The Meaning of Malachi 1:11 Explained

Malachi 1:11

KJV: For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

YLT: For, from the rising of the sun to its going in, Great is My name among nations, And in every place perfume is brought nigh to My name, and a pure present, For great is My name among nations, Said Jehovah of Hosts.

Darby: For from the rising of the sun even unto its setting my name shall be great among the nations; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure oblation: for my name shall be great among the nations, saith Jehovah of hosts.

ASV: For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name'shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense'shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name'shall be great among the Gentiles, saith Jehovah of hosts.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For from the rising  of the sun  even unto the going down  of the same my name  [shall be] great  among the Gentiles;  and in every place  incense  [shall be] offered  unto my name,  and a pure  offering:  for my name  [shall be] great  among the heathen,  saith  the LORD  of hosts. 

What does Malachi 1:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

It was particularly inappropriate for Israel"s priests to despise Yahweh because the time would come when people from all over the world would honor His name (i.e, His person; cf. Isaiah 45:22-25; Isaiah 49:5-7; Isaiah 59:19). Incense accompanied prayers (cf. Revelation 5:8) and grain offerings were offerings of praise and worship (cf. Hebrews 13:15-16). In that day people from many places would offer pure offerings. This refers to worship in the Millennium (cf. Malachi 3:1-4; Isaiah 11:3-4; Isaiah 11:9; Daniel 7:13-14; Daniel 7:27-28; Zephaniah 2:11; Zephaniah 3:8-11; Zechariah 14:9; Zechariah 14:16).
"Others argue that this verse legitimizes sincere pagan worship as really being directed to the one true God. However, such a notion is antithetical to the militant monotheism that permeates Israel"s Yahwistic theology." [1]

Context Summary

Malachi 1:1-14 - Sincerity Of Worship Sought
The love referred to in these opening Malachi 1:1-5, was exemplified in the divine choice, that through Israel the whole world might be blessed. Hate does not mean positive dislike but a forfeiture of the supreme place of privilege and ministry. Esau's sensuous nature preferred the mess of pottage to the birthright, and this was characteristic of his people. In Malachi 1:6-14 the prophet turns to the priests. They despised God's name and without scruple offered on his altar the lame, the blind, and the sick. They did not hesitate to speak of the routine of Levitical service as a weariness. Notice the pathetic appeal of Malachi 1:10, r.v., "Oh that there were one to shut the doors of my house, that ye might not offer vain sacrifices!" In contrast to this indifference, the truly marvelous outlook in Malachi 1:11 is very significant. Far away from Jewish altars, God's name was revered in Gentile lands, and sacrifices were offered which He accepted. The words remind us of Acts 10:34-35. [source]

Chapter Summary: Malachi 1

1  Malachi complains of Israel's unkindness;
2  of their irreverence and profaneness

What do the individual words in Malachi 1:11 mean?

For from the rising of the sun and even to its going down [shall be] great My name among the Gentiles and in every place incense [shall be] offered to My name and offering a pure for shall be great among the nations says Yahweh of hosts
כִּ֣י מִמִּזְרַח־ שֶׁ֜מֶשׁ וְעַד־ מְבוֹא֗וֹ גָּד֤וֹל שְׁמִי֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם וּבְכָל־ מָק֗וֹם מֻקְטָ֥ר מֻגָּ֛שׁ לִשְׁמִ֖י וּמִנְחָ֣ה טְהוֹרָ֑ה כִּֽי־ גָד֤וֹל בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת

מִמִּזְרַח־  from  the  rising 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִזְרָח  
Sense: place of sunrise, east.
שֶׁ֜מֶשׁ  of  the  sun 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: שֶׁמֶשׁ  
Sense: sun.
וְעַד־  and  even  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
מְבוֹא֗וֹ  its  going  down 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מָבֹוא  
Sense: entrance, a coming in, entering.
גָּד֤וֹל  [shall  be]  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
שְׁמִי֙  My  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם  among  the  Gentiles 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
וּבְכָל־  and  in  every 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מָק֗וֹם  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
מֻקְטָ֥ר  incense 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֻקְטָר 
Sense: .
מֻגָּ֛שׁ  [shall  be]  offered 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
לִשְׁמִ֖י  to  My  name 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
וּמִנְחָ֣ה  and  offering 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
טְהוֹרָ֑ה  a  pure 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: טָהֹור  
Sense: pure, clean.
גָד֤וֹל  shall  be  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם  among  the  nations 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
אָמַ֖ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָאֽוֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.