Chapter
1 2 3 4
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Malachi 1:11

ESV For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.
NIV My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,' says the LORD Almighty.
NASB For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place frankincense 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 armies.
CSB "My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because my name will be great among the nations," says the Lord of Armies.
NLT But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,' says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
KJV For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

What does Malachi 1:11 mean?

There are some disagreements about whether this verse should be rendered in the present tense or the future tense. Theologically, only the future tense makes sense. At this point in history, proper sacrifices could only be made at the temple, and pagan nations had no such place to worship God. Likewise, the Hebrew construction suggests that these future offerings will be "brought" from all places, not literally "offered in" all places.

God has just told Israel that He would rather they stop offering Him any sacrifices at all, rather than bringing insultingly flawed animals. This verse brings in God's eventual honor from the Gentiles—non-Jews—which would have been a slap in the face to Israel. As God's chosen people, they had been given special treatment by God. Here, however, God is telling them that "pure" offerings, unlike Israel's impure sacrifices, will be offered by the—supposedly—unclean Gentiles.

In short, God is reminding Israel that He will be properly worshipped, even if that worship comes from those outside of Israel. He will be given honor, even if that happens in spite of Israel (Romans 3:1–8). Someday, those outside of God's chosen people will recognize God for who He is, and give Him the worship He is due (Zechariah 14:9).
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app: