Malachi 3:9 kjv
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Malachi 3:9 nkjv
You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
Malachi 3:9 niv
You are under a curse?your whole nation?because you are robbing me.
Malachi 3:9 esv
You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
Malachi 3:9 nlt
You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.
Malachi 3 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Malachi 3:9 | You are cursed with curses, for you are robbing me, even this whole nation. | Malachi 3:9 (Immediate context) |
| Deuteronomy 28:15 | But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God, nor be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. | Deut 28:15 (Law of blessings & curses) |
| Deuteronomy 28:19 | Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. | Deut 28:19 (Specific curses) |
| Deuteronomy 27:26 | “Cursed be anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by doing them.” And all the people shall say, “Amen.” | Deut 27:26 (Cursing disobedience) |
| Nehemiah 13:10 | I also found out that the portions for the Levites had not been given to them; so the Levites and the singers who did the work had fled to his own field. | Neh 13:10 (Illustration of withholding) |
| Leviticus 27:30 | Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD. | Lev 27:30 (The LORD's portion is tithe) |
| Numbers 18:21 | To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service in the tabernacle, where they do serve. | Num 18:21 (Tithe for Levites) |
| Haggai 1:6 | You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you are not satisfied. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes. | Hag 1:6 (Consequence of neglecting God) |
| 1 Corinthians 9:13 | Do you not know that those who serve in the temple eat what the temple produces, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed at the altar? | 1 Cor 9:13 (Principle of support for servants) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:26 | for “the earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof.” | 1 Cor 10:26 (Earth belongs to God) |
| Genesis 1:28 | And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” | Gen 1:28 (God's blessing for prosperity) |
| 1 Samuel 2:30 | therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: “I promised that your house and the house of your father would walk before me forever.” But now the LORD declares: “Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me shall be cursed.” | 1 Sam 2:30 (Honoring God brings honor) |
| Proverbs 3:9 | Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first of all your produce; | Prov 3:9 (Honoring God with substance) |
| Proverbs 11:24 | There is one who scatters, and yet increases, and there is one who withholds more than is due, but it only amounts to want. | Prov 11:24 (Prosperity through generosity) |
| Matthew 23:23 | “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. | Matt 23:23 (Critique of incomplete obedience) |
| Luke 11:42 | “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. | Luke 11:42 (Similar critique in Luke) |
| Romans 2:9 | Tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of Jew first and also of Greek, | Rom 2:9 (Divine judgment) |
| Malachi 2:2 | If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already begun to curse them, because you do not lay it to heart. | Mal 2:2 (Connection between dishonor and curses) |
| Genesis 3:17 | And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you. In pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life. | Gen 3:17 (Original curse on ground) |
Malachi 3 verses
Malachi 3 9 Meaning
You are cursed with curses, for you are robbing me, even this whole nation.
Malachi 3 9 Context
This verse comes in the prophecy of Malachi, delivered to the post-exilic community of Judah. The people have returned from Babylon but have become lax in their religious duties and adherence to the Law. Specifically, they are neglecting to bring proper tithes and offerings to the Temple, which were designated for the support of the Levites and the priests. This neglect is seen as a direct affront to God, stealing from Him what He has designated as His own. The prophet is confronting them with the severe consequences of this disobedience, stating that they are under a curse. This ties into the Mosaic covenant, where obedience brought blessings and disobedience brought curses (Deuteronomy 28). The broader context is a call for repentance and a return to faithfulness to God.
Malachi 3 9 Word analysis
- “You”: (plural) Directly addresses the entire nation of Israel, encompassing all the people and their leadership.
- “are cursed”: The Hebrew word is 'arur' (אָרוּר), meaning cursed, accursed, or damned. This indicates a state of divine condemnation and a reversal of God's intended blessings.
- “with curses”: This repetition emphasizes the totality and severity of the curse. It signifies that the curse is comprehensive and all-encompassing, not a minor affliction but a complete spiritual and material destitution. The curse is not merely a single misfortune but a cascade of negative consequences resulting from disobedience.
- “for”: Introduces the reason for the curse.
- “you”: (plural) Again, referring to the nation.
- “are robbing”: The Hebrew word is gamaluthum (גָּמַלְתֶּם), related to 'gāmal' (גָּמַל), which can mean to deal with, treat, ripen, or to deprive or to withhold. In this context, it means to defraud or rob. They are withholding what belongs to God. This action signifies a theft of God's designated portion.
- “Me”: The personal pronoun "Me" directly identifies God as the offended party, highlighting the sacrilegious nature of their actions. They are not just withholding from the priests or Levites, but directly from the Lord of Hosts.
- “even”: (singular, used collectively here in English translation) Connects the action to the direct beneficiaries, or in this case, the entirety of the nation affected. The structure in Hebrew may differ slightly but conveys a singular, unified act of robbery impacting the collective whole.
- “this whole nation”: Refers to the collective people of Israel. The robbery affects everyone, indicating a national sin that results in national curses. This suggests that the tithes and offerings were not only for the priests and Levites but were also essential for the proper functioning and prosperity of the entire covenant community, reflecting God’s blessings upon the land and the people.
Malachi 3 9 Bonus section
The concept of "robbing God" by withholding tithes and offerings was a significant issue during Malachi's time and is presented as a direct violation of the Mosaic Law. This is not merely a suggestion but a commandment linked to covenant faithfulness. The prosperity promised in the Old Testament was often tied to obedience, and economic hardship could be a consequence of disobedience. This verse is a powerful statement about God's ownership of all things and His expectation of people's stewardship of what they possess. The New Testament builds upon this, emphasizing cheerful giving and generosity as an outflow of a thankful heart, rather than a legalistic obligation for prosperity, although principles of support for those who minister remain.
Malachi 3 9 Commentary
The people of Israel are facing God's judgment because they have failed to honor Him with their wealth. By withholding tithes and offerings, they are directly robbing God. This is not merely a financial matter; it is an act of disrespect and disobedience towards the covenant they have with God. The consequence is not just a lack of blessings, but an active curse upon them. The entire nation is implicated, indicating a collective sin and therefore a collective curse. This serves as a stark reminder that obedience in stewardship and financial faithfulness to God are fundamental aspects of a right relationship with Him. God blesses faithfulness, and withholding from Him results in loss. The verse calls for repentance and a restoration of giving.
- Practical example: If a church member, knowing they are required to tithe, deliberately keeps their tithe money for personal use, they are participating in this act of robbing God.
- Practical example: If a Christian prioritizes personal spending over supporting ministries and missionary work that spread the Gospel, they are, in essence, withholding from God what is due.