Malachi 1:6
A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
Original Language Analysis
בֵּ֛ן
A son
H1121
בֵּ֛ן
A son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 27
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יְכַבֵּ֥ד
honoureth
H3513
יְכַבֵּ֥ד
honoureth
Strong's:
H3513
Word #:
2 of 27
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
אָ֣ב
his father
H1
אָ֣ב
his father
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
3 of 27
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
אֲדוֹנִ֣ים
and if I be a master
H113
אֲדוֹנִ֣ים
and if I be a master
Strong's:
H113
Word #:
5 of 27
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
וְאִם
H518
וְאִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
6 of 27
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
אָ֣ב
his father
H1
אָ֣ב
his father
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
7 of 27
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
כְבוֹדִ֡י
where is mine honour
H3519
כְבוֹדִ֡י
where is mine honour
Strong's:
H3519
Word #:
10 of 27
properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
וְאִם
H518
וְאִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
11 of 27
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
אֲדוֹנִ֣ים
and if I be a master
H113
אֲדוֹנִ֣ים
and if I be a master
Strong's:
H113
Word #:
12 of 27
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
מוֹרָאִ֜י
where is my fear
H4172
מוֹרָאִ֜י
where is my fear
Strong's:
H4172
Word #:
15 of 27
fear; by implication, a fearful thing or deed
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
17 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֗וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֗וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
18 of 27
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙
unto you O priests
H3548
הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙
unto you O priests
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
20 of 27
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
שְׁמֶֽךָ׃
my name
H8034
שְׁמֶֽךָ׃
my name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
22 of 27
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
בַּמֶּ֥ה
H4100
בַּמֶּ֥ה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
24 of 27
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
Cross References
Luke 6:46And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?Isaiah 1:2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.Exodus 20:12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.1 Peter 1:17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:Hosea 12:8And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.Isaiah 64:8But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.Proverbs 30:17The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.Ephesians 6:2Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)Proverbs 30:11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.Matthew 7:21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Historical Context
The post-exilic priesthood had grown complacent and mercenary. They controlled temple operations, religious instruction, and mediation between God and people. Their corruption meant Israel's entire spiritual infrastructure was compromised. They violated Leviticus 22:17-25, which forbade defective sacrifices. This pattern appears throughout Israel's history: when spiritual leaders fail, the people follow (2 Chronicles 36:14, Jeremiah 23:11, Ezekiel 22:26). Jesus would later confront similar priestly corruption, cleansing the temple and pronouncing woes on religious leaders who laid heavy burdens on others while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the father-son and master-servant analogy clarify what God deserves from His people?
- In what ways might we show contempt for God's name while maintaining outward religious observance?
- What special accountability do spiritual leaders bear for modeling honor and reverence toward God?
Analysis & Commentary
A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. God shifts from defending His love for Israel (vv. 2-5) to indicting priestly contempt. The analogy establishes universal principles: A son honoureth his father (בֵּן יְכַבֵּד אָב, ben yekhabbed av) and a servant his master (וְעֶבֶד אֲדֹנָיו, ve'eved adonav). The verb כָּבַד (kavad) means to honor, glorify, give weight to. Basic human relationships demand respect; how much more the divine-human relationship?
God applies this logic: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? (וְאִם־אָב אָנִי אַיֵּה כְבוֹדִי, ve'im-av ani ayyeh khevodi). God is Father to Israel (Exodus 4:22, Deuteronomy 32:6, Isaiah 63:16), yet receives no כָּבוֹד (kavod, honor/glory). Similarly, if I be a master, where is my fear? (וְאִם־אֲדוֹנִים אָנִי אַיֵּה מוֹרָאִי, ve'im-adonim ani ayyeh mora'i). מוֹרָא (mora) means fear, reverence, awe. The priests who should model honor and reverence instead despise my name (בּוֹזֵי שְׁמִי, bozei shemi)—בָּזָה (bazah) means to despise, show contempt, treat with scorn.
Their defiant response—Wherein have we despised thy name? (בַּמֶּה בָזִינוּ אֶת־שְׁמֶךָ, bameh vazinu et-shemekha)—reveals spiritual blindness.