King James Version

What Does Malachi 3:15 Mean?

Malachi 3:15 in the King James Version says “And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered....” — study this verse from Malachi chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. are set up: Heb. are built”

Malachi 3:15 · KJV

Salvation

Context

13

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

14

Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? ordinance: Heb. observation mournfully: Heb. in black

15

And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. are set up: Heb. are built

16

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

17

And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. jewels: or, special treasure

Read Malachi 3 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Continuing their complaint (v. 14), Israel points to apparent injustice: the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. We call the proud happy (מְאַשְּׁרִים זֵדִים, me'asherim zedim) means they consider the arrogant blessed or fortunate. The proud (זֵדִים, zedim) are the insolent, presumptuous, those who act with defiant pride against God.

They that work wickedness are set up (גַּם־נִבְנוּ עֹשֵׂי רִשְׁעָה, gam-nivnu osei rish'ah)—they're built up, established, prosper. They that tempt God are even delivered (גַּם בָּחֲנוּ אֱלֹהִים וַיִּמָּלֵטוּ, gam baḥanu elohim vayimmoletu)—those who test or provoke God escape judgment. The complaint echoes Psalm 73, where Asaph observes the wicked's prosperity and questions whether he's kept his heart pure in vain (Psalm 73:3, 13).

This is the age-old problem of theodicy—why do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer? Israel's complaint reveals flawed theology: they expect immediate temporal justice, assuming that blessing and curse should manifest instantly. They fail to recognize that God's justice operates on an eternal timeline. Asaph found resolution by entering God's sanctuary and understanding the wicked's ultimate end (Psalm 73:17-20). Similarly, God's answer to Israel comes through eschatological promise: a day of judgment approaches when the proud will burn as stubble (Malachi 4:1) while the righteous will leap like calves released from the stall (4:2). Present appearances don't reflect final reality.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Post-exilic Judah was surrounded by nations that didn't serve the LORD yet seemed to prosper—Edom despite its wickedness, Babylon's conquerors Persia, Greek influence spreading westward. Meanwhile covenant-keeping Jews struggled economically and remained politically subordinate. This apparent injustice tested faith. The same temptation appears throughout Scripture: Job's friends assumed suffering indicates sin while prosperity indicates righteousness; Jesus' disciples asked whether a man's blindness resulted from his sin or his parents' sin (John 9:2). The biblical answer consistently rejects simplistic prosperity theology while affirming God's ultimate justice. Hebrews 11 catalogs faithful believers who suffered terribly yet persevered through faith in future resurrection and reward (Hebrews 11:35-40). The cross itself demonstrates that God's justice operates differently than human expectations—Christ, the perfectly righteous one, suffered unjustly to redeem the wicked who deserve judgment. This reversal of expected justice is the gospel's heart.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do we maintain faith in God's justice when the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer?
  2. What does this verse reveal about the danger of judging God's faithfulness based on present circumstances rather than eternal promises?
  3. How does the cross—where perfect righteousness suffered ultimate injustice—reshape our understanding of how God's justice operates?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
וְעַתָּ֕ה1 of 12
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

אֲנַ֖חְנוּ2 of 12
H587

we

מְאַשְּׁרִ֣ים3 of 12

“And now we call”

H833

to be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy); figuratively, to go forward, be honest, prosper

זֵדִ֑ים4 of 12

“the proud”

H2086

arrogant

גַּם5 of 12
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

נִבְנוּ֙6 of 12

“are set up”

H1129

to build (literally and figuratively)

עֹשֵׂ֣י7 of 12

“yea they that work”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

רִשְׁעָ֔ה8 of 12

“wickedness”

H7564

wrong (especially moral)

גַּ֧ם9 of 12
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

בָּחֲנ֛וּ10 of 12

“yea they that tempt”

H974

to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate

אֱלֹהִ֖ים11 of 12

“God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

וַיִּמָּלֵֽטוּ׃12 of 12

“are even delivered”

H4422

properly, to be smooth, i.e., (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth youn

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Malachi. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Malachi 3:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Malachi 3:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Malachi 2:17Malachi 4:1Jeremiah 12:1-2Matthew 4:6-7Job 22:23Job 21:7-15

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