Malachi 1:13

Ye 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.

Ye said {H559} also, Behold, what a weariness {H4972} is it! and ye have snuffed {H5301} at it, saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}; and ye brought {H935} that which was torn {H1497}, and the lame {H6455}, and the sick {H2470}; thus ye brought {H935} an offering {H4503}: should I accept {H7521} this of your hand {H3027}? saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}.

You also say, 'It's all so tiresome!' and sniff scornfully at it," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot. "Then you bring animals that were taken by violence, or they are lame or sick. This is the sort of offering you bring. Am I supposed to accept this from you?" asks ADONAI.

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.

Ye say also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith Jehovah of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering: should I accept this at your hand? saith Jehovah.

Commentary

Context

Malachi, the final book of the Old Testament, addresses the spiritual apathy and complacency of the Jewish people and their priests after their return from Babylonian exile. Despite the rebuilt temple, their worship had become ritualistic and insincere. This verse is a direct accusation from God, revealing how they viewed their religious duties as a burden and offered substandard sacrifices, directly violating the Mosaic Law regarding unblemished offerings.

Key Themes

  • Disrespectful Worship: The phrase "what a weariness [is it]!" encapsulates the people's and priests' disdain for their sacred duties, treating them as an onerous chore rather than a privilege. Their attitude demonstrates a profound lack of reverence for God and the sacrificial system He instituted.
  • Defiled Offerings: God condemns the practice of bringing "torn, and the lame, and the sick" animals for sacrifice. The Law explicitly required animals to be without blemish, symbolizing purity and the best given to God. Offering such inferior animals was an insult, implying God was not worthy of their best.
  • God's Rejection of Insincerity: The rhetorical question, "should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD," underscores God's righteous indignation and His absolute refusal to accept offerings given with a contemptuous heart or of inferior quality. This highlights that God values the heart behind the offering more than the offering itself, a principle echoed in 1 Samuel 15:22.

Linguistic Insights

  • The title "the LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: YHWH Sabaoth) is frequently used in Malachi. It emphasizes God's supreme authority, power, and sovereignty over all creation and spiritual armies. This title amplifies the severity of their disrespect, as they were treating the Almighty God with contempt.
  • To "snuff at it" indicates a dismissive, scornful attitude, as if exhaling in disdain. It conveys utter contempt and rejection of the sacred duty, treating it as something worthless or disgusting.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful mirror for modern believers, prompting self-examination of our attitude towards worship, service, and giving. Are we offering God our "best" – our primary time, talents, and resources – or merely the "leftovers" or what is convenient?

God is not impressed by outward rituals if the heart is not engaged. He desires genuine devotion and sincerity, recognizing that true worship involves giving our whole selves, not just going through the motions. It reminds us that God sees beyond our actions to the intentions and attitudes of our hearts, calling us to offer sincere, wholehearted devotion.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Micah 6:3

    O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

  • Mark 14:37

    And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?

  • Mark 14:38

    Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly [is] ready, but the flesh [is] weak.

  • Ezekiel 4:14

    Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.

  • Isaiah 57:6

    Among the smooth [stones] of the stream [is] thy portion; they, they [are] thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

  • Zechariah 7:5

    Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh [month], even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, [even] to me?

  • Zechariah 7:6

    And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat [for yourselves], and drink [for yourselves]?
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