Malachichapter 1
14 verses · Malachi · 460 to 430 BC · The Twelve
Original Language
Malachi 1— Hebrew word study · with the Hebrew tradition
In Jewish life
Jewish practice and Jewish teaching both have something to say about Malachi 1. Three things follow: where it is read, what is done because of it, and how the rabbis have taught it. The purpose is to inform a Christian reader what Jews believe and how Judaism was and is practised.
The reading
Read here as the Haftarah
- Malachi 1:1 to 2:7, with the portion Toldot (Genesis 25:19 to 28:9).
The verse numbers here are the ones a Hebrew Bible carries, which differ from an English Bible by a verse or two in several places. The Sephardi reading is named only where this site records a difference; communities vary beyond what is listed. What these books are, and how a Christian reader meets them →
Where the rabbis cite this chapter
7 rows sit beside their verses in the text, on 6 verses of this chapter. No row that speaks to the chapter as a whole is recorded. Every quote links to its full source.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria (sefaria.org); excerpts follow each version’s license, and every passage opens at its source.
How to read a word below: the Hebrewword, then how it sounds, then what it means, then its number in Strong’s concordance, a widely used lookup this site follows (H for Hebrew and Aramaic, G for Greek). Square brackets hold a word the English supplies that the Hebrew does not, angle brackets mark the Hebrew’s own grammatical elements that English renders as separate words, and the mark ס or פ is where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.
I loved Jacob, and Esau I hated1
Malachi 1:1· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Rashi on Malachi 1:1
The burden of the word of the Lord Porport in Old French, burden. A word delivered to Malachi to bear to the children of Israel.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
Targum Jonathan on Malachi 1:1
A burden: the pronouncement of the LORD upon Israel by the hand of angels [mal’akhei], that is called by the name of Ezra the scribe.
Read it in full at Sefaria · Sefaria Community Translation
Malachi 1:2· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Malachi 1:3· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Malachi 1:4· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Malachi 1:5· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
A son honors his father — where then is my honor?6
Malachi 1:6· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Malachi 1:7· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Malachi 1:8· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Malachi 1:9· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Malachi 1:10· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Rashi on Malachi 1:10
O that there were even one among you that would close the doors If only a good man would arise among you who would close the doors of My sanctuary so as not to allow this abominable sacrifice there.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
A great name among the nations, but a cursed deceiver11
Malachi 1:11· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Rashi on Malachi 1:11
My Name is great among the nations Our Sages stated (Men. 110a): For they call Him the God of the gods. Even one who has an idol knows that He is the God Who is over all of them - and everywhere they donate in My Name.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
Malachi 1:12· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Rashi on Malachi 1:12
and its expression is “Its food is contemptible.” The expression of the altar that is fluent on your lips is always, “Its food is contemptible”; that [is all] you say about it. You have already spread this slander, and you have strongly attached this expression to My altar.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
Malachi 1:13· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Rashi on Malachi 1:13
And you say, “Here is a weary one” An emaciated animal, and we are poor and cannot afford the choicest for [our] vows. So did Jonathan render: This is what we have brought from our toil.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
Malachi 1:14· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Rashi on Malachi 1:14
he who deals craftily Plots deceitfully, with guile, before Me, saying, “I have none better than this.”
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg