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Malachi 1:1

King James Version (KJV)

The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

Translations

Malachi 1:1 - Amplified Bible

THE BURDEN {or} oracle (the thing to be lifted up) of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi [My messenger].

Malachi 1:1 - American Standard Version

The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel by Malachi.

Malachi 1:1 - Bible in Basic English

The word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

Malachi 1:1 - Darby Bible

The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel by Malachi.

Malachi 1:1 - English Standard Version

The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

Malachi 1:1 - King James Version

The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

Malachi 1:1 - La Biblia de las Americas

Profecìa (O, Carga) de la palabra del SEÑOR a Israel por medio de Malaquìas (O, mi mensajero).

Malachi 1:1 - The Message

A Message. God’s Word to Israel through Malachi:

Malachi 1:1 - New American Standard Bible

The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.

Malachi 1:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Oráculo (Profecìa) de la palabra del SEÑOR a Israel por medio de Malaquìas (Mi mensajero).

Malachi 1:1 - World English Bible

The burden of the word of Yahweh to Israel by Malachi.

Malachi 1:1 - Young's Living Translation

The burden of a word of Jehovah unto Israel by the hand of Malachi:

Malachi 1:1 - Additional Comments

Malachi ("my messenger") is a book about a prophet who God spoke to condemning insincere worship.
This book is the final word in the O.T. It was written about 100 years after the Jews returned from exile in Babylon. It's the last message left stirring in the minds of the people for 400 years. That's a long time. 400 years before the year 2000 was 1600, which was a few years before Galileo invented the telescope, and America was still having its colonies settled with travelers from Europe. This was 20 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. 400 years waiting for the next word from God, with plenty of charlatans along the way. No wonder some greeted Jesus with enthusiasm, and others with skepticism.
God spoke to Malachi about a problem - people were losing respect for God.
- They were going through the motions of worship as if it's the motion that God wanted.
- They were getting the stamp of approval from the priests.
Instead of bringing God the best they could, they brought the least they thought they could get by with - crippled bulls, blind sheep, stolen goats (vs 1:13).
It was so pitiful, even their tribe leaders wouldn't accept them (vs 1:8). And God made it clear how He felt - just don't even bother, and close the temple (vs 1:10).
They were robbing God, and missing His blessings (3:8-10). They suffered the consequences of their own choices.(drought & crop failures).
They missed the point! God wants the motions to flow out of an inner sense of devotion and love (Psalm 51:16-19). These people were not devoted, they only felt obligated. Examples ot those who gave with the right attitude - Mark 12:41-44, John 15:13, Acts 20:17-24, 2 Cor 8:1-5.
Giving was to be a planned act of worship, with the right attitude (Heb 13:16, Phil 4:18, 2 Cor 9:6), not a spur-of-the-moment makeshift thought when the plate is passed.
God wanted them to repent and return to the Him as Lord.
The Book of Malachi is a challenge to take God seriously, not just in giving, but in every aspect of life.

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