Malachi 1:8
New International Version
When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty.

New Living Translation
When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

English Standard Version
When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the LORD of hosts.

New American Standard Bible
And when you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not evil? Or when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not evil? So offer it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you, or would he receive you kindly?” says the LORD of armies.

NASB 1995
“But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.

NASB 1977
“But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.

Legacy Standard Bible
But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Please, bring it near to your governor! Would he accept you? Or would he lift up your face?” says Yahweh of hosts.

Amplified Bible
When you [priests] present the blind [animals] for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Offer such a thing [as a blind or lame or sick animal] to your governor [as a gift or as payment for your taxes]. Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you graciously?” says the LORD of hosts.

Christian Standard Bible
“When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor? ” asks the LORD of Armies.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts. “

American Standard Version
And 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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And because you bring the blind to the altar, is it not evil, and because you offer the crippled and the sick, is it not evil? Bring it now to your Governor; will he be pleased with you, or will he accept your person, says LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For if ye bring a blind victim for sacrifices, is it not evil? and if ye bring the lame or the sick, is it not evil? offer it now to thy ruler, and see if he will receive thee, if he will accept thy person, saith the Lord Almighty.

Contemporary English Version
But isn't it wrong to offer animals that are blind, lame, or sick? Just try giving those animals to your governor. That certainly wouldn't please him or make him want to help you.

Douay-Rheims Bible
If you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? offer it to thy prince, if he will be pleased with it, or if he will regard thy face, saith the Lord of hosts.

English Revised Version
And 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 the LORD of hosts.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When you bring a blind animal to sacrifice, isn't that wrong? When you bring a lame or a sick animal, isn't that wrong? Try offering it to your governor. Would he accept it from you? Would he welcome you?" asks the LORD of Armies.

Good News Translation
When you bring a blind or sick or lame animal to sacrifice to me, do you think there's nothing wrong with that? Try giving an animal like that to the governor! Would he be pleased with you or grant you any favors?"

International Standard Version
When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Offer that to your governor—would he be pleased with you or receive you favorably?" asks the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it no evil! And when ye offer the lame and sick, is it no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? Or will he accept thy person? Saith the LORD of hosts.

Literal Standard Version
And when you bring the blind near for sacrifice, [saying], | There is no evil, | And when you bring the lame and sick near, [saying], | There is no evil; Now bring it near to your governor—Does he accept you? Or does he lift up your face?” said YHWH of Hosts.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
When you offer a blind animal for sacrifice, is there no wrong in that? When you offer a lame or sick animal, is there no wrong in that? Present it to your governor! Will he be pleased with you—or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.

NET Bible
For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering them to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?" asks the LORD who rules over all.

New Revised Standard Version
When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not wrong? Try presenting that to your governor; will he be pleased with you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.

New Heart English Bible
When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn't that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn't that evil? Present it now to your governor. Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?" says the LORD of hosts.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 to thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

World English Bible
When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn’t that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn’t that evil? Present it now to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?” says Yahweh of Armies.

Young's Literal Translation
And when ye bring nigh the blind for sacrifice, 'There is no evil,' And when ye bring nigh the lame and sick, 'There is no evil;' Bring it near, I pray thee, to thy governor -- Doth he accept thee? or doth he lift up thy face? Said Jehovah of Hosts.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Polluted Offerings
7By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible. 8When 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. 9“But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.…

Cross References
Leviticus 22:20
You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf.

Leviticus 22:22
You are not to present to the LORD any animal that is blind, injured, or maimed, or anything with a running sore, a festering rash, or a scab; you must not put any of these on the altar as an offering made by fire to the LORD.

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.

Haggai 1:1
In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating

Malachi 1:7
By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, 'How have we defiled You?' By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now to your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? said the LORD of hosts.

if ye offer the blind.

Malachi 1:14
But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

Leviticus 22:19-25
Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats…

Deuteronomy 15:21
And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.

for sacrifice, Heb.

