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Selected Verse: Malachi 1:7 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mal 1:7	Strong Concordance	Ye offer [05066] polluted [01351] bread [03899] upon mine altar [04196]; and ye say [0559], Wherein have we polluted [01351] thee? In that ye say [0559], The table [07979] of the LORD [03068] is contemptible [0959].
	King James	Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
ye offer, &c.--God's answer to their challenge (Mal 1:6), "Wherein have we despised?" polluted bread--namely, blemished sacrifices (Mal 1:8, Mal 1:13-14; Deu 15:21). So "the bread of thy God" is used for "sacrifices to God" (Lev 21:8). polluted thee--that is, offered to thee "polluted bread." table of the Lord--that is, the altar (Eze 41:22) (not the table of showbread). Just as the sacrificial flesh is called "bread." contemptible-- (Mal 1:12-13). Ye sanction the niggardly and blemished offerings of the people on the altar, to gain favor with them. Darius, and probably his successors, had liberally supplied them with victims for sacrifice, yet they presented none but the worst. A cheap religion, costing little, is rejected by God, and so is worth nothing. It costs more than it is worth, for it is worth nothing, and so proves really dear. God despises not the widow's mite, but he does despise the miser's mite [MOORE].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

ye offer, &c.--God's answer to their challenge (Mal 1:6), "Wherein have we despised?"

polluted bread--namely, blemished sacrifices (Mal 1:8, Mal 1:13-14; Deu 15:21). So "the bread of thy God" is used for "sacrifices to God" (Lev 21:8).

polluted thee--that is, offered to thee "polluted bread."

table of the Lord--that is, the altar (Eze 41:22) (not the table of showbread). Just as the sacrificial flesh is called "bread."

