Malachi 1, Priestly Contempt

The last prophetic book in the Old Testament was probably written around 460 BC, shortly after the last prophecies of Zechariah. during the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple, during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. In this book, God speaks to the people in a dialogue, stating questions the people have and then giving His response. 

Malachi 1:1-5, Jacob over Edom

An oracle: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi. 

"I have loved you," says the LORD.  

"But you ask, `How have you loved us?' 

"Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" the LORD says. "Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals."  

Edom may say, "Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins." 

But this is what the LORD Almighty says: "They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the LORD.  

You will see it with your own eyes and say, `Great is the LORD--even beyond the borders of Israel!'  

This passage is a rare Old Testament passage in which God explicitly says that He loves Israel (Baldwin.) An imaginary dialogue is given in which God addresses Israel and the people respond. God's longterm love for Israel is demonstrated by His choice of Jacob and his descendants over those of Esau. The people of Israel, despite their sins and suffering, are special in God's sight. In the New Testament, this passage is quoted by the apostle Paul in Romans 9:10-13, in an argument on God's sovereignty. 

The meaning of the Hebrew word tannah, here translated "jackal", is uncertain. (The King James Version translates the word as "dragon", both here and in Lamentations 4:3, the only other place where it occurs in the Old Testament manuscripts.)

Even with the first statements about Edom, YHWH intends to act beyond the borders of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus ministers to the people of the ancient region of Edom (Idumea and the transjordan) in Mark 3:8.

Malachi 1:6-8, Priests show contempt

"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty. 

"It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name. 

"But you ask, `How have we shown contempt for your name?'  

"You place defiled food on my altar. "

But you ask, `How have we defiled you?' 

"By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.  

Despite YHWH's choice of Israel, the priests ignore God. Instead of treating Him as father or master, they show contempt for God in their apathy in worship. They bring to the altar sacrifices of poor quality and assume God does not see.

"The LORD's table" is an unusual phrase (Baldwin.) It is a place where the priests make sacrifices and Ezekiel uses that concept in his propesies of the future temple in Ezekiel 44:15-16. In the New Testament that term will represent a specific regular celebration (eg. Mark 14:22-25.)

Malachi 1:9-12, Useless sacrifices

 "Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?"--says the LORD Almighty.  

"Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands.  

My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty. 

"But you profane it by saying of the Lord's table, `It is defiled,' and of its food, `It is contemptible.'  

It is better, says God, that the priests close up the temple than continue with these useless, mindless rituals. The priests profane God's name -- but YHWH will ultimately be worshiped among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other (see also Psalm 50:1, Psalm 113:3.)

Malachi 1:13-14, Contemptuous sniff

And you say, `What a burden!' and you sniff at it contemptuously," says the LORD Almighty. 

"When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?" says the LORD.  

"Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.  

                 

The people sacrifice blemished animals while promising better ones. The deceit and contempt practiced by the priests has global significance. YHWH Adonai will be worshiped by all the nations, beginning with the worship in Jerusalem.

First published December 26, 2025; updated December 26, 2025