The Meaning of Malachi 1:10 Explained

Malachi 1:10

KJV: Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

YLT: Who is even among you, And he shutteth the two-leaved doors? Yea, ye do not kindle Mine altar for nought, I have no pleasure in you, said Jehovah of Hosts, And a present I do not accept of your hand.

Darby: Who is there among you that would even shut the doors? and ye would not kindle fire on mine altar for nothing. I have no delight in you, saith Jehovah of hosts, neither will I accept an oblation at your hand.

ASV: Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith Jehovah of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who [is there] even among you that would shut  the doors  [for nought]? neither do ye kindle  [fire] on mine altar  for nought.  I have no pleasure  in you, saith  the LORD  of hosts,  neither will I accept  an offering  at your hand. 

What does Malachi 1:10 Mean?

Study Notes

Who is there
Or, I would that one among you would shut the doors of the temple that no more vain fire should kindle on mine altar. Cf. Isaiah 1:11-15 .

Verse Meaning

The Lord ironically wished the priests would shut the temple gates and stop offering sacrifices since they had so little regard for Him. He was displeased with them and would not accept any offerings from them. They might continue to offer them, but He would have no regard for them. Obviously the Lord had ordained the offering of sacrifices under the Law, but He preferred that the priests not offer them rather than offering them when they were meaningless, simply as an obligation. "I am not pleased with you" is the opposite of "Well done, good and faithful servant" ( Matthew 25:21).
This verse is the chiastic center and the heart of the first hortatory discourse dealing with the importance of the priests honoring the Lord ( Malachi 1:2 to Malachi 2:9).

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 1:10 mean?

Who [is there] even among you and who would shut the doors so that not you would kindle fire [on] My altar in vain Have no I pleasure in you says Yahweh of hosts and an offering nor will I accept from your hands
מִ֤י גַם־ בָּכֶם֙ וְיִסְגֹּ֣ר דְּלָתַ֔יִם וְלֹֽא־ תָאִ֥ירוּ מִזְבְּחִ֖י חִנָּ֑ם אֵֽין־ לִ֨י חֵ֜פֶץ בָּכֶ֗ם אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וּמִנְחָ֖ה לֹֽא־ אֶרְצֶ֥ה מִיֶּדְכֶֽם

גַם־  [is  there]  even 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
בָּכֶם֙  among  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
וְיִסְגֹּ֣ר  and  who  would  shut 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָגוּר 
Sense: to shut, close.
דְּלָתַ֔יִם  the  doors 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: דַּל 
Sense: door, gate.
וְלֹֽא־  so  that  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תָאִ֥ירוּ  you  would  kindle  fire 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אֹור  
Sense: to be or become light, shine.
מִזְבְּחִ֖י  [on]  My  altar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
חִנָּ֑ם  in  vain 
Parse: Adverb
Root: חִנָּם  
Sense: freely, for nothing, without cause.
אֵֽין־  Have  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
חֵ֜פֶץ  pleasure 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֵפֶץ  
Sense: delight, pleasure.
בָּכֶ֗ם  in  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
אָמַר֙  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.
צְבָא֔וֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
וּמִנְחָ֖ה  and  an  offering 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
לֹֽא־  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אֶרְצֶ֥ה  will  I  accept 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָצָא 
Sense: to be pleased with, be favourable to, accept favourably.
מִיֶּדְכֶֽם  from  your  hands 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.