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Malachi 1:9

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Malachi 1:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And now, I pray you, entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he accept any of your persons? saith Jehovah of hosts.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And now, I pray you, entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he accept any of your persons? saith Jehovah of hosts.
Malachi 1:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Malachi 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6A 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?
7Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. And ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of Jehovah is contemptible.
8And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, it is no evil! and when ye offer the lame and sick, it is no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will he accept thy person? saith Jehovah of hosts.
9And now, I pray you, entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he accept any of your persons? saith Jehovah of hosts.
10Oh 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.
11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense [shall be] offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles, saith Jehovah of hosts.
12But ye profane it, in that ye say, The table of Jehovah is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even its food, is contemptible.
← Malachi 1:8Malachi 1:10 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us, etc.] These are the words of the prophet to the priests; and are spoken either seriously, exhorting them to that part of their office which lay in interceding for the people that God would be gracious to them, and forgive their sins; and the rather, inasmuch as they had been the means of their sin, and accessary to it, who ought to have reproved them for bringing such offerings, and should have refused to offer them for them; or otherwise, if they did not do this, they could not expect that God would accept their persons, and their offerings: or else ironically, now you have offered such sacrifices to the Lord, as the blind,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“now . . . beseech God that he will be gracious--Ironical. Think you that God will be persuaded by such polluted gifts to be gracious to you? Far from it. this hath been by your means--literally, "hand." These contemptible offerings are your doing, as being the priests mediating between God and the people; and think you, will God pay any regard to you (compare Mal 1:8, Mal 1:10)? "Accept thy person" ("face"), Mal 1:8, answers to "regard your persons," in this verse.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And now entreat, I pray you, God o that He will be gracious unto you - This is not a call to repentance, for he assumes that God would not accept them. It is rather irony; “go now, seek the favor of God, as ye would not that of your governor.” “From your hand,” not from your fathers, not from aliens, “hath this been: will He accept persons from you?” The unusual construction seems to imply a difference of meaning; as if he would say, that it consisted not with the justice of God, that He should be an “accepter of persons,” (which He declares that He is not) which yet He would be, were He to accept them, while acting thus. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“I pray you - O priests. Beseech - Intercede with God for his sinful people. This - This contempt of God. Malachi 1:11”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“beseech: Ch2 30:27; Jer 27:18; Joe 1:13, Joe 1:14, Joe 2:17; Zac 3:1-5; Joh 9:31; Heb 7:26, Heb 7:27 God: Heb. the face of God, Exo 32:11; Jer 26:19 \*marg. Lam 2:19 by your means: Heb. from your hand will he: Act 19:15, Act 19:16; Rom 2:11; Pe1 1:17 Malachi 1:10”
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Related study paths

Read Malachi 1 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification