Maleachi 1:14

14 Ja, vervloekt zij de bedrieger, die een mannetje in zijn kudde heeft, en den Heere belooft, en offert, dat verdorven is! want Ik ben een groot Koning, zegt de HEERE der heirscharen, en Mijn Naam is vreselijk onder de heidenen.

Maleachi 1:14 Meaning and Commentary

Malachi 1:14

But cursed be the deceiver
A cunning, crafty, subtle man, who thinks and contrives, speaks and acts, in a very artful and deceiving manner; though some derive the word from (lky) , "to be able"; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "who is able"; to bring a proper offering, a perfect lamb, as it follows:

which hath in his flock a male;
without spot and blemish, as the law requires:

and voweth and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing;
that was a female, or had blemishes in it; for the law required what was perfect and without a blemish for a vow; what was superfluous or deficient in its parts might do for a freewill offering, but not for a vow, ( Leviticus 22:18-20 Leviticus 22:23 ) wherefore such a man must be accursed, and such conduct must be highly resented by the Lord; had he it not in his power to do better, it might be excusable; but then it would be better not to have vowed at all; but to vow a sacrifice to the Lord, and deal deceitfully with him, when he could have brought an offering agreeable to his vow, and to the law, this is aggravated wickedness:

for I [am] a great King, saith the Lord of hosts;
the King of the whole world, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; and therefore to be honoured and reverenced suitable to his dignity and greatness:

and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen;
because of his judgments executed among them; or rather because of his Gospel preached unto them; for this may be considered as a prophecy of what would be when the Gospel should be spread in the Gentile world; and therefore if they, when he was made known to them, would fear and reverence him; then the Israelites, to whom he had given such instances and proofs of his love, ought to have shown a greater regard unto him.

Maleachi 1:14 In-Context

12 Maar gij ontheiligt dien, als gij zegt: Des HEEREN tafel is ontreinigd, en haar inkomen, haar spijs is verachtelijk.

13 Nog zegt gij: Ziet, wat een vermoeidheid! maar gij zoudt het kunnen wegblazen, zegt de HEERE der heirscharen; gij brengt ook hetgeen geroofd is, en dat kreupel en krank is; gij brengt ook spijsoffer; zou Mij zulks aangenaam zijn van uw hand? zegt de HEERE.

14 Ja, vervloekt zij de bedrieger, die een mannetje in zijn kudde heeft, en den Heere belooft, en offert, dat verdorven is! want Ik ben een groot Koning, zegt de HEERE der heirscharen, en Mijn Naam is vreselijk onder de heidenen.