Malachi 1

The Lord's Love for Israel

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. 1

2 a "I have loved you," says the Lord. b But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau c Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet d I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. e I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert." 4 If Edom says, "We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins," the Lord of hosts says, "They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called 'the wicked country,' and 'the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.'" 5 f Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, "Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!"

The Priests' Polluted Offerings

6 g "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am h a father, where is my honor? And if I am i a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. b But you say, 'How have we despised your name?' 7 j By offering polluted food upon my altar. b But you say, 'How have we polluted you?' By saying that k the Lord's table may be despised. 8 l 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. 9 And now m entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, n will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. 10 o 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, p and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name q will be 2 great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name q will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that r the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. 13 But you say, s 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. t 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 u a male in his flock, and v vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For w I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name x will be feared among the nations.

  1. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 7:8
    But it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
    Jeremiah 31:3
    The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
  2. Cross References
    Malachi 2:14
    But you say, "Why does he not?" Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
    Malachi 2:17
    You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?
    Malachi 3:7 - 8
    From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?
    Malachi 3:13
    "Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, 'How have we spoken against you?'
  3. Cross References
    Amos 1:11
    Thus says the Lord : "For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity, and his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever.
    Obadiah 1:10
    Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 9:13
    As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
  5. Cross References
    Isaiah 34:13
    Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of jackals, an abode for ostriches.
    Jeremiah 49:10
    But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more.
    Jeremiah 49:18
    As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities were overthrown, says the Lord, no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her.
    Ezekiel 35:3 - 4
    And say to it, Thus says the Lord God : Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste.
    Joel 3:19
    Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 91:8
    You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
  7. Cross References
    Exodus 20:12
    Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 4:22
    Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son.
    Hosea 11:1
    When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
  9. Cross References
    Luke 6:46
    Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?
  10. Cross References
    Malachi 1:2
    I have loved you," says the Lord. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet I have loved Jacob
  11. Cross References
    Malachi 1:8
    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.
    Malachi 2:12
    May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!
    Malachi 3:3
    He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
  12. Cross References
    Malachi 1:2
    I have loved you," says the Lord. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet I have loved Jacob
  13. Cross References
    Malachi 1:12
    But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.
  14. Cross References
    Malachi 1:13
    But you say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. 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.
    Leviticus 22:22
    Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the Lord or give them to the Lord as a food offering on the altar.
  15. Cross References
    Zechariah 7:2
    Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the Lord.
  16. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 10:17
    For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
  17. Cross References
    Isaiah 1:13
    Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations - I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
  18. Cross References
    Isaiah 1:11
    What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord ; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
    Jeremiah 6:20
    What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.
    Amos 5:21
    I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
  19. Cross References
    Isaiah 2:2
    It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it.
    Isaiah 56:7
    These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
    Isaiah 60:3
    And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
    Isaiah 66:19
    And I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.
  20. Cross References
    Isaiah 2:2
    It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it.
    Isaiah 56:7
    These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
    Isaiah 60:3
    And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
    Isaiah 66:19
    And I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.
  21. Cross References
    Malachi 1:7
    By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, 'How have we polluted you?' By saying that the Lord 's table may be despised.
  22. Cross References
    Isaiah 43:23
    You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense.
    Malachi 3:14
    You have said, 'It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?
    Micah 6:3
    O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!
  23. Cross References
    Malachi 1:8
    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.
    Leviticus 22:20
    You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.
  24. Cross References
    Exodus 12:5
    Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.
  25. Cross References
    Leviticus 22:21
    And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.
  26. Cross References
    Zechariah 14:9
    And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.
  27. Cross References
    Psalms 47:2
    For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
    Psalms 76:12
    Who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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