Mark 1:2

Mark 1:2

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

a. NLT: Just as the prophet Isaiah had written: “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way.  [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. NKJV:  As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.”[fn] [Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.]

d. Amplified Bible: Just as it is written in the prophet Isaiah: Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will make ready Your way. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Worrell Translation: As it has been written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way; [Copyright 1904 by A.S. Worrell. Copyright assigned to the Assemblies of God, Springfield, MO. This edition was published 1980 by the Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO 65802. Printed in the U.S.A.]

f. YLT: As it hath been written in the prophets, 'Lo, I send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee,' --

1. “As it is written in the prophets…”

a. As [Strong: 5613 hōs, hoce; probably adverb of comparative from G3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):—about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, × with all speed.]

b. [it is] written [Strong: 1125 gráphō, graf'-o; a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:—describe, write(-ing, -ten).]

c. in [Strong: 1722 en, en; a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:—about, after, against, + almost, × altogether, among, × as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), × mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, × outwardly, one, × quickly, × shortly, (speedi-)ly, × that, × there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

d. the [Strong: 3588. [tois] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tois] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]

e. prophets [Strong:  4396 prophḗtēs, prof-ay'-tace; from a compound of G4253 and G5346; a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:—prophet.]

1). The KJV and YLT are the only translations that use the plural of “prophet”. The reasoning of course is because there are two prophets cited, Isaiah and Malachi. David Stern in his “Jewish New Testament Commentary” writes, “Only the last two lines quoted are from Isaiah; the first two are from Malachi. The scroll of the Prophets begins with Isaiah, and it was common to refer to a scroll by its first book”

2). The citation in this verse is from Malachi.

a). Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

2. “…Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.”

a. Behold [Strong: 2400 idoú, id-oo'; second person singular imperative middle voice of G1492; used as imperative lo!; --behold, lo, see.]

b. I [Strong: 1473 egṓ, eg-o'; a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):—I, me.]

c. send [Strong: 649 apostéllō, ap-os-tel'-lo; from G575 and G4724; set apart, i.e. (by implication) to send out (properly, on a mission) literally or figuratively:—put in, send (away, forth, out), set (at liberty).

d. my [Strong: 3450 moû, moo; the simpler form of G1700; of me:—I, me, mine (own), my.]

e. messenger [Strong: 32 ággelos, ang'-el-os; from ἀγγέλλω aggéllō (probably derived from G71; compare G34) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor:—angel, messenger.]

f. before [Strong: 4253 pró, pro; a primary preposition; "fore", i.e. in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to:—above, ago, before, or ever.]

g. thy [Strong: 4675 soû, soo; genitive case of G4771; of thee, thy:—X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.

h. face [Strong: 4383 prósōpon, pros'-o-pon; from G4314 and ὤψ ṓps (the visage, from G3700); the front (as being towards view), i.e. the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication, presence, person:—(outward) appearance, × before, countenance, face, fashion, (men's) person, presence.]

i. which [Strong: 3739 hós, hos; probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:—one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

j. [shall]  prepare [Strong: 2680 kataskeuázō, kat-ask-yoo-ad'-zo; from G2596 and a derivative of G4632; to prepare thoroughly (properly, by external equipment; whereas G2090 refers rather to internal fitness); by implication, to construct, create:—build, make, ordain, prepare.]

k. thy [Strong: 4675 soû, soo; genitive case of G4771; of thee, thy:—X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.

l. way [Strong: 3598 hodós, hod-os'; apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress (the route, act or distance); figuratively, a mode or means:—journey, (high-)way.

* hodos] [Strong: apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress (the route, act or distance); figuratively, a mode or means:--journey, (high-)way.]

m. before [Strong: 1715 émprosthen, em'-pros-then; from G1722 and G4314; in front of (in place (literally or figuratively) or time):—against, at, before, (in presence, sight) of.]

n. thee [Strong: 4675 soû, soo; genitive case of G4771; of thee, thy:—X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.

1). The reference in Malachi is “My messenger…before me.” Jesus Christ is Jehovah God.