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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Malachi 1:4

Verse Malachi 1:4. They shall build, but I will throw down] We have already seen enough of the wickedness of the Edomites to justify the utmost severity of Divine justice against them. The pulling down predicted here was by Judas Maccabeus; see 1Mac 5:65; and by John Hyrcanus; see Joseph. Antiq., lib. xiii. c. 9. s. 1.

They shall call them, The border of wickedness] A wicked land. Among this people scarcely any trace of good could ever be noted.

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See also Malachi 1:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHEREAS EDOM SAITH - o. WE ARE IMPOVERISHED - o, ידשׁשׁ.), or, more probably, “we were crushed.” Either gives an adequate sense. Human self-confidence will admit anything, as to the past; nay, will ev...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS 1. Jehovah's Love for His People CHAPTER 1:1-5 The message of Malachi begins with the sublime statement, “I have loved you, saith Jehovah.” It is the message to Israel. This...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    YAHWEH'S LOVE FOR ISRAEL. This truth is questioned by some of the prophet's contemporaries, who are then reminded of the contrasted fortunes of the nations descended from Jacob and Esau. These peoples...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IMPOVERISHED: or, beaten down. SAITH hath said. THE LORD OF HOSTS. This expression occurs twenty four times in this prophecy, and gives its character to the whole, as in Zechariah. BORDER: or, terr...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Malachi 1:2-5. Introductory Appeal These verses form an exordium to the whole Book. The ungrateful disposition of the people and the unchanging love of God are in view in all that follows....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _impoverished_ Rather (with R.V. text, and so in Jeremiah 5:17), BEATEN DOWN. "So Ephraim said of old -in the pride and stoutness of heart, The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn ston...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _GOD CONTINUED TO LOVE HIS PEOPLE -- MALACHI 1:1-5:_ The Jews had become disobedient in their sacrifices and in their living. Malachi pictured the fact that God continued to love them even in their re...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THEY SHALL BUILD, &C.— "The Edomites may rebuild their cities, but the Lord will raise against them the Maccabees, who shall subject them, and constrain them to receive circumcision, and the other law...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    GOD LOVES ISRAEL. Malachi 1:2-5 RV. 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; but Esau I hated, and made...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1 Jehovah's Love and His People's Ingratitude 1. Burden] RM 'oracle'; properly, 'that which is lifted up,' hence in this connexion 'utterance'; but with play on other meaning 'burden' in Jeremiah 23...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    WE ARE IMPOVERISHED] RV 'we are beaten down.' The text is somewhat uncertain: cp. Isaiah 9:10. THUS SAITH THE LORD] In Heb. 'to think' is often represented by the verb 'to say.' A Hebrew does not hesi...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MY *MESSENGER MALACHI _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ CHAPTER 1 V1 The *LORD sent this message to Israel by means of his servant Malachi. NOTES Verse 1 Malachi wrote his book in the Hebrew language. The He...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHEREAS ... SAITH. — Better, _If Edom say._ WE ARE IMPOVERISHED. — Better, _we are broken to pieces._ Edom’s ineffectual attempts to restore itself will be looked on as proofs of God’s wrath against...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    כִּֽי ־תֹאמַ֨ר אֱדֹ֜ום רֻשַּׁ֗שְׁנוּ וְ נָשׁוּב֙...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    1. GOD'S LOVE FOR ISRAEL AND HATRED OF EDOM Malachi 1:2 He begins with God's Love, and in answer to the disappointed people's cry, "Wherein hast Thou loved us?" he does not, as the older prophets did...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Malachi 2:1; Malachi 3:1; Malachi 4:1 PROPHECY WITHIN THE LAW "MALACHI" 1-4 BENEATH this title we may gather all the eight sections of the Book of "Malachi." They contain many things of perennial i...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    SINCERITY OF WORSHIP SOUGHT Malachi 1:1-14 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 n...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    After the introductory word, which really constitutes the title page of the prophecy, the message begins almost abruptly with the tender and sensitive word of Jehovah to His people, "I have loved you....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Down, by the Machabees, who forced the people to receive circumcision, 1 Machabees v. 3. (Calmet) --- At that time the Jews were more pious, and glorified God. (Haydock) --- Ever. God's gratuitous lo...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The Apostle to the Hebrews explains this account of Esau, who is said to be a fornicator, and a profane person Hebrews 12:16 left to a dissolute mind, being rejected, or as this scripture speaks, hate...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Lectures on the Minor Prophets. W. Kelly. The Lord has not been pleased to give us much express information of the prophets in general, with the exception of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, and in a me...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    And to the same purpose he adds, _If Edom shall say, We have been diminished, but we shall return and build houses; but if they build, I will pull down, saith God_. He confirms what I have stated, tha...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 4. The prophecy of Malachi deals with the people brought back from the captivity of Babylon, and is most important as shewing the moral condition of...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    WHEREAS EDOM SAITH, WE ARE IMPOVERISHED,.... Or the Idumeans, as the Targum; the posterity of Esau, who acknowledge themselves greatly reduced by the desolations made in their country, cities, towns,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border o...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Edom saith, We are empoverished_, [or, _brought low,_] _but we will return and build the desolate places_ This they accordingly did, as we learn from the history of those times; and undoubtedly thoug...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    GOD'S PECULIAR LOVE FOR ISRAEL...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Whereas Edom saith, or, "Although Edom should say," in an attempt to set aside the ruling of the Lord, WE ARE IMPOVERISHED, ruined, BUT WE WILL RETURN AND BUILD THE DESOLATE PLACES, rebuild the ruins,...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-5 All advantages, either as to outward circumstances, or spiritual privileges, come from the free love of God, who makes one to differ from another. All the evils sinners feel and fear, are the just...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WE ARE IMPOVERISHED: here the prophet introduceth Edom reflecting on its present low condition, and taking up resolutions of bettering their condition: We are now, as the Jews were five years before,...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Malachi 1:4 Edom H123 said H559 (H8799) impoverished H7567 (H8795) return H7725 (H8799) build H1129 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE LOVE OF YHWH FOR JACOB, AND HIS HATRED FOR ESAU (MALACHI 1:2). YHWH now makes a positive affirmation of love for His people Israel (Jacob). This love had often been affirmed by previous prophets....

