Malachi 1:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "I have loved you," says the Lord. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob 's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet I have loved Jacob

NIV: "I have loved you," says the Lord. "But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ "Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet I have loved Jacob,

NASB: I have loved you,' says the Lord. But you say, 'How have You loved us?' 'Was Esau not Jacob’s brother?' declares the Lord. 'Yet I have loved Jacob;

CSB: "I have loved you," says the Lord. Yet you ask, "How have you loved us?" "Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?" This is the Lord’s declaration. "Even so, I loved Jacob,

NLT: I have always loved you,' says the Lord. But you retort, 'Really? How have you loved us?' And the Lord replies, 'This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob,

KJV: I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,

NKJV: “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved;

Malachi takes the form of a dialogue, where God's messenger delivers accusations, and Israel responds with doubt. In this verse, God declares that He has "loved" Israel. As used in the Old Testament, this implies more than mere feelings. It is a statement that God has actively worked for the good of the Jewish people. Israel seems to see no such love.

At this point in history, Israel had been attacked several times by Babylon. Jerusalem had been sacked, the temple destroyed, and many people taken captive. When Malachi was written, the people had been allowed to rebuild, but they were still under the control of a foreign enemy. They were bitter, angry, and eager to see the Promised One appear. The fact that Israel questions God's love is not only a sign of their angst, but shows a lack of trust in God.

Verses 2 through 5 explain God's love for Israel by contrasting it to the fate of Edom. Jacob and Esau were brothers, and became the fathers of the nations of Israel and Edom. Israel is sour over their oppression by Babylon, a judgment brought on them by God. Edom, on the other hand, was judged by God through complete destruction. The fact that Israel still exists is proof that God has favored them over other people.

Malachi 1:1–5 introduces this prophecy as one from Malachi, meaning ''My Messenger.'' This passage summarizes the basic spiritual problem facing Israel: apathy. God has shown His love for them, but they don’t recognize it anymore. To show how He has loved them, Malachi points to the destruction of Edom. Israel has suffered, but God has kept them through those struggles. Edom, on the other hand, has been obliterated. God's chosen people have sinned, but they haven't been destroyed, which is an act of God's love and mercy towards them.

Chapter 1 begins the first of three main messages in the book of Malachi. This is addressed to the priests, who have failed to do their duty. They are allowing improper sacrifices, they are not teaching the people, and they are acting in legalism and apathy. If the priests do not change, they will be under the curse of God. God's love for Israel is demonstrated by the counter-example of Edom. Edom's complete destruction was foretold in the book of Obadiah. This shows that God can punish disobedience with annihilation, but has not done so for Israel.

Malachi's structure is complex, and chapter divisions are not helpful in seeing the pattern. There are three primary messages in this book, the first running from Malachi 1:2 through Malachi 2:9. Most of chapter one is the first message, directed to the priests of Israel. This is an important first step, since the priests were responsible for teaching the people. Failures by the priests would inevitably lead to failures by the people. The second and third messages are delivered more generally to the nation of Israel.

Malachi is the last message of prophecy given to Israel prior to 400 years of silence. Israel has rebuilt the temple, following the invasions of Babylon, but they are still under foreign oppression. Israel's spiritual condition, however, is dire. Hosea depicted Israel as prone to failure, but repentant. Later, Ezekiel exposed Israel's blatant disobedience. By the time of Malachi, Israel has passed into numbness and apathy. Unlike other Old Testament prophets, Malachi takes the form of a dialogue, where Israel responds to accusations as if unaware that they've occurred. The next prophetic voice from God would not come until the ministry of John the Baptist.