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The Priests Defile Yahweh

“‘A son (A)honors his father, and a slave his master. Then if I am a (B)father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is the fear of Me?’ says Yahweh of hosts to you, O (C)priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ You are presenting (D)defiled [a](E)food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The (F)table of Yahweh is to be despised.’ But when you present the (G)blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Please, bring it near to your (H)governor! Would he accept you? Or would he lift up your face?” says Yahweh of hosts. “But now, [b](I)entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us! With this thing which is from your hand, will He (J)lift up any of your faces?” says Yahweh of hosts. 10 “Oh that there were one among you who would (K)shut the [c]gates, that you might not light a fire on My altar in vain! I have no delight in you,” says Yahweh of hosts, “(L)nor will I accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the (M)rising of the sun even to its setting, (N)My name will be (O)great among the nations, and in every place (P)incense is going to be presented to My name, as well as a grain offering that is clean; for My name will be (Q)great among the nations,” says Yahweh of hosts. 12 “But you are (R)profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 13 You also say, ‘Behold, how (S)tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by (T)robbery and what is (U)lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I (V)accept that from your hand?” says Yahweh. 14 “But cursed be the (W)swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a [d](X)blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great (Y)King,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and My name is [e](Z)feared among the [f]nations.”

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 1:7 Lit bread
  2. Malachi 1:9 Lit soften the face of
  3. Malachi 1:10 Or doors
  4. Malachi 1:14 Or ruined
  5. Malachi 1:14 Or reverenced
  6. Malachi 1:14 Or Gentiles

The Priests' Polluted Offerings

(A)“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am (B)a father, where is my honor? And if I am (C)a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. (D)But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ (E)By offering polluted food upon my altar. (F)But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that (G)the Lord's table may be despised. (H)When 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. And now (I)entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, (J)will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. 10 (K)Oh 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, (L)and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name (M)will be[a] great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name (N)will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that (O)the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. 13 But you say, (P)‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. (Q)You 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 (R)a male in his flock, and (S)vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For (T)I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name (U)will be feared among the nations.

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 1:11 Or is (three times in verse 11; also verse 14)

Breaking Covenant Through Blemished Sacrifices

“A son honors his father,(A) and a slave his master.(B) If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect(C) due me?” says the Lord Almighty.(D)

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask,(E) ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

“By offering defiled food(F) on my altar.

“But you ask,(G) ‘How have we defiled you?’

“By saying that the Lord’s table(H) is contemptible. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals,(I) is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased(J) with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.(K)

“Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings(L) from your hands, will he accept(M) you?”—says the Lord Almighty.

10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors,(N) so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased(O) with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept(P) no offering(Q) from your hands. 11 My name will be great(R) among the nations,(S) from where the sun rises to where it sets.(T) In every place incense(U) and pure offerings(V) will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

12 “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table(W) is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food(X) is contemptible.’ 13 And you say, ‘What a burden!’(Y) and you sniff at it contemptuously,(Z)” says the Lord Almighty.

“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices,(AA) should I accept them from your hands?”(AB) says the Lord. 14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal(AC) to the Lord. For I am a great king,(AD)” says the Lord Almighty,(AE) “and my name is to be feared(AF) among the nations.(AG)

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