e.g., Josh 6:17 ).

b2 Cor 5:18-20►

cDeut 7:26►

d1 Sam 15:18►

eZech 14:11►

fJosh 6:17►

‏ Malachi 4:6

4:6 ^a His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children: Two key themes prominent in Malachi and the Old Testament prophets in general are the turning of hearts and the ministry of reconciliation. Turn is the Old Testament term for repentance and indicates a complete change of loyalties. Turning toward God results in reconciliation between generations (see 2 Cor 5:18-20 ^b).

• strike the land with a curse: The word curse implies total destruction (see Deut 7:26 ^c; 1 Sam 15:18 ^d; Zech 14:11 ^e). The people of Israel who did not respond to God’s prophet would face utter oblivion, as had been the fate of their Canaanite predecessors (e.g., Josh 6:17 ^f).