King James Version

What Does Malachi 1:7 Mean?

Malachi 1:7 in the King James Version says “Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LOR...” — study this verse from Malachi chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. offer: or, bring unto, etc”

Malachi 1:7 · KJV

Context

5

And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel. from: or, upon: Heb. from upon

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?

7

Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. offer: or, bring unto, etc

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. for: Heb. to

9

And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts. God: Heb. the face of God by: Heb. from your hand

Read Malachi 1 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. God specifies the priests' contempt: offering polluted bread (לֶחֶם מְגֹאָל, lehem mego'al) on His altar. לֶחֶם (lehem, bread) refers to sacrificial offerings; מְגֹאָל (mego'al, polluted/defiled) indicates ritual uncleanness. The priests brought defiled sacrifices—animals unsuitable for God's altar according to Torah (Leviticus 22:17-25, Deuteronomy 15:21).

Again the priests respond with feigned innocence: Wherein have we polluted thee? (בַּמֶּה גֵאַלְנוּךָ, bameh ge'alnukha). God's answer reveals their attitude: In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible (בֶּאֱמָרְכֶם שֻׁלְחַן יְהוָה נִבְזֶה הוּא, be'emarkhem shulhan Yahweh nivzeh hu). שֻׁלְחַן (shulhan, table) refers to the altar where sacrifices were offered (Ezekiel 41:22, 44:16). נִבְזֶה (nivzeh, contemptible) means despised, worthless, insignificant.

The priests' actions revealed their hearts—by offering defective animals, they communicated that God's altar deserved no better. They treated sacred worship as contemptible routine rather than holy privilege.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Levitical system required unblemished animals for sacrifice (Leviticus 1:3, 10, 3:1, 6, 4:3, 23, 28). This wasn't arbitrary but taught important theology: sin demands costly atonement, God deserves our best, and sacrifices foreshadowed the perfect Lamb of God (John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19). Post-exilic priests violated these requirements, offering blind, lame, and sick animals (v. 8). Economic hardship may have tempted them to keep healthy animals for profit while giving God defective ones. But their actions revealed theological corruption—they no longer believed worship mattered or that God deserved excellence.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do our actions in worship reveal whether we truly value God's 'table' or find it contemptible?
  2. What 'defective offerings' might we bring to God—half-hearted service, distracted worship, grudging obedience?
  3. How does Christ as the perfect sacrifice expose and remedy our tendency toward contemptuous worship?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
מַגִּישִׁ֤ים1 of 13

“Ye offer”

H5066

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

עַֽל2 of 13
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מִזְבְּחִי֙3 of 13

“upon mine altar”

H4196

an altar

לֶ֣חֶם4 of 13

“bread”

H3899

food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)

גֵֽאַלְנ֑וּךָ5 of 13

“Wherein have we polluted”

H1351

to soil or (figuratively) desecrate

בֶּאֱמָרְכֶ֕ם6 of 13

“and ye say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

בַּמֶּ֣ה7 of 13
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

גֵֽאַלְנ֑וּךָ8 of 13

“Wherein have we polluted”

H1351

to soil or (figuratively) desecrate

בֶּאֱמָרְכֶ֕ם9 of 13

“and ye say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

שֻׁלְחַ֥ן10 of 13

“The table”

H7979

a table (as spread out); by implication, a meal

יְהוָ֖ה11 of 13

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

נִבְזֶ֥ה12 of 13

“is contemptible”

H959

to disesteem

הֽוּא׃13 of 13
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Malachi. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Malachi 1:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Malachi 1:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Malachi 1:121 Corinthians 11:27-321 Corinthians 10:21Malachi 1:81 Samuel 2:15-17Ezekiel 41:22

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