Malachi 1:10
New International Version
“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.

New Living Translation
“How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings.

English Standard Version
Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.

Berean Standard Bible
“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.

King James Bible
Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

New King James Version
“Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” Says the LORD of hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.

New American Standard Bible
“If only there were one among you who would shut the gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar for nothing! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of armies, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand.

NASB 1995
“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you.

NASB 1977
“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not light a fire on My altar in vain! I have no delight in you,” says Yahweh of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand.

Amplified Bible
“Oh, that there were even one among you [whose duty it is to minister to Me] who would shut the gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar uselessly [with an empty, worthless pretense]! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand.

Christian Standard Bible
“I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Armies, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.”

American Standard Version
Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith Jehovah of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

Contemporary English Version
I wish someone would lock the doors of my temple, so you would stop wasting time building fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you priests, and I refuse to accept any more of your offerings.

English Revised Version
Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I wish one of you would shut the doors [to my house] so that you could not light fires on my altar for no reason. I'm not pleased with you," says the LORD of Armies, "and I won't accept your offerings.

Good News Translation
The LORD Almighty says, "I wish one of you would close the Temple doors so as to prevent you from lighting useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you; I will not accept the offerings you bring me.

International Standard Version
"Oh, that one of you would shut the Temple doors and not light useless fires on the altar! I'm not pleased with you," says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "and I'll accept no offerings from you.

Majority Standard Bible
“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.

NET Bible
"I wish that one of you would close the temple doors, so that you no longer would light useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you," says the LORD who rules over all, "and I will no longer accept an offering from you.

New Heart English Bible
"Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain. I have no pleasure in you," says the LORD of hosts, "neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

Webster's Bible Translation
Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on my altar for naught. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

World English Bible
“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you,” says Yahweh of Armies, “neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Who [is] even among you, "" And he shuts the double doors? Indeed, you do not kindle My altar for nothing, "" I have no pleasure in you,” said YHWH of Hosts, "" “And I do not accept a present of your hand.

Young's Literal Translation
Who is even among you, And he shutteth the two-leaved doors? Yea, ye do not kindle Mine altar for nought, I have no pleasure in you, said Jehovah of Hosts, And a present I do not accept of your hand.

Smith's Literal Translation
Who also among you and he will shut the doors? and ye shall not make light mine altar gratuitously. Not to me delight in you, said Jehovah of armies, and I will not delight in the gift of your hand.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who is there among you, that will shut the doors, and will kindle the fire on my altar gratis? I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will not receive a gift of your hand.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Who is there among you that would close the doors and enflame my altar without pay? I have no favor in you, says the Lord of hosts. And I will not accept a gift from your hand.

New American Bible
Oh, that one of you would just shut the temple gates to keep you from kindling fire on my altar in vain! I take no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts; and I will not accept any offering from your hands!

New Revised Standard Version
Oh, that someone among you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hands.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who is there among you who would guard my doors or offer on my altar for nothing? I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering from your hand.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who is there among you who would guard my gates and you would not offer what is without cost on my altar? I am not pleased with you, says LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts, and I shall not accept an offering from you
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Oh that there were even one among you that would shut the doors, That ye might not kindle fire on Mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, Saith the LORD of hosts, Neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Because even among you the doors shall be shut, and one will not kindle the fire of mine altar for nothing, I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept a sacrifice at your hands.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Polluted Offerings
9“But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts. 10“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11For 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 presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.…

Cross References
Isaiah 1:11-15
“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. / When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts? / Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. ...

Amos 5:21-23
“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

Jeremiah 6:20
What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”

Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Micah 6:6-8
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? / Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? / He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 15:8-9
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”

Mark 7:6-7
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’

Isaiah 66:3
Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.

1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.

Proverbs 21:27
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

John 4:23-24
But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. / God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Hebrews 10:5-6
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. / In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.

Psalm 50:7-15
“Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. / I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are ever before Me. / I have no need for a bull from your stall or goats from your pens, ...


Treasury of Scripture

Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nothing? neither do you kindle fire on my altar for nothing. I have no pleasure in you, said the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

Who.

even.

Job 1:9-11
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? …

Isaiah 56:11,12
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter…

Jeremiah 6:13
For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

neither.

1 Corinthians 9:13
Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

I have.

Isaiah 1:11-15
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats…

Jeremiah 6:20
To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

Amos 5:21-24
I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies…

Jump to Previous
Accept Altar Armies Doors Fire Fires Gates Hand Hosts Kindle Light Naught Nought Offering Pleased Pleasure Shut Temple Useless Uselessly Vain
Jump to Next
Accept Altar Armies Doors Fire Fires Gates Hand Hosts Kindle Light Naught Nought Offering Pleased Pleasure Shut Temple Useless Uselessly Vain
Malachi 1
1. Malachi complains of Israel's unkindness;
2. of their irreverence and profaneness.














Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors
This phrase reflects God's deep displeasure with the insincere worship being offered by the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "shut" (סָגַר, sagar) implies a decisive action to close or lock. Historically, the temple was the center of Jewish worship, and its doors symbolized access to God's presence. By expressing a desire for the doors to be shut, God is emphasizing that He would rather have no worship than insincere worship. This highlights the importance of genuine devotion over mere ritualistic practices.

so that you would not kindle useless fires on My altar
The "useless fires" refer to the sacrifices being offered without true reverence or obedience. The Hebrew word for "useless" (חִנָּם, hinnam) can mean "in vain" or "without cause." In the context of the sacrificial system, the altar was a place of atonement and communion with God. However, when sacrifices are made without a heart aligned with God's will, they become meaningless. This serves as a reminder that God desires heartfelt worship and obedience rather than empty rituals.

I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Hosts
The phrase "LORD of Hosts" (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, Yahweh Tseva'ot) underscores God's sovereignty and power as the commander of heavenly armies. His displeasure is not a trivial matter; it is a serious indictment from the Almighty. The Hebrew word for "pleased" (חָפֵץ, chaphets) conveys a sense of delight or satisfaction. God's lack of pleasure indicates a broken relationship due to the people's disobedience and insincerity. This calls believers to self-examination, ensuring that their worship is pleasing to God.

“and I will accept no offering from your hands.”
The word "accept" (רָצָה, ratsah) in Hebrew means to take pleasure in or to be favorable towards. God's refusal to accept offerings signifies a rejection of the people's attempts to appease Him through mere external actions. The "hands" symbolize human effort and work. This rejection serves as a powerful reminder that God values the condition of the heart over the physical act of giving. It challenges believers to offer their lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as emphasized in Romans 12:1.

(10) The prophet is now supposed by many commentators to say that the Temple might as well be closed, as far as concerns any pleasure the Lord takes in their offerings.

Who is there even among you . . . doors . . . altar for nought.--Those that take the above-mentioned view of the passage would render, O that there were one among even you who would shut the doors, that ye might not light mine altar to no purpose. "To no purpose," like ?????? (Galatians 2:21). The rebuke contained in this verse is, according to this interpretation, very similar to that of Isaiah 1:11-15. But the word "even," which can only refer to "you" (Keil thinks differently), seems to us almost fatal to this interpretation. For we could only explain its use in the forced sense of: "Would that some one, among even you (who ought to be the promoters of God's service), would (since His service has now become a mockery) shut, &c." We are therefore inclined to retain the simple rendering of our venerable English Version. In that case, "even among you" (perhaps better, among even you) would mean: "even among you whose duty it is, and chief pleasure it ought to be, to minister unto Me," which, in that context, so far from being forced, would be most natural.

For nought.--Comp. the attitude of the priests in 1Samuel 2:13-16.

Verse 10. - The prophet continues his severe reprobation of the priests. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught, etc.? Thus rendered, the passage rebukes the mercenary spirit of the priests, who would not even shut the temple door nor kindle the altar fire unless they were paid for it; or else it means that, though all the officers of the temple were remunerated for their most trivial services, yet they were remiss in attending to their duties, and neglected the law of sacrifices. The Latin Version omits the negative in the last clause, Quis est in vobis qui claudat ostia, et incendat altare meum gratuito? The LXX., with some little variation in the reading, renders, Διότι καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν σὐκλειθήσονται θύραι καὶ οὐκ ἀνάψεται τὸ θυσιαστήριον, μου δωρεάν, "Wherefore also among you the doors shall be shut, and my altar shall not be kindled for nothing," i.e. God threatens that the temple services shall wholly cease. But it is best to consider the passage as continuing the sarcastic strain of the preceding verse, and saying in effect that it would be better to have no pretence of worship at all than to have it thus profaned. Translate as in the Revised Version, Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on mine altar in vain! The doors are those of the inner court of the temple, where the great altar stood; and the polluted sectaries is offered "in vain," because it offends God rather than propitiates him. An offering (minchah). Here not sacrifice in general, as many commentators suppose, because it would be unnatural to take the word in one sense in this verse, and in a different sense in the following, where it is confessedly used in its restricted signification. The term is applied technically to the offering of fine flour combined with off and frankincense, burnt on the altar (Leviticus 2:1, etc.); though it is also occasionally used even of bloody sacrifices; e.g. of Abel's (Genesis 4:4; comp. 1 Samuel 2:17). As liturgically employed, it denotes the unbloody offering. So in this verse we may note a kind of climax. God would not accept the victims sacrificed, no, nor even the meat offering, which was naturally pure and unpolluted,

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Oh,
מִ֤י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

that one
גַם־ (ḡam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

of you
בָּכֶם֙ (bā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

would shut
וְיִסְגֹּ֣ר (wə·yis·gōr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender

the temple doors,
דְּלָתַ֔יִם (də·lā·ṯa·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 1817: Something swinging, the valve of a, door

so that you would no
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

longer kindle
תָאִ֥ירוּ (ṯā·’î·rū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 215: To be or become light

useless
חִנָּ֑ם (ḥin·nām)
Adverb
Strong's 2600: Gratis, devoid of cost, reason, advantage

fires on My altar!
מִזְבְּחִ֖י (miz·bə·ḥî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

I take no
אֵֽין־ (’ên-)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

pleasure
חֵ֜פֶץ (ḥê·p̄eṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2656: Pleasure, desire, a valuable thing, a matter

in you,”
בָּכֶ֗ם (bā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

says
אָמַר֙ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

of Hosts,
צְבָא֔וֹת (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

“and I will accept
אֶרְצֶ֥ה (’er·ṣeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7521: To be pleased with, to satisfy a, debt

no
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

offering
וּמִנְחָ֖ה (ū·min·ḥāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4503: A donation, tribute, a sacrificial offering

from your hands.”
מִיֶּדְכֶֽם׃ (mî·yeḏ·ḵem)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand


Links
Malachi 1:10 NIV
Malachi 1:10 NLT
Malachi 1:10 ESV
Malachi 1:10 NASB
Malachi 1:10 KJV

Malachi 1:10 BibleApps.com
Malachi 1:10 Biblia Paralela
Malachi 1:10 Chinese Bible
Malachi 1:10 French Bible
Malachi 1:10 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Malachi 1:10 Oh that there were one among you (Malachi Mal Ml)
Malachi 1:9
Top of Page
Top of Page