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An oracle.[a] The word of Yahweh to Israel through[b] Malachi.[c]

An Oracle Against Edom

“I have loved you,” says Yahweh, but you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is Esau not Jacob’s brother?” declares[d] Yahweh. “I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated. I have made his[e] mountain ranges a desolation, and given his inheritance to the jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered, but we will return and rebuild the ruins,” Yahweh of hosts says this: “They may build, but I will tear down; and they will be called a territory of wickedness, and the people with whom Yahweh is angry forever.” Your eyes will see this, and you will say, “Yahweh is great beyond the borders[f] of Israel.”

An Oracle Against the Temple Priesthood

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master;[g] but if I am a father, where is my honor, and if I am a master,[h] where is my reverence?” says Yahweh of hosts to you, O priests, who despise[i] my name. “But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ You are presenting defiled food on my altar! But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By saying that the table of Yahweh is despised! When you offer a blind animal for sacrifice, is that not wrong?[j] And when you offer the lame and the one who is ill, is that not wrong?[k] Present it, please, to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Will he show you favor?”[l] says Yahweh of hosts. So then, implore the favor of God[m] so that he will be gracious to us. “This is what you have done.[n] Will he show favor to any of you?”[o] says Yahweh of hosts. 10 “Who also among you will shut the temple doors so that you will not kindle fire in vain on my altar? I take no pleasure in you,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and I will not accept[p] an offering from your hand. 11 From the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is being presented to my name, and a pure offering. For my name is great among the nations,” says Yahweh of hosts. 12 “But you are profaning it by saying the table of the Lord is defiled, and its fruit—its food[q]—is despised! 13 And you say, ‘Look! This is a weariness,’ and you sniff with disdain at it,” says Yahweh of hosts. “And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the one that is sick—this you bring as the offering! Should I accept it[r] from your hand?” says Yahweh. 14 “Cursed is the one who cheats, who has in his flock a male and vows it, but instead sacrifices a blemished one to the Lord! For I am a great king,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and my name is awesome among the nations.”

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 1:1 Literally “A burden”
  2. Malachi 1:1 Literally “by the hand of”
  3. Malachi 1:1 The name “Malachi” means “my messenger” in Hebrew
  4. Malachi 1:2 Literally “declaration of”
  5. Malachi 1:3 That is, “Esau’s”
  6. Malachi 1:5 Hebrew “boundary”
  7. Malachi 1:6 Hebrew “masters”
  8. Malachi 1:6 Hebrew “masters”
  9. Malachi 1:6 Literally “despisers of”
  10. Malachi 1:8 Or “is there no wrong?”
  11. Malachi 1:8 Or “is there no wrong?”
  12. Malachi 1:8 Literally “Will he lift your face?”
  13. Malachi 1:9 Literally “appease, please, the face of God”
  14. Malachi 1:9 Literally “From your hand was this”
  15. Malachi 1:9 Literally “will he lift up from you a face”
  16. Malachi 1:10 Literally “I will not take pleasure in”
  17. Malachi 1:12 The Hebrew here is difficult; “its food” may function to explain “its fruit”
  18. Malachi 1:13 Literally “take pleasure in it”

God’s Love for Jacob

The (A)pronouncement of the word of the Lord to (B)Israel through [a]Malachi:

“I have (C)loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was Esau not Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I (D)have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau, and I have (E)made his mountains a desolation and given his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.” Though Edom says, “We have been (F)beaten down, but we will [b](G)return and build up the ruins”; this is what the Lord of armies says: “They may (H)build, but I will tear down; and people will call them the [c]territory of wickedness, and the people [d]with whom the Lord is indignant (I)forever.” And your eyes will see this, and you will say, “(J)The Lord [e]be exalted beyond the [f]border of Israel!”

Sin of the Priests

“‘A son (K)honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a (L)father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My [g]respect?’ says the Lord of armies to you, the (M)priests who despise My name! But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ You are presenting (N)defiled [h](O)food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The (P)table of the Lord is to be despised.’ And when you present a (Q)blind animal for sacrifice, is it not evil? Or when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not evil? So offer it to your (R)governor! Would he be pleased with you, or would he receive you kindly?” says the Lord of armies. “But now, do indeed (S)plead for God’s favor, so that He will be gracious to us. [i]With such an offering on your part, will He (T)receive any of you kindly?” says the Lord of armies. 10 “If only there were one among you who would (U)shut the [j]gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar for nothing! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of armies, “(V)nor will I accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the (W)rising of the sun even to its setting, (X)My name shall be (Y)great among the nations, and in every place (Z)frankincense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name shall be (AA)great among the nations,” says the Lord of armies. 12 “But you are (AB)profaning it by your saying, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 13 You also say, ‘See, [k]how (AC)tiresome it is!’ And you view it as trivial,” says the Lord of armies, “and you bring what was taken by (AD)robbery and what is (AE)lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I (AF)accept it from your hand?” says the Lord. 14 “But cursed be the (AG)swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a (AH)blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great (AI)King,” says the Lord of armies, “and My name is [l](AJ)feared among the [m]nations.”

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 1:1 Or My messenger
  2. Malachi 1:4 Or rebuild the ruins
  3. Malachi 1:4 Lit border of wickedness
  4. Malachi 1:4 Or whom the Lord has cursed
  5. Malachi 1:5 Or will be great
  6. Malachi 1:5 Or territory
  7. Malachi 1:6 Lit fear
  8. Malachi 1:7 Lit bread
  9. Malachi 1:9 Lit This has been from your hand
  10. Malachi 1:10 Or doors
  11. Malachi 1:13 Lit it is hardship
  12. Malachi 1:14 Or revered
  13. Malachi 1:14 Or Gentiles