Malachi 1:8
And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
Original Language Analysis
וְכִֽי
H3588
וְכִֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
תַגִּ֛ישׁוּ
And if ye offer
H5066
תַגִּ֛ישׁוּ
And if ye offer
Strong's:
H5066
Word #:
2 of 22
to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causati
לִזְבֹּ֙חַ֙
for sacrifice
H2076
לִזְבֹּ֙חַ֙
for sacrifice
Strong's:
H2076
Word #:
4 of 22
to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)
וְכִ֥י
H3588
וְכִ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
7 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
תַגִּ֛ישׁוּ
And if ye offer
H5066
תַגִּ֛ישׁוּ
And if ye offer
Strong's:
H5066
Word #:
8 of 22
to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causati
וְחֹלֶ֖ה
and sick
H2470
וְחֹלֶ֖ה
and sick
Strong's:
H2470
Word #:
10 of 22
properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to stroke (in flattering), entreat
הַקְרִיבֵ֨הוּ
offer
H7126
הַקְרִיבֵ֨הוּ
offer
Strong's:
H7126
Word #:
13 of 22
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
נָ֜א
H4994
נָ֜א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
14 of 22
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
לְפֶחָתֶ֗ךָ
it now unto thy governor
H6346
לְפֶחָתֶ֗ךָ
it now unto thy governor
Strong's:
H6346
Word #:
15 of 22
a prefect (of a city or small district)
הֲיִרְצְךָ֙
will he be pleased
H7521
הֲיִרְצְךָ֙
will he be pleased
Strong's:
H7521
Word #:
16 of 22
to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy a debt
א֚וֹ
H176
א֚וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
17 of 22
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
הֲיִשָּׂ֣א
with thee or accept
H5375
הֲיִשָּׂ֣א
with thee or accept
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
18 of 22
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
פָנֶ֔יךָ
thy person
H6440
פָנֶ֔יךָ
thy person
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
19 of 22
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Cross References
Deuteronomy 15:21And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.Jeremiah 14:10Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.Hosea 8:13They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.Psalms 20:3Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.Job 42:8Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
Historical Context
Persian governors controlled Judah during the post-exilic period. The priests, as intermediaries between Jewish community and Persian authority, understood protocol for approaching rulers. No one would insult a governor with defective gifts—doing so risked punishment. Yet these same priests insulted the sovereign LORD with blind, lame, and sick animals. Their hypocrisy revealed distorted priorities: they feared earthly consequences but not divine judgment. Jesus confronted similar hypocrisy in religious leaders who tithed herbs while neglecting justice and mercy (Matthew 23:23), who honored God with lips while hearts remained far from Him (Matthew 15:8).
Questions for Reflection
- How does comparing our worship to what we'd offer human authorities expose our true priorities?
- In what areas might we fear man's disapproval more than God's, showing more respect to earthly powers than to our heavenly King?
- What does it reveal about our theology when we give God less than our best while reserving excellence for other pursuits?
Analysis & Commentary
And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. God specifies the defective sacrifices: the blind (עִוֵּר, ivver), the lame (פִּסֵּחַ, pisseaḥ), and sick (חֹלֶה, ḥoleh) animals—all explicitly forbidden by Torah (Leviticus 22:20-24, Deuteronomy 15:21). The rhetorical question is it not evil? (הַאֵין רָע, ha'ein ra) emphasizes the obvious wickedness. רָע (ra) means evil, bad, wicked—not merely inappropriate but morally wrong.
God's devastating comparison follows: offer it now unto thy governor (הַקְרִיבֵהוּ נָא לְפֶחָתֶךָ, hakrivehu na lefeḥatekha). פֶּחָה (peḥah, governor) refers to the Persian governor ruling Judah. Would the priests dare offer such defective gifts to their earthly ruler? Will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? (הֲיִרְצְךָ אוֹ הֲיִשָּׂא פָנֶיךָ, hayirtzekha o hayissa fanekha). Obviously not—human governors demand respect; how much more the King of heaven?
This argument exposes the priests' hypocrisy: they gave human authorities what they withheld from God. They feared man more than God, valued human approval above divine favor. This reversal of priorities characterizes all false worship—using God while serving self.