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Malachi 1:6

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¶ 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?

A son {H1121} honoureth {H3513} his father {H1}, and a servant {H5650} his master {H113}: if then I be a father {H1}, where is mine honour {H3519}? and if I be a master {H113}, where is my fear {H4172}? saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635} unto you, O priests {H3548}, that despise {H959} my name {H8034}. And ye say {H559}, Wherein have we despised {H959} thy name {H8034}?

"A son honors his father and a servant his master. But if I'm a father, where is the honor due me? and if I'm a master, where is the respect due me? - says ADONAI-Tzva'ot to you cohanim who despise my name. You ask, 'How are we despising your name?'

“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?’

A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehovah of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

Commentary

Malachi 1:6 (KJV)

¶ 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?

Commentary on Malachi 1:6

This verse opens God's indictment against the priests of Israel in the time of Malachi, roughly a century after the return from Babylonian exile. The people and their religious leaders had grown complacent and irreverent in their service to God.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Rightful Claim: God establishes His claim to honor and reverence by comparing Himself to a father (deserving honor from a son) and a master (deserving fear/respect from a servant). These are fundamental human relationships where respect is naturally expected.
  • The Priests' Failure: The accusation is directed specifically at the priests ("O priests, that despise my name"). They, who were set apart to minister before God and teach the people, were treating God with contempt through their actions (detailed in subsequent verses).
  • Spiritual Blindness: The priests' question, "Wherein have we despised thy name?", reveals either genuine ignorance of their sin or a defiant refusal to acknowledge it. This shows a profound disconnect between their religious duties and their heart attitude towards God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "fear" (יִרְאָה, yirah) carries the sense of reverence, awe, and deep respect, not merely terror. It signifies acknowledging God's supreme authority and holiness. To "despise" (בָּזָה, bazah) means to regard as worthless or contemptible, the opposite of the honor God deserves.

Practical Application

This verse challenges anyone who serves God, particularly those in leadership. Do we approach God with genuine honor and reverence? Is our worship and service perfunctory, or does it stem from a heart that truly fears and respects His name? Our actions reveal whether we truly honor God or, like the priests, inadvertently despise Him.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 10:3 (God will be sanctified among those who come near Him)
  • Hebrews 12:28 (Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear)
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 6:46 (59 votes)

    And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

  • Isaiah 1:2 (33 votes)

    ¶ Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

  • Exodus 20:12 (28 votes)

    ¶ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

  • John 13:13 (27 votes)

    Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am.

  • John 13:17 (27 votes)

    If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

  • 1 Peter 2:17 (24 votes)

    Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

  • 1 Peter 2:19 (24 votes)

    For this [is] thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.