1:9

Scholars do not agree as to who is speaking in 1:9. There are three main interpretations:

(1) Both Malachi and the LORD speak in 1:9. In 1:9a it was Malachi himself who was appealing to the priests to repent. In 1:9b–c it was the LORD who was speaking. For example:

But now plead for God’s favor that he might be gracious to us. “With this kind of thing in your hands, how can he be pleased with you?” asks the sovereign Lord. (NET Bible)

This fits with the use of the Hebrew first person pronoun “us” in 1:9a and with the speech clause “said the LORD of hosts” at the end of the verse.

(2) The LORD himself spoke all the words of 1:9. The main problem with this interpretation is the use of the first person pronoun “us” in 1:9a, which is not translated in the Berean Standard Bible.

Some versions follow the LXX and use “you” here to avoid this problem.

(3) Malachi spoke all 1:9 as a comment. This fits with the pronoun “us” and the third person reference to God in 1:9c. But the use of the speech clause “says the LORD of hosts” in 1:9d seems to contradict this interpretation. Good News Translation follows this interpretation, but only by moving the speech clause out of 1:9 altogether:

8f,g “Would he be pleased with you or grant you any favors?” 9 Now, you priests, try asking God to be good to us. He will not answer your prayer, and it will be your fault. 10 The Lord Almighty says, “I wish one of you would close…” (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). See the Meaning Line in the Display for an example of this interpretation.

1:9a

But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious?: Most English versions and some commentators interpret this sentence as irony. This could be translated as:

What good will it do if you entreat the favor of God, when you keep on doing the kind of things you are doing?
-or-
Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all? (New Living Translation (2004))

The preceding and following contexts are then ironical. In other words, they were a strong rebuke to the priests because they were being hypocritical: they begged for mercy but at the same time offered unclean sacrifices.

ask: The Hebrew word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as ask means “to pray, beg, plead, entreat.”

God: This is one of the few places in the book in which the general term for God, ʾel, is used, rather than the personal name Yahweh. This may be because of the contrast between God and a human governor (1:8e).

1:9b–c

In these verse parts the LORD asked a rhetorical question. He used this question to rebuke the priests and to emphasize that he would not bless them when they brought improper offerings.

If you do not use rhetorical questions in this way in your language, it may be necessary to use a statement. For example:

If you despise him by bringing such offerings, he certainly will not show you favor!

1:9b

Since this has come from your hands: The Hebrew phrase which the Berean Standard Bible translates as come from your hands literally means “this is from your hand.” There are two main ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) “This” refers to the offerings of maimed animals described in 1:8. In other words, “if you bring him that kind of an offering…” In this context from your hands means “from you.” For example:

But when you bring that kind of offering… (New Living Translation (2004))

(2) The statement, “this is from your hand,” means “this is your fault,” or “this is your responsibility.” For example:

and it will be your fault. (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

1:9c

will He show you favor: The LORD referred to himself here as if he were speaking about someone else, by using the third person pronoun He. In some languages this may be confusing. If that is true in your language, it may be necessary to indicate that the LORD was referring to himself. For example:

how can I show favor to any of you?

1:9d

asks the LORD of Hosts: See the note on 1:6e.

the LORD of Hosts: See the note on 1:4d and 1:6e. Translate this term in the same way here.

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