Malachi 2:13

And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth [it] with good will at your hand.

And this have ye done {H6213} again {H8145}, covering {H3680} the altar {H4196} of the LORD {H3068} with tears {H1832}, with weeping {H1065}, and with crying out {H603}, insomuch that he regardeth {H6437} not the offering {H4503} any more, or receiveth {H3947} it with good will {H7522} at your hand {H3027}.

Here is something else you do: you cover ADONAI's altar with tears, with weeping and with sighing, because he no longer looks at the offering or receives your gift with favor.

And this is another thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer regards your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.

And this again ye do: ye cover the altar of Jehovah with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, neither receiveth it with good will at your hand.

Malachi 2:13 presents a poignant scene of the people of Israel lamenting before the Lord, yet their tears and cries are met with divine rejection. This verse underscores a critical principle: God does not accept worship or offerings from those whose lives are characterized by unfaithfulness and injustice, particularly when they are causing harm to others.

Context of Malachi 2:13

The prophet Malachi ministered to the Jewish community in Jerusalem during the post-exilic period, likely in the mid-5th century BC, after the return from Babylonian captivity. Despite rebuilding the temple, the people and priests had grown spiritually apathetic and corrupt. Prior to this verse, Malachi condemns the priests for their defiled offerings (Malachi 1:6-14) and then turns to the people, accusing them of treachery. Specifically, verses Malachi 2:10-12 speak of breaking the covenant with their brethren, dealing treacherously with their wives, and marrying foreign women, which was forbidden. The "tears, with weeping, and with crying out" mentioned in verse 13 are likely those of the forsaken Israelite wives, or perhaps the people themselves lamenting their misfortune while still engaging in sin, expecting God to bless their offerings despite their unfaithfulness. God's response is clear: He "regardeth not the offering any more."

Key Themes and Messages

  • Rejected Worship: The verse powerfully illustrates that God does not accept ritualistic worship (sacrifices) when the heart is unfaithful and the hands are engaged in injustice. Outward piety cannot compensate for inward corruption or ethical failings.
  • Hypocrisy Exposed: The people's public displays of sorrow and lamenting at the altar were hollow. God saw through their pretense, recognizing that their tears were not born of genuine repentance for their sins but perhaps out of self-pity or frustration that their offerings were not being accepted.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: A central theme in Malachi is the importance of upholding covenant relationships – with God and with one another. The treachery mentioned in the preceding verses, especially concerning divorce, directly violates the covenant of marriage, which God views as a sacred bond (Malachi 2:14-16).
  • God's Justice and Discernment: The Lord is not deceived by outward appearances. He sees the heart and discerns the true intentions behind actions, responding justly to unfaithfulness.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "covering the altar of the LORD with tears" is a vivid metaphor. It doesn't mean literal tears on the altar, but rather that the atmosphere around the altar was filled with the sounds of their lamentation. However, these were not tears of genuine repentance over their sins. Instead, they were perhaps the tears of the wronged wives, or the people's own sorrow over their perceived lack of divine favor, without addressing the root cause of their unfaithfulness. The Lord's rejection signifies His refusal to engage with a people whose actions contradicted their professed devotion.

Practical Application

Malachi 2:13 serves as a timeless warning against hypocrisy and superficial religiosity. For believers today, it emphasizes:

  • Integrity in Worship: True worship involves not just outward rituals or expressions of devotion, but a heart that is right with God and others. As 1 Samuel 15:22 states, "To obey is better than sacrifice."
  • Right Relationships: Our relationship with God is inextricably linked to how we treat others, especially those within our covenant relationships (marriage, family, church). Injustice or treachery against others hinders our fellowship with God.
  • Genuine Repentance: When we lament or cry out to God, it must stem from a place of genuine sorrow for our sins and a desire to turn away from them, not just from the consequences of our actions. Only then can we expect God to "regard" our offerings and prayers with good will (Isaiah 1:15).

This verse challenges us to examine our hearts and ensure our worship is accompanied by a life of faithfulness, integrity, and justice, making our offerings truly acceptable to the Lord.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, 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. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 1:11

    To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

  • Isaiah 1:15

    And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

  • Jeremiah 14:12

    When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

  • Proverbs 15:8

    ¶ The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.

  • 1 Samuel 1:9

    ¶ So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

  • 1 Samuel 1:10

    And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

  • Nehemiah 8:9

    ¶ And Nehemiah, which [is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day [is] holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
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