contemptible-- (Mal 1:12-13). Ye sanction the niggardly and blemished offerings of the people on the altar, to gain favor with them. Darius, and probably his successors, had liberally supplied them with victims for sacrifice, yet they presented none but the worst. A cheap religion, costing little, is rejected by God, and so is worth nothing. It costs more than it is worth, for it is worth nothing, and so proves really dear. God despises not the widow's mite, but he does despise the miser's mite [MOORE].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Offering polluted bread upon Mine altar - This, continuing on the words, "despisers of My Name," , is the answer to their question, "Wherein have we despised Thy Name?" "Bread" might stand, in itself, either for the showbread, or for the מנחה minchāh, meal-offering, which was the necessary accompaniment of sacrifices and sometimes the whole. But here the "polluted bread" cannot be the showbread, since this was not put upon the altar, but upon its own table; and although the altar is, as here, also called "a table" , in regard to the sacrifice hereon consumed, "the table" of the showbread is nowhere called "altar." The prophet then means by "bread," either the meal-offering, as representing the sacrifice, or the offerings by fire altogether, as in Ezekiel Eze 44:7, "When ye offer My bread, the fat and the blood;" and in Leviticus "the offerings of the Lord, made by fire, the bread of their God, do they offer;" and of the "peace-offering Lev 3:11, the priest shall burn it upon the altar; the bread of the offering made by fire unto the Lord:" and specifically, of animals with blemish, as these, it is forbidden Lev 22:25, "Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these, because their corruption is in them, blemishes in them: they shall not be accepted for you." It was, as it were, a feast of God with man, and what was withdrawn from the use of man by fire, was, as it were, consumed by God, to whom it was offered. It was "polluted," in that it was contrary to the law of God which forbade to sacrifice any animal, "lame or blind" or with "any ill blemish," as being inconsistent with the typical perfection of the sacrifice. Even the Gentiles were careful about the perfection of their sacrifices. "Blind is the sacrifice of the soul, which is not illumined by the light of Christ. Lame is his sacrifice of prayer, who comes with a double mind to entreat the Lord." "He offereth one weak, whose heart is not established in the grace of God, nor by the anchor of hope fixed in Christ. These words are also uttered against those who, being rich, offer to the Creator the cheaper and least things, and give small alms." "And ye say, Wherewith have we polluted Thee?" It is a bold expression. Yet a word, to which we are but too ill-accustomed, which expresses what most have done, "dishonor God," comes to the same. Though less bold in expression, they are yet like in meaning Eze 13:19. "Will ye pollute Me anymore among My people?" or Eze 20:9, Eze 20:14, Eze 20:22, "that My Name should not be polluted before the pagan Eze 43:7. My holy Name shall Israel no more defile Eze 39:7, "I will not let them pollute My Name anymore." "Much more in the new law, in which the Sacrifice is Christ Himself our God, whence the Apostle says expressly Co1 11:27, "Whoso eateth this bread and drinketh this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." "For when the sacraments are violated, Himself, whose sacraments they are, is violated." God speaks of our acts with an unveiled plainness, which we should not dare to use. "As we are said to sanctify God, when we minister to Him in holiness and righteousness, and so, as far as in us lies, show that He is holy; so we are said to pollute Him, when we conduct ourselves irreverently and viciously before Him, especially in His worship, and thereby, as far as in us lies, show that He is not holy and is to be dishonored." "In that ye say, the table of the Lord is contemptible," literally "contemptible is it," , and so any contemptible thing might be offered on it. They said this probably, not in words, but in deeds. Or, if in words, in plausible words. "God doth not require the ornamenting of the altar, but the devotion of the offerers." "What good is it, if we offer the best? Be what we offer, what it may, it is all to be consumed by fire." "The pretext at once of avarice and gluttony!" And so they kept the best for themselves. They were poor, on their return from the captivity. Anyhow, the sacrifices were offered. What could it matter to God? And so they dispensed with God's law. "So at this day we see some priests and prelates, splendid in their tables and feasts, sordid in the altar and temple; on the table are costly napkins and wine; on the altar torn linen and wine-mace rather than wine." "We pollute the bread, that is, the Body of Christ, when we approach the altar unworthily, and, being defiled, drink that pure Blood, and say, 'The table of the Lord is contemptible;' not that anyone dareth to say this, but the deeds of sinners pour contempt on the table of God."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Offering polluted bread upon Mine altar - This, continuing on the words, "despisers of My Name," , is the answer to their question, "Wherein have we despised Thy Name?" "Bread" might stand, in itself, either for the showbread, or for the מנחה minchāh, meal-offering, which was the necessary accompaniment of sacrifices and sometimes the whole.

But here the "polluted bread" cannot be the showbread, since this was not put upon the altar, but upon its own table; and although the altar is, as here, also called "a table" , in regard to the sacrifice hereon consumed, "the table" of the showbread is nowhere called "altar." The prophet then means by "bread," either the meal-offering, as representing the sacrifice, or the offerings by fire altogether, as in Ezekiel Eze 44:7, "When ye offer My bread, the fat and the blood;" and in Leviticus "the offerings of the Lord, made by fire, the bread of their God, do they offer;" and of the "peace-offering Lev 3:11, the priest shall burn it upon the altar; the bread of the offering made by fire unto the Lord:" and specifically, of animals with blemish, as these, it is forbidden Lev 22:25, "Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these, because their corruption is in them, blemishes in them: they shall not be accepted for you." It was, as it were, a feast of God with man, and what was withdrawn from the use of man by fire, was, as it were, consumed by God, to whom it was offered.

It was "polluted," in that it was contrary to the law of God which forbade to sacrifice any animal, "lame or blind" or with "any ill blemish," as being inconsistent with the typical perfection of the sacrifice. Even the Gentiles were careful about the perfection of their sacrifices.

"Blind is the sacrifice of the soul, which is not illumined by the light of Christ. Lame is his sacrifice of prayer, who comes with a double mind to entreat the Lord." "He offereth one weak, whose heart is not established in the grace of God, nor by the anchor of hope fixed in Christ. These words are also uttered against those who, being rich, offer to the Creator the cheaper and least things, and give small alms."

