Malachi 1

Listen to Malachi 1
1 The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.[a]

The Lord's Love for Israel

2 1"I have loved you," says the LORD. 2But you say, "How have you loved us?""Is not Esau 3Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet 4I have loved Jacob
3 but Esau I have hated. 5I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert."
4 If Edom says, "We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins," the LORD of hosts says, "They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called 'the wicked country,' and 'the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.'"
5 6Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, "Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!"

The Priests' Polluted Offerings

6 7"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am 8a father, where is my honor? And if I am 9a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. 10But you say, 'How have we despised your name?'
7 11By offering polluted food upon my altar. 12But you say, 'How have we polluted you?' By saying that 13the LORD's table may be despised.
8 14When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.
9 And now 15entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, 16will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts.
10 17Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, 18and I will not accept an offering from your hand.
11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name 19will be[b] great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name 20will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.
12 But you profane it when you say that 21the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.
13 But you say, 22'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. 23You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD.
14 Cursed be the cheat who has 24a male in his flock, and 25vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For 26I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name 27will be feared among the nations.

Images for Malachi 1

Cross References 27

  • 1. Deuteronomy 7:8; Jeremiah 31:3
  • 2. [Malachi 2:14, 17; Malachi 3:7, 8, 13]
  • 3. [Amos 1:11; Obadiah 10]
  • 4. Cited Romans 9:13
  • 5. Isaiah 34:13; Jeremiah 49:10, 18; Ezekiel 35:3, 4; Joel 3:19
  • 6. Psalms 91:8
  • 7. See Exodus 20:12
  • 8. Exodus 4:22; Hosea 11:1
  • 9. [Luke 6:46]
  • 10. [See ver. 2 above]
  • 11. [ver. 8; Malachi 2:12; Malachi 3:3]
  • 12. [See ver. 2 above]
  • 13. [ver. 12]
  • 14. [ver. 13]; See Leviticus 22:22
  • 15. See Zechariah 7:2
  • 16. See Deuteronomy 10:17
  • 17. [Isaiah 1:13]
  • 18. [Isaiah 1:11; Jeremiah 6:20; Amos 5:21]
  • 19. [Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 56:7; Isaiah 60:3; Isaiah 66:19]
  • 20. [Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 56:7; Isaiah 60:3; Isaiah 66:19]
  • 21. [ver. 7]
  • 22. Isaiah 43:23; [Malachi 3:14; Micah 6:3]
  • 23. [ver. 8; Leviticus 22:20]
  • 24. See Exodus 12:5
  • 25. [Leviticus 22:21]
  • 26. See Zechariah 14:9
  • 27. Psalms 47:2; Psalms 76:12

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Malachi means my messenger
  • [b]. Or is (three times in verse 11; also verse 14)

Malachi 1 Commentaries

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.