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    EDOM That is, Esau's descendants. See (Genesis 25:30)....

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jehovah's love for Israel. The sins of the priests and hypocrisy of the people. CHARACTERS: God, Malachi, Jacob, Esau. CONCLUSION: God would have His people know that He loves them, therefo...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Malachi 1:1. _The word of the Lord by Malachi,_ my angel, my messenger, or the messenger of the Lord. Malachi flourished after the second temple was built, and about four hundred and twenty years befo...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _They shall build, but I will throw down._ FOOLISH BUILDERS To separate our lives from God is folly; to live in opposition to Him is madness. Many not only disregard Him, but also oppose Him. I. Wh...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 1:2 First Dispute: Are God’s People Still Special in His Sight? Malachi answers the doubts of the people who question God’s love because of Israel’s many current problems....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES. Malachi 1:4. Edom] cannot recover herself. Her perpetual ruins illustrate love to Israel rather than to her. BORDER] still the resort of marauding tribes of the desert. INDIGNATION] C...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.] BURDEN] (Massa) A heavy vision full of toil and weight. “What is the burden of the Lord?” was asked scoffingly from the prophets. As a punishment for the blasphemy of the people, God...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION VERSE 1:1-2:9 Part I. REPROOF OF THE PRIESTS FOR NEGLECT OF DIVINE SERVICE. MALACHI 1:1 § 1_. Heading and author. _THE BURDEN ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now let's turn to Malachi, the final word of God in the Old Testament period. God's final message before the coming of Jesus Christ. Who Malachi was, where he came from, we know nothing. Some believe...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Amos 6:2; Ezekiel 11:10; Ezekiel 25:14; Ezekiel 35:9; Isaiah 10:15;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    VITAL QUESTIONS Malachi 1:1; Malachi 2:1; Malachi 3:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The Book of Malachi presents questions asked by God. In response, instead of a direct answer, the chosen people, Israel, ask...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Throw down — So he did in the times of the Maccabees. The border of wickedness — They will be a most wicked people, and so notorious, that all their neighbours shall brand them for it. Hath indignatio...

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