The Meaning of Malachi 1:6 Explained

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?

YLT: A son honoureth a father, and a servant his master. And if I am a father, where is Mine honour? And if I am a master, where is My fear? Said Jehovah of Hosts to you, O priests, despising My name! And ye have said: 'In what have we despised Thy name?'

Darby: 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 Jehovah of hosts unto you, priests, that despise my name. But ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

ASV: 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?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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? 

What does Malachi 1:6 Mean?

Study Notes

if then I be a father
Cf. The relationship here is national, not personal Jeremiah 3:18 ; Jeremiah 3:19 here, apparently, the Jews were calling Jehovah, "Father," but yielding Him no filial obedience. See; John 8:37-39 ; Romans 9:1-8 .
our Father
Cf. Isaiah 1:2 ; Isaiah 64:8 . Israel, collectively, the national Israel, recognizes God as the national Father (cf) Exodus 4:22 ; Exodus 4:23 Doubtless the believing Israelite was born anew (cf); John 3:3 ; John 3:5 ; Luke 13:28 but the O.T. Scriptures show no trace of the consciousness of personal sonship. The explanation is given in Galatians 4:1-7 .
The Israelite, though a child, "differed nothing from a servant." The Spirit, as the "Spirit of His Son," could not be given to impart the consciousness of sonship until redemption had been accomplished. Galatians 4:4-6 See "Adoption"; Romans 8:15 ; Ephesians 1:5 . (See Scofield " Ephesians 1:5 ") .
redeemer Heb. "goel," Redemp. (Kinsman type). (See Scofield " Isaiah 59:20 ")

Verse Meaning

This pericope begins like the first one, with a statement by Yahweh and a challenging response (cf. Isaiah 1:2-3). The priests were responsible to teach the other Israelites the Law, to mediate between Yahweh and His people, and to judge the people.
Almighty Yahweh asked the priests of Israel why they did not honor Him since sons honor their fathers ( Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16), and He was their Father ( Exodus 4:22; Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 63:16; Isaiah 64:8; Hosea 11:1). Since servants respect their masters, why did they not fear Him since He was their Master ( Isaiah 44:1-2)? Even though they were blind to His love they should at least have given Him honor.
Speaking for the priests, Malachi gave their response. They denied having despised His name. The "name" of Yahweh was a common substitute for the person of Yahweh from early biblical times (cf. Exodus 23:21; Deuteronomy 12:5; Deuteronomy 12:11; Deuteronomy 12:21; Deuteronomy 16:2; Deuteronomy 16:6; et al.). It became a virtual title for Yahweh by the end of the biblical period and increasingly so after that. [1] By asking how they had despised His name, rather than saying, "We have not despised your name," the priests were claiming ignorance as to how they were doing this. However their question also carried a challenge; they resented the suggestion that they had despised His name.
"Intimate familiarity with holy matters conduces to treating them with indifference." [2]

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 1:6 mean?

A son honors [his] father and a servant [his] master Then if am the Father I where [is] My honor and if [am] a Master I [is] My reverence says Yahweh of hosts to you priests who despise My name And yet you say in what [way] have we despised - Your name
בֵּ֛ן יְכַבֵּ֥ד אָ֖ב וְעֶ֣בֶד אֲדֹנָ֑יו וְאִם־ אָ֣ב אָ֣נִי אַיֵּ֣ה ؟ כְבוֹדִ֡י וְאִם־ אֲדוֹנִ֣ים אָנִי֩ ؟ מוֹרָאִ֜י אָמַ֣ר ׀ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת לָכֶם֙ הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ בּוֹזֵ֣י שְׁמִ֔י וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם בַּמֶּ֥ה בָזִ֖ינוּ אֶת־ ؟ שְׁמֶֽךָ

בֵּ֛ן  A  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יְכַבֵּ֥ד  honors 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
אָ֖ב  [his]  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וְעֶ֣בֶד  and  a  servant 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
אֲדֹנָ֑יו  [his]  master 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
וְאִם־  Then  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
אָ֣ב  am  the  Father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
אַיֵּ֣ה  where 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: אַיֵּה  
Sense: where?.
؟ כְבוֹדִ֡י  [is]  My  honor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
וְאִם־  and  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
אֲדוֹנִ֣ים  [am]  a  Master 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
؟ מוֹרָאִ֜י  [is]  My  reverence 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מֹורָא 
Sense: fear, reverence, terror.
אָמַ֣ר ׀  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָא֗וֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
לָכֶם֙  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙  priests 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
בּוֹזֵ֣י  who  despise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: בָּזָה 
Sense: to despise, hold in contempt, disdain.
שְׁמִ֔י  My  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם  And  yet  you  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בַּמֶּ֥ה  in  what  [way] 
Parse: Preposition-b, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
בָזִ֖ינוּ  have  we  despised 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: בָּזָה 
Sense: to despise, hold in contempt, disdain.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
؟ שְׁמֶֽךָ  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.