King James Bible
"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
The prophet speaks of Elijah's mission to restore broken family relationships, beginning with fathers' affections toward their children. This reversal of generational estrangement was crucial in a society where covenant faithfulness passed through family lines. The restoration is reciprocal—children will also return in love and respect to their fathers. This mutual reconciliation reflects the broader covenant renewal between God and Israel, as family unity mirrors divine-human harmony. The warning reveals the stakes: without this relational healing, God's judgment will fall as a curse upon the land. The Hebrew term for 'curse' (herem) implies total destruction, making reconciliation not merely ideal but essential for survival.