Bible Strands
Malachi 3:9
You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses the whole nation of Israel regarding their failure to bring tithes and offerings. He speaks as God’s messenger announcing immediate covenant consequences for their actions.
The words — בַּ/מְּאֵרָה֙ [ba./me.'e.Rah] literally means "with the curse," and קֹבְעִ֑ים [koe.'Im] literally means "are robbing." These terms frame the nation’s withholding of dues as both theft and a self-imposed penalty.
The thread — The verse echoes Deuteronomy 28:15’s warning that covenant disobedience triggers the full list of curses. It also aligns with Haggai 1:6’s record of unfulfilled labor and Haggai 2:14’s declaration that defiled offerings corrupt the worshiper’s standing before God.
Why it lands — The text states that withholding tithes is active theft against God and that the nation remains under a declared curse. It demands immediate correction of the withheld dues to halt the penalty and restore covenant alignment.
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
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 28:15 If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
- Haggai 1:6 You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”
- Haggai 2:14 Then Haggai replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.
- Malachi 2:2 If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.
- Joshua 22:20 Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’”
- Isaiah 43:28 So I will disgrace the princes of your sanctuary, and I will devote Jacob to destruction and Israel to reproach.”
- Joshua 7:12 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.