Malachi 1

King James Version

Full text for Malachi Chapter 1

1¶ The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

2I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? [Was] not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

4Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.

5And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

6¶ A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I [be] a father, where [is] mine honour? and if I [be] a master, where [is] my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

7Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD [is] contemptible.

8And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, [is it] not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, [is it] not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

9And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.

10Who [is there] even among you that would shut the doors [for nought]? neither do ye kindle [fire] on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense [shall be] offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name [shall be] great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

12But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD [is] polluted; and the fruit thereof, [even] his meat, [is] contemptible.

13Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness [is it]! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought [that which was] torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

14But cursed [be] the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The prophet Malachi delivers a burden from the LORD to Israel, who question God's love despite His choice of Jacob over Esau and the desolation of Edom. God rebukes the priests for despising His name by offering polluted and blemished sacrifices, thereby showing contempt for His altar. He declares His displeasure with their offerings and prophesies that His name will be great among the Gentiles with pure offerings.

Medium Summary

Malachi begins with a divine burden to Israel, where the LORD affirms His love for them, citing His election of Jacob and rejection of Esau, whose land of Edom is laid waste and will remain so. God then confronts the priests, questioning their lack of honor and fear, as they have despised His name. They are accused of offering polluted bread and blemished animals—the blind, lame, and sick—as sacrifices, deeming the LORD's table contemptible. The LORD declares He has no pleasure in their offerings and will not accept them. He contrasts their unfaithfulness with a future time when His name will be great among the Gentiles, and pure offerings will be presented worldwide, while cursing those who deceitfully offer corrupt sacrifices.

Long Summary

The first chapter of Malachi opens with a solemn burden from the word of the LORD directed to Israel through the prophet. God initiates a dialogue by declaring His enduring love for Israel, which they question. In response, the LORD reminds them of His sovereign choice, stating, "I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau," whose mountains and heritage were laid waste for the wilderness, a desolation Edom cannot reverse. Edom's attempts to rebuild will be thwarted, and they will forever be known as "The border of wickedness" and "The people against whom the LORD hath indignation." God then turns His rebuke to the priests, challenging their lack of honor and fear, asking, "if I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear?" They are accused of despising His name by offering polluted bread upon His altar and declaring the LORD's table contemptible. Furthermore, they bring blind, lame, and sick animals for sacrifice, which God deems evil and unacceptable, questioning if a governor would accept such offerings. The LORD expresses His utter displeasure, stating, "I have no pleasure in you... neither will I accept an offering at your hand." He prophesies that His name will be great among the Gentiles "from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same," and pure offerings will be made in every place. In stark contrast, the priests have profaned His name, viewing their service as a weariness and offering torn, lame, and sick animals. The chapter concludes with a curse upon the deceiver who has a male animal in his flock but vows and sacrifices a corrupt thing, emphasizing God's identity as a great King whose name is dreadful among the heathen.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Election and LoveGod affirms His love for Israel, demonstrated by His sovereign choice of Jacob over Esau, leading to the prosperity of one and the desolation of the other.
  • Edom's DesolationThe land of Esau (Edom) is described as laid waste, and despite their desire to rebuild, God declares He will continually throw down their efforts, marking them as a people of perpetual wickedness.
  • Priestly DishonorThe LORD directly confronts the priests for their lack of reverence, accusing them of despising His name by failing to show Him the honor due a father or the fear due a master.
  • Contemptible OfferingsThe priests are rebuked for offering polluted bread and blemished animals—the blind, lame, and sick—as sacrifices, thereby treating the LORD's altar and His provisions with contempt.
  • God's Rejection of OfferingsDue to the priests' unfaithfulness and the corrupt nature of their sacrifices, God declares He has no pleasure in them and will not accept any offering from their hands.
  • Universal Worship and GloryIn contrast to Israel's current state, God prophesies that His name will be great among the Gentiles, and pure offerings will be presented to Him in every place across the earth.
  • Curse on DeceiversA curse is pronounced upon those who possess suitable, unblemished animals for sacrifice but deceitfully offer corrupt or inferior ones to the LORD, who is a great and dreadful King.