Malachi 1:10,13
Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand…

Job 42:8
Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

Psalm 20:3
Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

Jump to Previous
Accept Animals Approval Armies Blind Crippled Damaged Diseased Evil Face Favor Governor Hosts Ill Kindly Lame Offer Offering Pleased Present Receive Sacrifice Show Sick Try Wrong
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Accept Animals Approval Armies Blind Crippled Damaged Diseased Evil Face Favor Governor Hosts Ill Kindly Lame Offer Offering Pleased Present Receive Sacrifice Show Sick Try Wrong
Malachi 1
1. Malachi complains of Israel's unkindness;
2. of their irreverence and profaneness.














(8) If.--Better, when.

Blind . . . lame . . . sick.--This was contrary to Leviticus 22:22, &c. And now, to show them the heinous nature of their offence against the majesty of God, the prophet asks them whether they could offer such unsound animals to their civil ruler with any chance of acceptance.

Governor.--The word in the Hebrew is probably of foreign origin, but it occurs as early as to refer to the governors of Judah in the time of Solomon (1Kings 10:15). On the date of the book of Kings see Introduction to that book.

Verse 8. - If ye offer the blind. The Law ordered that the victims should be perfect and without blemish (see Leviticus 22:19-25). Is it not evil! It is more forcible to read this without the interrogation, "It is no evil!" and to regard it as the priests' thought or word, here introduced by the prophet in bitter irony. Their conscience had grown so dull, and they had become so familiarized with constant dereliction of duty, that they saw no wrong in these violations of the Law, and never recalled the people to their duty in these matters. Offer it now unto thy governor. The word for "governor" is pechah, as in Haggai 1:1 (where see note). It denotes a ruler set over a province by a Persian king. As Nehemiah had refused to be burdensome to the people (Nehemiah 5:14-18), it is thought that Malachi must have written this when some other person was acting as governor. But Nehemiah's generosity was exhibited in his earlier administration, and he may have thought it right to take the dues under a more prosperous state of affairs. The prophet may be putting the ease generally - Would you dare offer such things to your governor? At any rate, the question is not about provisions and dues supplied to the governor and liable to be exacted by him in his official capacity, but about voluntary offerings and presents, without which no inferior would presume to appear before his prince (see Introduction, § II.). To offer to such a one what was mean and defective would be nothing less than an insult; and yet they thought this was good enough for God. Accept thy person. Regard thee with favour (Genesis 19:21; Job 13:10; Job 42:8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“When
וְכִֽי־ (wə·ḵî-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you offer
תַגִּשׁ֨וּן (ṯag·gi·šūn)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

blind animals
עִוֵּ֤ר (‘iw·wêr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5787: Blind

for sacrifice,
לִזְבֹּ֙חַ֙ (liz·bō·aḥ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2076: To slaughter for sacrifice

is it not
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

wrong?
רָ֔ע (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

And when
וְכִ֥י (wə·ḵî)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you present
תַגִּ֛ישׁוּ (ṯag·gî·šū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

the lame
פִּסֵּ֥חַ (pis·sê·aḥ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6455: Lame

and sick [ones],
וְחֹלֶ֖ה (wə·ḥō·leh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2470: To be weak or sick

is it not
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

wrong?
רָ֑ע (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

Why not offer them
הַקְרִיבֵ֨הוּ (haq·rî·ḇê·hū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

to your governor!
לְפֶחָתֶ֗ךָ (lə·p̄e·ḥā·ṯe·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6346: A governor

Would he be pleased
הֲיִּרְצְךָ֙‪‬‪‬ (hă·yir·ṣə·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7521: To be pleased with, to satisfy a, debt

with you or
א֚וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

show you favor?”
הֲיִשָּׂ֣א (hă·yiś·śā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

asks
אָמַ֖ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

of Hosts.
צְבָאֽוֹת׃ (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign


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OT Prophets: Malachi 1:8 When you offer the blind for sacrifice (Malachi Mal Ml)
Malachi 1:7
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