Malachi 1:12

12 And ye have profaned it when ye say, We die of hunger at the service of the LORD and when ye speak that his food is contemptible.

Malachi 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

Malachi 1:12

But ye have profaned it
That is, the name of the Lord, which they are said to despise, ( Malachi 1:6 ) and pollute, ( Malachi 1:7 ) and is a reason why they and their offerings were rejected: and that they profaned the name of the Lord appears by this, in that ye say, The table of the Lord [is] polluted:
the same with "contemptible", ( Malachi 1:7 ) as Kimchi observes; (See Gill on Malachi 1:7): and the fruit thereof, [even] his meat is contemptible;
the word for fruit F15 sometimes is used for speech, the fruit of the lips, ( Isaiah 57:19 ) and taken in this sense here, as it is by some, may be understood either of the word of God, which commanded such and such sacrifices to be offered up upon the altar, and was despised, so Abarbinel: or the word of the priests, who were continually saying that what was offered up on the altar was contemptible, even the food which they ate of; so Jarchi and Kimchi. "Fruit" and "meat" seem to signify one and the same thing, and design the fruit and meat of the altar; either that which belonged to the Lord, the fat and the blood, which were offered to him, and were reckoned contemptible; or that which fell to the share of the priests, which they thought mean and worthless. Cocceius interprets this of Christ the Branch of the Lord, and fruit of the earth, ( Isaiah 4:2 ) whose meat it was to do the will of him that sent him, and was despised and rejected by the Jews; and which was the reason of God's casting them off, and taking in the Gentiles.


FOOTNOTES:

F15 (wbyn) "et verbum ejus", Pagninus, Munster; "sermo ejus, [vel] eorum", Vatablus; so Ben Melech.

Malachi 1:12 In-Context

10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors or tend the fire on my altar for free? I have no pleasure in you, said the LORD of the hosts, neither will the offering from your hand be agreeable unto me.
11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name is great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense is offered unto my name, and a clean offering; for my name is great among the Gentiles, said the LORD of the hosts.
12 And ye have profaned it when ye say, We die of hunger at the service of the LORD and when ye speak that his food is contemptible.
13 And ye say, Behold, what a weariness it is! and ye have rejected it, said the LORD of the hosts; and ye brought that which was stolen or lame or sick and presented an offering: should this be acceptable unto me by your hand? said the LORD.
14 But cursed be the deceiver, who has in his flock a male and vows and sacrifices unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of the hosts, and my name is formidable among the Gentiles.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010