Sun of righteousness sounds like an ordinary expression until we dig deeper into the Bible verse and the fulfillment of the prophecy in which it appears. Then it is clear that it is another of the messianic names of Jesus (Yeshua‘).
Sun of righteousness (Shemesh tsedaqah) in the Hebrew text of Malachi 4:2
Sun of righteousness in Hebrew:
Shemesh tsedaqah
Strong’s Concordance numbers: 8121, 6666
Bible reference: Mal. 4:2 (personified in KJV, Amp)
Notice how some Bible versions use this as a prophetic name for a person—the Lord Jesus Christ:
Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Mal. 4:2 KJV)
An important part of Jesus’ ministry was healing the sick. One fulfillment of the passage by Jesus is even more specific.
Many Jews expected the messiah (Christ) to exercise healing power. Perhaps the woman with the disabling and humiliating hemorrhage was among them and would have understood “Sun of righteousness” as a messianic name. Did she touch Jesus’ fringe because she knew that the Hebrew word for the corner of a garment also means “wings”?1 Anyway, her bold faith bore fruit—she went home healed.
- Khanaf is also translated “fold” (Hag. 2:12), “corner” (Num. 15:38; Deut. 22:12), and “edge” (1 Sam. 15:27; 24:4, 5, 11; Ezek. 5:3). [↩]