"And ye say, Wherewith have we polluted Thee?" It is a bold expression. Yet a word, to which we are but too ill-accustomed, which expresses what most have done, "dishonor God," comes to the same. Though less bold in expression, they are yet like in meaning Eze 13:19. "Will ye pollute Me anymore among My people?" or Eze 20:9, Eze 20:14, Eze 20:22, "that My Name should not be polluted before the pagan Eze 43:7. My holy Name shall Israel no more defile Eze 39:7, "I will not let them pollute My Name anymore." "Much more in the new law, in which the Sacrifice is Christ Himself our God, whence the Apostle says expressly Co1 11:27, "Whoso eateth this bread and drinketh this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." "For when the sacraments are violated, Himself, whose sacraments they are, is violated." God speaks of our acts with an unveiled plainness, which we should not dare to use. "As we are said to sanctify God, when we minister to Him in holiness and righteousness, and so, as far as in us lies, show that He is holy; so we are said to pollute Him, when we conduct ourselves irreverently and viciously before Him, especially in His worship, and thereby, as far as in us lies, show that He is not holy and is to be dishonored."

"In that ye say, the table of the Lord is contemptible," literally "contemptible is it," , and so any contemptible thing might be offered on it. They said this probably, not in words, but in deeds. Or, if in words, in plausible words. "God doth not require the ornamenting of the altar, but the devotion of the offerers." "What good is it, if we offer the best? Be what we offer, what it may, it is all to be consumed by fire." "The pretext at once of avarice and gluttony!" And so they kept the best for themselves. They were poor, on their return from the captivity. Anyhow, the sacrifices were offered. What could it matter to God? And so they dispensed with God's law.

"So at this day we see some priests and prelates, splendid in their tables and feasts, sordid in the altar and temple; on the table are costly napkins and wine; on the altar torn linen and wine-mace rather than wine." "We pollute the bread, that is, the Body of Christ, when we approach the altar unworthily, and, being defiled, drink that pure Blood, and say, 'The table of the Lord is contemptible;' not that anyone dareth to say this, but the deeds of sinners pour contempt on the table of God."

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Bread - Either the meal - offerings, or rather in a more large sense, all sacrifices and oblations. Ye say - Perhaps in words; at least your deeds speak your thoughts. The table - This comprehends all that was offered to God.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Ye offer polluted bread - The priests, probably to ingratiate themselves with the people, took the refuse beasts, etc., and offered them to God; and thus the sacrificial ordinances were rendered contemptible.

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¹² But ye have profaned [02490] it, in that ye say [0559], The table [07979] of the LORD [03068] is polluted [01351]; and the fruit [05108] thereof, even his meat [0400], is contemptible [0959].
¹³ Ye said [0559] also, Behold, what a weariness [04972] is it! and ye have snuffed [05301] at it, saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]; and ye brought [0935] that which was torn [01497], and the lame [06455], and the sick [02470]; thus ye brought [0935] an offering [04503]: should I accept [07521] this of your hand [03027]? saith [0559] the LORD [03068].

²² The altar [04196] of wood [06086] was three [07969] cubits [0520] high [01364], and the length [0753] thereof two [08147] cubits [0520]; and the corners [04740] thereof, and the length [0753] thereof, and the walls [07023] thereof, were of wood [06086]: and he said [01696] unto me, This is the table [07979] that is before [06440] the LORD [03068].

⁸ Thou shalt sanctify [06942] him therefore; for he offereth [07126] the bread [03899] of thy God [0430]: he shall be holy [06918] unto thee: for I the LORD [03068], which sanctify [06942] you, am holy [06918].

²¹ And if there be any blemish [03971] therein, as if it be lame [06455], or blind [05787], or have any ill [07451] blemish [03971], thou shalt not sacrifice [02076] it unto the LORD [03068] thy God [0430].

¹³ Ye said [0559] also, Behold, what a weariness [04972] is it! and ye have snuffed [05301] at it, saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]; and ye brought [0935] that which was torn [01497], and the lame [06455], and the sick [02470]; thus ye brought [0935] an offering [04503]: should I accept [07521] this of your hand [03027]? saith [0559] the LORD [03068].
¹⁴ But cursed [0779] be the deceiver [05230], which [03426] hath in his flock [05739] a male [02145], and voweth [05087], and sacrificeth [02076] unto the Lord [0136] a corrupt thing [07843]: for I am a great [01419] King [04428], saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], and my name [08034] is dreadful [03372] among the heathen [01471].

⁸ And if ye offer [05066] the blind [05787] for sacrifice [02076], is it not evil [07451]? and if ye offer [05066] the lame [06455] and sick [02470], is it not evil [07451]? offer [07126] it now unto thy governor [06346]; will he be pleased [07521] with thee, or accept [05375] thy person [06440]? saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].

⁶ A son [01121] honoureth [03513] his father [01], and a servant [05650] his master [0113]: if then I be a father [01], where is mine honour [03519]? and if I be a master [0113], where is my fear [04172]? saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] unto you, O priests [03548], that despise [0959] my name [08034]. And ye say [0559], Wherein have we despised [0959] thy name [08034]?

²⁷ Wherefore [5620] whosoever [3739] [302] shall eat [2068] this [5126] bread [740], and [2228] drink [4095] this cup [4221] of the Lord [2962], unworthily [371], shall be [2071] guilty [1777] of the body [4983] and [2532] blood [129] of the Lord [2962].

⁷ So will I make my holy [06944] name [08034] known [03045] in the midst [08432] of my people [05971] Israel [03478]; and I will not let them pollute [02490] my holy [06944] name [08034] any more: and the heathen [01471] shall know [03045] that I am the LORD [03068], the Holy One [06918] in Israel [03478].

⁷ And he said [0559] unto me, Son [01121] of man [0120], the place [04725] of my throne [03678], and the place [04725] of the soles [03709] of my feet [07272], where I will dwell [07931] in the midst [08432] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478] for ever [05769], and my holy [06944] name [08034], shall the house [01004] of Israel [03478] no more defile [02930], neither they, nor their kings [04428], by their whoredom [02184], nor by the carcases [06297] of their kings [04428] in their high places [01116].

²² Nevertheless I withdrew [07725] mine hand [03027], and wrought [06213] for my name's [08034] sake, that it should not be polluted [02490] in the sight [05869] of the heathen [01471], in whose sight [05869] I brought them forth [03318].

¹⁴ But I wrought [06213] for my name's [08034] sake, that it should not be polluted [02490] before [05869] the heathen [01471], in whose sight [05869] I brought them out [03318].

⁹ But I wrought [06213] for my name's [08034] sake, that it should not be polluted [02490] before [05869] the heathen [01471], among [08432] whom they were, in whose sight [05869] I made myself known [03045] unto them, in bringing them forth [03318] out of the land [0776] of Egypt [04714].

¹⁹ And will ye pollute [02490] me among my people [05971] for handfuls [08168] of barley [08184] and for pieces [06595] of bread [03899], to slay [04191] the souls [05315] that should not die [04191], and to save [02421] the souls [05315] alive [02421] that should not live [02421], by your lying [03576] to my people [05971] that hear [08085] your lies [03577]?

²⁵ Neither from a stranger's [05236] hand [03027] [01121] shall ye offer [07126] the bread [03899] of your God [0430] of any of these; because their corruption [04893] is in them, and blemishes [03971] be in them: they shall not be accepted [07521] for you.

¹¹ And the priest [03548] shall burn [06999] it upon the altar [04196]: it is the food [03899] of the offering made by fire [0801] unto the LORD [03068].

⁷ In that ye have brought [0935] into my sanctuary strangers [01121] [05236], uncircumcised [06189] in heart [03820], and uncircumcised [06189] in flesh [01320], to be in my sanctuary [04720], to pollute [02490] it, even my house [01004], when ye offer [07126] my bread [03899], the fat [02459] and the blood [01818], and they have broken [06565] my covenant [01285] because [0413] of all your abominations [08441].