Malachi 3:11

11 I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

Malachi 3:11

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes
Or "eater" F13; the locust or caterpillar, or any such devouring creature, that eats up the herbage, corn, and fruits of trees; every such creature is under the restraint of Providence; and by a nod, a rebuke, they are easily prevented doing the mischief they otherwise would; these are the Lord's great army, which he can send and call off as he pleases, ( Joel 1:4 ) ( 2:25 ) :

and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground;
as he has done, by eating all green things, as the locust, caterpillar, and canker worm do, grass, corn, and trees:

neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the
field;
which some understand of the devourer or locust, that that should not cause the vine to be abortive, or cast its fruit before its time, or bereave it of it; but it seems best to interpret it of the vine itself not casting its fruit, as an untimely birth, by blighting and blasting winds:

saith the Lord of hosts;
who holds the winds in his fists, and will not suffer them when he pleases, any more than the locusts, to hurt the trees of the earth, ( Revelation 7:1 Revelation 7:3 ) ( 9:4 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F13 (lkab) "comedentem", Drusius, Cocceius; "eum qui comedit", Burkius.

Malachi 3:11 In-Context

9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you!
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
11 I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts.
12 Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
13 You have spoken harsh words against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, "How have we spoken against you?"

Footnotes 1

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.