unfoldingWord_en_tn/mal/03/03.md

1.2 KiB

he will purify the sons of Levi

Forgiving the sons of Levi and persuading them not to sin any longer is spoken of as if it were purifying metal. Alternate translation: "he will correct the sons of Levi and forgive them for having sinned" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

the sons of Levi

Here "sons" refers to descendants. The male descendants of Levi were the priests and workers in the temple. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

He will sit

Here sitting implies the action of a metalworker, who sits down in order to purify small amounts of gold or silver. It also implies the action of a king, who sits down to judge people and give decrees. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)

He will refine them like gold and silver

Here persuading people not to sin any longer is spoken of as if a metalworker were making gold and silver more pure. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile)

they will bring offerings of righteousness to Yahweh

Here "of righteousness" means "motivated by righteous desires to worship God." Alternate translation: "they will bring acceptable offerings to Yahweh in order to worship Yahweh"