Malachi 3:9
What does Malachi 3:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Malachi 3:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Malachi 3:9 means
This verse pronounces a direct consequence for the sin identified in verse 8. Because the people, indeed the "whole nation," have robbed God by withholding tithes and offerings, they are now "cursed with the curse." This indicates that their disobedience has brought about divine disfavor and adversity, likely manifesting in economic hardship and agricultural struggles. The curse is not arbitrary punishment but a direct outcome of their unfaithfulness, demonstrating God's justice in responding to their deliberate withholding of what was due to Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Ye are cursed with the curse; for ye rob me, even this whole nation.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Ye are cursed with the curse; for ye rob me, even this whole nation.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949You are cursed with a curse; for you have kept back from me what is mine, even all this nation.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862With a curse ye are cursed! And Me ye are deceiving--this nation--all of it.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And you are cursed with want, and you afflict me, even the whole nation of you.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Ye are cursed with a curse; and me ye rob, [even] this whole nation.
Context
This verse immediately declares the consequence of the specific sin of robbing God, identified in verse 8. It moves from accusation to the pronouncement of a curse, emphasizing the gravity of their disobedience. The declaration of the curse then sets the stage for God's gracious invitation to test Him through obedience in tithing, offered in verse 10, promising a reversal of the curse through blessing.
v.8Will a man rob God? yet ye rob me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
v.9This passage
v.10Bring ye the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Joshua 22:20
Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
- Malachi 2:2
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith Jehovah of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
- Joshua 7:12
Therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, because they are become accursed: I will not be with you any more, except ye destroy the devoted thing from among you.
- Deuteronomy 28:15
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.
- Haggai 1:6
Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
- Isaiah 43:28
Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel a reviling.
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