A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Malachi 1
Malachi 1 is the opening chapter of the thirty-ninth book of the Bible and the last book of the Old Testament in the Christian arrangement. The 14-verse chapter opens the prophet's series of disputes between God and the people of post-exile Judah.
The chapter opens with a brief identification: an oracle delivered through Malachi. The book is dated to the mid-fifth century BC, perhaps during or shortly after the reforms of Nehemiah. Some scholars suggest Malachi (which means "my messenger") may be a title rather than a personal name.
The book is structured around a series of disputes that follow a recurring pattern. God states a claim. The people protest with a question. God answers in detail. This first chapter contains two of these disputes.
The first dispute is about God's love. God declares his love for Israel. The people ask how he has loved them. God answers by contrasting Israel with Edom, the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. Esau's territory has been laid waste while Jacob's descendants have been preserved. Edom may try to rebuild, but the Lord will tear down whatever they build.
The second dispute begins in verse 6 and runs to the end of the chapter. God charges the priests with despising his name. The priests ask how they have despised it. God answers: by offering blind, lame, and sick animals as sacrifices. They would not dare offer such animals to the governor as gifts; why offer them to God? The chapter closes with God declaring his name great among the nations and warning the priests that he prefers the temple doors closed to receiving worthless offerings.
Verse 1. This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi:
Verse 2. “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved,
Verse 3. but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
Verse 4. Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.
Verse 5. You will see this with your own eyes, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great—even beyond the borders of Israel.’”
Verse 6. “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
Verse 7. By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.
Verse 8. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
Verse 9. “But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
Verse 10. “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
Verse 11. For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Verse 12. “But you profane it when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is contemptible.’
Verse 13. You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts. “You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD.
Verse 14. “But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.
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