Bible Strands
Malachi 1:8
When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD of Hosts addresses the priests and people of Israel regarding their contemptible sacrificial practices on His altar. He confronts their ritual negligence while they question how they have defiled Him.
The words — `תַגִּשׁוּ` (ta.gishu) translates as "you bring near," paired with `עִוֵר` (i.ver) meaning "a blind [animal]." The syntax frames these defective offerings as deliberate acts of presentation.
The thread — This prohibition against flawed sacrifices echoes Deuteronomy 15:21, which bars defective animals from the altar, Leviticus 22:19, which mandates unblemished males for acceptance, and Hosea 8:13, which records God's rejection of such gifts.
Why it lands — The text demands honest self-examination by comparing God's standards to human social expectations, revealing that offering defective gifts to God is as foolish as offending a human ruler.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 15:21 But if an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
- Leviticus 22:19 must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf.
- Hosea 8:13 Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to Me, and though they eat the meat, the LORD does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins: They will return to Egypt.
- Jeremiah 14:10 This is what the LORD says about this people: “Truly they love to wander; they have not restrained their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity and punish them for their sins.”
- Psalms 20:3 May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Selah
- Malachi 1:13 You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts. “You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD.
- Job 42:8 So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.”
- Malachi 1:10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.