The Meaning of Malachi 1:13 Explained

Malachi 1:13

KJV: Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

YLT: And ye have said, 'Lo, what a weariness,' And ye have puffed at it, said Jehovah of Hosts, And ye have brought in plunder, And the lame and the sick, And ye have brought in the present! Do I accept it from your hand? said Jehovah.

Darby: And ye say, Behold, what a weariness! And ye have puffed at it, saith Jehovah of hosts, and ye bring that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the oblation: should I accept this of your hand? saith Jehovah.

ASV: Ye say also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith Jehovah of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering: should I accept this at your hand? saith Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Ye said  also, Behold, what a weariness  [is it]! and ye have snuffed  at it, saith  the LORD  of hosts;  and ye brought  [that which was] torn,  and the lame,  and the sick;  thus ye brought  an offering:  should I accept  this of your hand?  saith  the LORD. 

What does Malachi 1:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

They were also saying that it was tiresome and distasteful to worship the Lord. Their worship should have been passionate and joyful instead of boring and burdensome (cf. Colossians 3:16-17). They were sniffing at it as something they despised and were bringing as offerings what they had stolen as well as lame and sick animals (cf. 2 Samuel 24:24). Did they expect Him to receive such sacrifices from them? How could He?
"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him." [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 1:13 mean?

and You say Oh what a weariness and you sneer at it says Yahweh of hosts and you bring the stolen and the lame the sick thus you bring - an offering Should I accept this from your hand says Yahweh -
וַאֲמַרְתֶּם֩ הִנֵּ֨ה מַתְּלָאָ֜ה וְהִפַּחְתֶּ֣ם אוֹת֗וֹ אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וַהֲבֵאתֶ֣ם גָּז֗וּל וְאֶת־ הַפִּסֵּ֙חַ֙ הַ֣חוֹלֶ֔ה וַהֲבֵאתֶ֖ם אֶת־ ! הַמִּנְחָ֑ה הַאֶרְצֶ֥ה אוֹתָ֛הּ ؟ מִיֶּדְכֶ֖ם אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה ס

וַאֲמַרְתֶּם֩  and  You  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הִנֵּ֨ה  Oh 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
מַתְּלָאָ֜ה  what  a  weariness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַתְּלָאָה  
Sense: what a weariness, toil, hardship, weariness.
וְהִפַּחְתֶּ֣ם  and  you  sneer  at 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: נָפַח  
Sense: to breathe, blow, sniff at, seethe, give up or lose (life).
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.
וַהֲבֵאתֶ֣ם  and  you  bring 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
גָּז֗וּל  the  stolen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: גָּזַל  
Sense: to tear away, seize, plunder, tear off, pull off, rob, take away by force.
הַפִּסֵּ֙חַ֙  the  lame 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: פִּסֵּחַ  
Sense: lame.
הַ֣חוֹלֶ֔ה  the  sick 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָלָה 
Sense: to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry.
וַהֲבֵאתֶ֖ם  thus  you  bring 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
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.
! הַמִּנְחָ֑ה  an  offering 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
הַאֶרְצֶ֥ה  Should  I  accept 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָצָא 
Sense: to be pleased with, be favourable to, accept favourably.
אוֹתָ֛הּ  this 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person feminine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
؟ מִיֶּדְכֶ֖ם  from  your  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
אָמַ֥ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation