Malachi 1:14

Amplified Bible

"But cursed is the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows [to offer] it, but sacrifices to the Lord a blemished or diseased thing! For I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is to be [reverently and greatly] feared among the nations."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the Lord of Armies, “and my name will be feared among the nations.

King James Version (1611)
But cursed be the deceiuer, which hath in his flocke a male, and voweth and sacrificeth vnto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hostes, and my name is dreadfull among the heathen.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

New American Standard Bible
"But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King," says the LORD of armies, "and My name is feared among the nations."

New Century Version
"The person who cheats will be cursed. He has a male animal in his flock and promises to offer it, but then he offers to the Lord an animal that has something wrong with it. I am a great king," says the Lord All-Powerful, "and I am feared by all the nations.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But cursed be the deceiuer, which hath in his flocke a male, & voweth, and sacrificeth vnto ye Lorde a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, sayth the Lord of hostes, and my Name is terrible among the heathen.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is feared among the nations."

Legacy Standard Bible
"But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King," says Yahweh of hosts, "and My name is feared among the nations."

Berean Standard Bible
"But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King," says the LORD of Hosts, "and My name is to be feared among the nations."

Contemporary English Version
Instead of offering the acceptable animals you have promised, you bring me those that are unhealthy. I will punish you for this, because I am the great King, the Lord All-Powerful, and I am worshiped by nations everywhere.

Complete Jewish Bible
"Moreover, cursed is the deceiver who has a male animal in his flock that is damaged, but vows and sacrifices to Adonai anyway. For I am a great king," says Adonai -Tzva'ot, "and my name is respected among the nations.

Darby Translation
Yea, cursed be the deceiver, who hath in his flock a male, and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing; for I am a great King, saith Jehovah of hosts, and my name is terrible among the nations.

Easy-to-Read Version
"Some people have good, male animals that they could give as sacrifices, but don't. Some people bring good animals and promise to give those healthy animals to me. But then they secretly exchange those good animals and give me sick animals instead. Bad things will happen to those people. I am the Great King and people all around the world respect me!" This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

George Lamsa Translation
Cursed be he who has in his flock a ram, and vows and sacrifices for the LORD that which is sick; for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreaded among the Gentiles.

Good News Translation
A curse on the cheater who sacrifices a worthless animal to me, when he has in his flock a good animal that he promised to give me! For I am a great king, and people of all nations fear me."

Lexham English Bible
"Cursed is the one who cheats, who has in his flock a male and vows it, but instead sacrifices a blemished one to the Lord! For I am a great king," says Yahweh of hosts, "and my name is awesome among the nations."

Literal Translation
But cursed be a deceiver and there is a male in his flock, yet he vows it , but he sacrifices a blemished one to the Lord. For I am a great King, says Jehovahof Hosts, and My name is feared amongthe nations.

American Standard Version
But cursed be the deceiver, who hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith Jehovah of hosts, and my name is terrible among the Gentiles.

Bible in Basic English
A curse on the false man who has a male in his flock, and takes his oath, and gives to the Lord a damaged thing: for I am a great King, says the Lord of armies, and my name is to be feared among the Gentiles.

Hebrew Names Version
"But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and my name is awesome among the nations."

JPS Old Testament (1917)
But cursed be he that dealeth craftily, whereas he hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and My name is feared among the nations.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Cursed be the deceitfull which hath in his flocke a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth a corrupt thing to the Lorde: because I am a great king, saith the lord of hoastes, and my name is fearefull among the heathen.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And cursed is the man who had the power, and possessed a male in his flock, and whose vow is upon him, and who sacrifices a corrupt thing to the Lord: for I am a great King, saith the Lord Almighty, and my name is glorious among the nations.

English Revised Version
But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing: for I am a great king, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is terrible among the Gentiles.

World English Bible
"But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King," says Yahweh of hosts, "and my name is awesome among the nations."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Cursid is the gileful, that hath in his floc a male beeste, and `he makynge a vow offrith a feble to the Lord; for Y am a greet kyng, seith the Lord of oostis, and my name is dredeful `in folkis.

Update Bible Version
But cursed be the deceiver, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King, says Yahweh of hosts, and my name is awesome among the Gentiles.

Webster's Bible Translation
But cursed [be] the deceiver, who hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.

New English Translation
"There will be harsh condemnation for the hypocrite who has a valuable male animal in his flock but vows and sacrifices something inferior to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the Lord who rules over all, "and my name is awesome among the nations."

New King James Version
"But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished-- For I am a great King," Says the LORD of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations.

New Living Translation
"Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, "and my name is feared among the nations!

New Life Bible
"A curse will come upon the sinful man who promises to give a male from his flock, but gives an animal that is not perfect to the Lord. For I am a great King," says the Lord of All. "And My name is feared among the nations.

New Revised Standard
Cursed be the cheat who has a male in the flock and vows to give it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished; for I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is reverenced among the nations.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But accursed is he that defraudeth, who, when there is in his flock a male, yet voweth and sacrificeth a corrupt thing to the Lord, for, a great king, am I, saith Yahweh of hosts, and, my Name, is revered among the nations.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Cursed is the deceitful man that hath in his flock a male, and making a vow offereth in sacrifice that which is feeble to the Lord: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the Gentiles.

Revised Standard Version
Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished; for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is feared among the nations.

Young's Literal Translation
And cursed [is] a deceiver, who hath in his drove a male, And is vowing, and is sacrificing a marred thing to the Lord, For a great king [am] I, said Jehovah of Hosts, And My name [is] revered among nations!

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Cursed be the dyssembler, which hath in his flocke one that is male, and when he maketh a vowe, offereth a spotted one vnto the LORDE. For I am a greate kynge (sayeth the LORDE of hoostes) and my name is fearfull amonge the Heithen.

THE MESSAGE
"A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me—an expensive sacrifice, say—and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I'm a great king, God -of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I'll not put up with it!"

Contextual Overview

⁶"'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is the [reverent] fear and respect due Me?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise My name. But you say, 'How and in what way have we despised Your name?' ⁷"You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' By thinking that the table of the LORD is contemptible and may be despised. ⁸"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. ⁹"But now will you not entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering from your hand [as an imperfect animal for sacrifice], will He show favor to any of you?" says the LORD of hosts. ¹⁰"Oh, that there were even one among you [whose duty it is to minister to Me] who would shut the gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar uselessly [with an empty, worthless pretense]! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "nor will I accept an offering from your hand. ¹¹"For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, My name shall be great among the nations. In every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name shall be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts. ¹²"But you [priests] profane it when you say, 'The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.' ¹³"You also say, 'How tiresome this is!' And you disdainfully sniff at it," says the LORD of hosts, "and you bring what was taken by robbery, and the lame or the sick [animals]; this you bring as an offering! Should I receive it with pleasure from your hand?" says the LORD. ¹⁴"But cursed is the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows [to offer] it, but sacrifices to the Lord a blemished or diseased thing! For I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is to be [reverently and greatly] feared among the nations."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

cursed: Malachi 3:9, Genesis 27:12, Joshua 7:11, Joshua 7:12, Jeremiah 48:10, Matthew 24:51, Luke 12:1, Luke 12:2, Luke 12:46, Acts 5:1-10, Revelation 21:8

which hath in his flock: or, in whose flock is, Ecclesiastes 5:4, Ecclesiastes 5:5, Mark 12:41-44, Mark 14:8, 2 Corinthians 8:12

for: Malachi 1:8, Malachi 1:11, Deuteronomy 28:58, Psalms 47:2, Psalms 48:2, Psalms 95:3, Isaiah 57:15, Jeremiah 10:10, Daniel 4:37, Zechariah 14:9, Matthew 5:35, 1 Timothy 6:15

my name: Psalms 68:35, Psalms 76:12, Daniel 9:4, Hebrews 12:29, Revelation 15:4

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:7 - General Exodus 9:16 - that my Exodus 12:5 - be without Exodus 29:1 - without Leviticus 1:3 - a male Leviticus 1:10 - a male Leviticus 3:1 - without Leviticus 22:20 - General Leviticus 23:18 - seven lambs Leviticus 27:11 - General Numbers 6:14 - one ewe Numbers 19:2 - no blemish Numbers 28:19 - they shall Numbers 28:31 - without blemish Deuteronomy 17:1 - General Deuteronomy 23:18 - any vow Job 21:15 - and what Psalms 48:10 - According Psalms 96:10 - Say Psalms 145:1 - my God Isaiah 43:23 - hast not Isaiah 43:24 - filled me Isaiah 44:6 - the King Jeremiah 46:18 - saith Jeremiah 48:15 - saith Jeremiah 51:57 - the king Ezekiel 45:15 - out of the fat Zechariah 14:16 - the King John 10:29 - is greater Acts 5:2 - kept Romans 1:5 - for his name Romans 2:22 - sacrilege 1 Timothy 1:17 - the King

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:2
The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:3
And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.

Genesis 1:4
God saw that the light was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it; and God separated the light [distinguishing it] from the darkness.

Genesis 1:6
And God said, "Let there be an expanse [of the sky] in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters [below the expanse] from the waters [above the expanse]."

Genesis 1:7
And God made the expanse [of sky] and separated the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so [just as He commanded].

Genesis 1:8
God called the expanse [of sky] heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

Genesis 1:9
Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place [of standing, pooling together], and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.

Genesis 1:12
The earth sprouted and abundantly produced vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, according to their kind; and God saw that it was good and He affirmed and sustained it.

Genesis 1:14
Then God said, "Let there be light-bearers (sun, moon, stars) in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be useful for signs (tokens) [of God's provident care], and for marking seasons, days, and years;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But cursed be the deceiver,.... A cunning, crafty, subtle man, who thinks and contrives, speaks and acts, in a very artful and deceiving manner; though some derive the word from יכל, "to be able"; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "who is able"; to bring a proper offering, a perfect lamb, as it follows:

which hath in his flock a male; without spot and blemish, as the law requires:

and voweth and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing; that was a female, or had blemishes in it; for the law required what was perfect and without a blemish for a vow; what was superfluous or deficient in its parts might do for a freewill offering, but not for a vow,

Leviticus 22:18 wherefore such a man must be accursed, and such conduct must be highly resented by the Lord; had he it not in his power to do better, it might be excusable; but then it would be better not to have vowed at all; but to vow a sacrifice to the Lord, and deal deceitfully with him, when he could have brought an offering agreeable to his vow, and to the law, this is aggravated wickedness:

for I [am] a great King, saith the Lord of hosts; the King of the whole world, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; and therefore to be honoured and reverenced suitable to his dignity and greatness:

and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen; because of his judgments executed among them; or rather because of his Gospel preached unto them; for this may be considered as a prophecy of what would be when the Gospel should be spread in the Gentile world; and therefore if they, when he was made known to them, would fear and reverence him; then the Israelites, to whom he had given such instances and proofs of his love, ought to have shown a greater regard unto him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Cursed is the deceiver - ^o “The fraudulent, hypocritical, false or deceitful dealer, who makes a show of one thing, and doth or intends another, nor doth to his power what he would make a show of doing; as if he could deceive God in doing in His service otherwise than He required, and yet be accepted by Him.” The whole habit of these men was not to break with God, but to keep well with Him on as easy terms as they could. They even went beyond what the law required in making vows, probably for some temporal end, and then substituted for that which had typical perfection, the less valuable animal, the ewe and that, diseased. It was probably, to prevent self-deceit, that the law commanded that the oblation for a vow should be Leviticus 22:19, Leviticus 22:21, “a male without blemish, perfect;” lest (which may be a temptation in impulsive vows) repenting of their vow, they should persuade themselves, that they had vowed less than they had. Ordinarily, then, it would not have been allowed to one, who had not the best to offer, to vow at all. But, in their alleged poverty, the prophet supposes that God would so far dispense with His own law, and accept the best which anyone had, although it did not come up to that law. Hence the clause, “which hath in his flock a male.” “If thou hast not a male, that curse in no wise injureth thee. But saying this, he showeth, that they have what is best, and offer what is bad.”

They sinned, not against religion only, but against justice also. “For as a merchant, who offers his goods at a certain price, if he supply them afterward adulterated and corrupted, is guilty of fraud and is unjust, so he who promised to God a sacrifice worthy of God, and, according to the law, perfect and sound, is fraudulent and sins against justice, if he afterward gives one, defective, mutilated, vitiated, and is guilty of theft in a sacred thing, and so of sacrilege.”

Clergy or “all who have vowed, should learn hence, that what they have vowed should be given to God, entire, manly, perfect, the best. For, reverence for the Supreme and Divine Majesty to whom they consecrate themselves demandeth this, that they should offer Him the highest, best and most perfect, making themselves a whole-burnt-offering to God.”

, “They who abandon all things of the world, and kindle their whole mind with the fire of divine love, these become a sacrifice and a whole-burnt-offering to Almighty God.” , “Man himself, consecrated and devoted in the name of God, is a sacrifice.” He then offers a corrupt thing who, like Ananias, keeps back “part of the price,” and is the more guilty, because, while it was his own, it was in his own power.

I am a great King - ^o “As God is Alone Lord through His universal Providence and His intrinsic authority, so He Alone is King, and a King so great, that of His greatness or dignity and perfection there is no end.”

My Name is dreadful among the pagan - Absence of any awe of God was a central defect of these Jews. They treated Him, as they would not a fellow-creature, for whom they had any respect or awe or fear. Some remaining instinct kept them from parting with Him; but they yielded a cold, wearisome, heartless service. Malachi points to the root of the evil, the ignorance, how awful God is. This is the root of so much irreverence in people’s theories, thoughts, conversations, systems, acts, of the present day also. They know neither God or themselves. The relation is summed up in those words to a saint , “Knowest thou well, Who I am, and who thou art? I am He Who Is, and thou art she who is not.” So Job says in the presence of God Job 42:5-6, “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee: wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” To correct this, God, from the beginning, insists on the title which He gives Himself. (Deuteronomy 10:16-17; Deuteronomy 7:21. Nehemiah uses it in his prayers Nehemiah 1:5; Nehemiah 9:32 and Daniel Daniel 9:4. It occurs also Nehemiah 4:8 (14 English) Psalms 47:3; 68:36; Psalms 89:8; Psalms 96:4; Psalms 99:3; Psalms 111:9; Zephaniah 2:11. “Circumcise the foreskin of your hearts and be no more stiff-necked: for the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty and the terrible;” and in warning Deuteronomy 28:58-59, “If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, The Lord thy God, then the Lord thy God will make thy plagues wonderful” etc.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Malachi 1:14. Cursed be the deceiver — Those who act thus, as they cannot elude God's notice, so neither shall they escape his curse.

And voweth, and sacrificeth - a corrupt thing — The history of Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1, c., is a complete comment on this. It was high time to break up this corrupt service and after this time God does not appear to have paid any regard to it, for he sent them no other prophet.