The Meaning of Malachi 1:2 Explained

Malachi 1:2

KJV: I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

YLT: I have loved you, said Jehovah, And ye have said, 'In what hast Thou loved us?'

Darby: I have loved you, saith Jehovah; but ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith Jehovah, and I loved Jacob,

ASV: I have loved you, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother, saith Jehovah: yet I loved Jacob;

Discover Malachi 1:2

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Malachi 1:2?

MEANING: What does Malachi 1:2 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Malachi 1:2 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Malachi 1:2?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I have loved  you, saith  the LORD.  Yet ye say,  Wherein hast thou loved  us? [Was] not Esau  Jacob's  brother?  saith  the LORD:  yet I loved  Jacob, 

What does Malachi 1:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord"s first word to His people was short and sweet. He had loved them. He had told His people of His love for them repeatedly throughout their history (cf. Deuteronomy 4:32-40; Deuteronomy 7:7-11; Deuteronomy 10:12-22; Deuteronomy 15:16; Deuteronomy 23:5; Deuteronomy 33:2-5; Isaiah 43:4; Hosea 11:1; Hosea 11:3-4; Hosea 11:8-9). Yet they were now questioning His love and implying that there was no evidence of it in their present situation in life. This is the first of seven such dialogues in Malachi (cf. Malachi 1:6-7; Malachi 2:14; Malachi 2:17; Malachi 3:7-8, Malachi 3:13-14). Yahweh had promised them a golden age of blessing, but they still struggled under Gentile oppression and generally hard times (cf. Malachi 1:8; Malachi 2:2; Malachi 3:9; Malachi 3:11). Their question revealed distrust of Him and hostility toward Him as well as lack of appreciation for Him. Israel should have responded to Yahweh"s love by loving Him and keeping His commandments ( Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

Context Summary

Malachi 1:1-14 - Sincerity Of Worship Sought
The love referred to in these opening Malachi 1:1-5, was exemplified in the divine choice, that through Israel the whole world might be blessed. Hate does not mean positive dislike but a forfeiture of the supreme place of privilege and ministry. Esau's sensuous nature preferred the mess of pottage to the birthright, and this was characteristic of his people. In Malachi 1:6-14 the prophet turns to the priests. They despised God's name and without scruple offered on his altar the lame, the blind, and the sick. They did not hesitate to speak of the routine of Levitical service as a weariness. Notice the pathetic appeal of Malachi 1:10, r.v., "Oh that there were one to shut the doors of my house, that ye might not offer vain sacrifices!" In contrast to this indifference, the truly marvelous outlook in Malachi 1:11 is very significant. Far away from Jewish altars, God's name was revered in Gentile lands, and sacrifices were offered which He accepted. The words remind us of Acts 10:34-35. [source]

Chapter Summary: Malachi 1

1  Malachi complains of Israel's unkindness;
2  of their irreverence and profaneness

What do the individual words in Malachi 1:2 mean?

I have loved you says Yahweh And yet you say in what [way] have You loved us [Was] not brother Esau of Jacob says And yet I have loved - Jacob
אָהַ֤בְתִּי אֶתְכֶם֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם בַּמָּ֣ה אֲהַבְתָּ֑נוּ הֲלוֹא־ ؟ אָ֨ח עֵשָׂ֤ו לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙ נְאֻם־ וָאֹהַ֖ב אֶֽת־ יַעֲקֹֽב

אָהַ֤בְתִּי  I  have  loved 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם  And  yet  you  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בַּמָּ֣ה  in  what  [way] 
Parse: Preposition-b, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
אֲהַבְתָּ֑נוּ  have  You  loved  us 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
הֲלוֹא־  [Was]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
؟ אָ֨ח  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
עֵשָׂ֤ו  Esau 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵשָׂו  
Sense: eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples.
לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙  of  Jacob 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
וָאֹהַ֖ב  And  yet  I  have  loved 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יַעֲקֹֽב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.

What are the major concepts related to Malachi 1:2?

Loading Information...

Similar Scriptures for Malachi 1:2

Jeremiah 31:3 [5]
Isaiah 41:8-9 [5]
Deuteronomy 10:15 [4]
Romans 11:28-29 [3]
Malachi 3:13-14 [3]
Deuteronomy 4:37 [3]
Deuteronomy 32:8-14 [3]
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 [3]
Romans 9:10-13 [3]
Malachi 1:6-7 [2]
Genesis 27:33 [2]
read more (12)
Genesis 28:13-14 [2]
Genesis 27:27-30 [2]
Genesis 25:23 [2]
Malachi 3:7-8 [2]
Genesis 32:28-30 [2]
Malachi 2:17 [2]
Genesis 28:3-4 [2]
Jeremiah 2:31 [2]
Genesis 48:4 [2]
Isaiah 43:4 [2]
Jeremiah 2:5 [2]
Luke 10:29 [1]
read less