Malachi 2 13

Malachi 2:13 kjv

And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

Malachi 2:13 nkjv

And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.

Malachi 2:13 niv

Another thing you do: You flood the LORD's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.

Malachi 2:13 esv

And this second thing you do. You cover the LORD's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.

Malachi 2:13 nlt

Here is another thing you do. You cover the LORD's altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn't accept them with pleasure.

Malachi 2 verses

Malachi 2 13 meaning

Malachi 2:13 describes the people of Judah (and possibly the priests) covering the altar of the LORD with tears, weeping, and groaning. They lament that God no longer regards their offerings or accepts them with favor. This verse portrays a scene of intense, public grief during their worship, yet it highlights the profound spiritual disconnect and hypocrisy of the people, who attributed God's disfavor to His arbitrary choice rather than their own unfaithfulness. Their outward show of sorrow concealed hearts that had departed from God's covenant, leading to worship that God could not accept.

Malachi 2 13 Context

Malachi 2:13 is part of the second chapter of the book of Malachi, which addresses the spiritual decline among the returned exiles in post-exilic Judah, particularly among the priesthood. Chapter 1 criticizes the priests for offering defiled and contemptible sacrifices. Chapter 2 continues this critique, shifting to the covenant faithfulness of both priests and people. The preceding verses (Mal 2:1-9) denounce the priests for their failure to properly instruct the people and for turning aside from the covenant, resulting in God's judgment upon them. Malachi 2:13-16 specifically addresses the people's hypocrisy and faithlessness, particularly their breaking of the marriage covenant through divorce and intermarriage with foreign women. The immediate context of verse 13 reveals the people's perplexing behavior: they perform rituals with great outward displays of sorrow, crying at the altar, yet they do not understand or acknowledge the true reason for God's apparent non-acceptance—their own unfaithfulness and covenant violations which are explicitly condemned in the subsequent verses. They are upset that God is not blessing their corrupt worship, showing a profound spiritual blindness.

Malachi 2 13 Word analysis

• And this is another thing you do:
  • Signifies the introduction of a further grievance or accusation from God through Malachi. It connects to the ongoing litany of complaints against the people's and priests' actions. It suggests this is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of unacceptable behavior.
• you cover (כַּסּוּ - kassu):
  • This Hebrew word means "to cover," "to conceal," or "to overwhelm." Here, it's used hyperbolically, implying an abundance of tears—so many that they figuratively cover the altar. It’s a powerful image conveying extreme emotional display. It does not mean they literally poured liquid onto the altar.
• the altar of the LORD (מִזְבַּח יְהוָה - mizbach YHWH):
  • The central place for sacrifice and atonement. Its sanctity makes the defilement (either through literal improper offerings as in Mal 1 or through hypocritical worship as implied here) even more offensive. YHWH is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel.
• with tears, with weeping and groaning (בְּדִמְעָה בְּבֶכִי וּבַאֲנָקָה - be'dim'ah be'vechi u'va'anakah):
  • This is a strong accumulation of words describing profound sorrow and distress:
    • tears (dim'ah): Simply liquid from the eyes.
    • weeping (bechi): A stronger term for audible crying, wailing.
    • groaning (anakah): Deep, heartfelt lamentation, a sigh of distress.
  • The triplicate expression amplifies the intensity of their emotional outward display. The lament here is a performance, not a sign of genuine contrition leading to obedience.
• because (כִּי - ki):
  • Introduces the reason or explanation for their weeping: they perceive God's disfavor. This word establishes a direct cause-and-effect as they understood it, though Malachi reveals their understanding is flawed.
• he no longer regards (אֵין־עוֹד פְּנוֹת - ein-od penot):
  • Literally, "there is no more turning (His face)." To "turn one's face" (פָּנָה - panah) towards someone usually implies favor, attention, or presence (Num 6:25-26). Conversely, not turning one's face or hiding it means withdrawing favor, ignoring, or rejection (Ps 27:9, 30:7). Here, it explicitly means God is no longer favorably disposed towards their offerings.
• the offerings (מִנְחָה - minchah):
  • While often referring to grain offerings (Lev 2), in prophetic texts, minchah can be used generally for any offering or sacrifice (e.g., Isa 1:13; Mal 1:10). This implies a rejection of all their sacrifices presented at the altar.
• or accepts them with favor (רָצוֹן - ratzon):
  • Ratzon means "favor," "goodwill," or "acceptance." God's acceptance with favor implies that the offering (and the worshipper) is pleasing to Him (Lev 1:3). Without ratzon, the offering is worthless.
• from your hand (מִיֶּדְכֶם - mi'yed'chem):
  • This phrase emphasizes the direct source of the offerings—the people's own hands. It implicates them personally in the unacceptable worship. The responsibility for the defilement rests squarely on their shoulders.

Malachi 2 13 Bonus section

The scene described in Malachi 2:13 presents a profound irony: the people lament God's perceived distance, but their lamentation itself highlights their spiritual estrangement. They fail to understand that their actions caused God's turning away. This specific type of "weeping" at the altar for perceived lack of divine favor—without accompanying repentance—is presented as yet another offense. It reflects a transactional approach to worship where they expected a favorable outcome simply for performing the ritual, despite their moral failures. This passage is a strong prophetic polemic against ritualism that lacks integrity and against blaming God for consequences that stem from human sin. It anticipates the teaching that God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (Jn 4:24). The tears shed by these worshippers were not the "broken and contrite heart" (Ps 51:17) that God desires, but rather tears of frustration at God's supposed stubbornness, rather than sorrow over their own sin.

Malachi 2 13 Commentary

Malachi 2:13 exposes a severe spiritual hypocrisy within the post-exilic community. The people were performing elaborate and emotionally charged displays of lamentation at the altar, ostensibly distraught because God was not accepting their sacrifices. They were mourning God's apparent withdrawal of favor, symbolized by the "covering" of the altar with their profuse tears. However, their grief was self-pitying and misplaced, directed at the effect (God's rejection) rather than the cause (their own covenant faithlessness). They were blind to the true reason: their sacrifices, offered from impure hands and unrepentant hearts, particularly in light of their transgressions concerning divorce and intermarriage, were an abomination to the LORD. God does not whimsically reject worship; His rejection is a direct consequence of a broken relationship and unrighteous living. The verse underscores that outward religious rituals, no matter how emotionally intense, are futile and even offensive to God if they are disconnected from inner obedience, covenant fidelity, and genuine righteousness. It's a stark reminder that God desires truth in the inward being (Ps 51:6) and that acceptable worship flows from lives dedicated to justice, kindness, and humility (Mic 6:8).