What Does Malachi 2:13 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The altar’s name carries the act of sacrifice inside it, yet tears laid across it do not make the offering welcome.
THE MEANING
This verse names a moment when your grief covers what you bring, yet the offering meets no welcome. Tears are present on the altar, but they do not become favor toward the gift in your hand.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that visible grief or repeated religious giving compels God’s favorable regard.
THE ROOT
מִזְבֵּחַ
mizbeach
GROWS FROM
זבח
זָבַח (zāvaḥ): to slaughter, sacrifice.
The English “altar” can sound like a neutral sacred surface; מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach) is built on זבח (zāvaḥ, slaughter or sacrifice). Tears cover the very place named for sacrifice, yet the act itself does not make the offering welcome.
ALSO GROWS
zevaḥ: sacrifice
זֶבַח
This noun names the act carried by the root from which “altar” is formed, linking the place to what happens there.
zōvēaḥ: one who sacrifices
זֹבֵחַ
The root ties the altar not only to a place but also to the person bringing the sacrifice.
פנות
pĕnōt
GROWS FROM
פנה
פָּנָה (pānāh): to turn, face toward.
KJV’s “regardeth not … any more” can sound like a judgment formed at a distance; פנות (pĕnōt, turning toward) pictures no further turning toward the offering. Regard is an orientation withheld, not a sentiment tears can manufacture.
ALSO GROWS
pānāh: to turn, face toward
פָּנָה
This verb names the movement of turning toward something, which gives “regard” the sense of orientation.
pōneh: one turning or facing toward
פּוֹנֶה
This form keeps the root’s active movement visible: regard involves turning toward what is before you.
דמעה
dimʿah
GROWS FROM
דמע
דָּמַע (dāmaʿ): to weep, shed tears.
“tears” in this verse is dimʿah. דמעה (dimʿah, tear) is spread across the altar as a covering. The verse holds grief and nonacceptance together: visible sorrow does not by itself become the favor sought.
ALSO GROWS
dāmaʿ: to weep, shed tears
דָּמַע
The verb returns the named tears to the action of weeping.
dĕmāʿōt: tears
דְּמָעוֹת
This plural form shares the root and makes the covering image concrete: tears gather across the altar.
THE PATTERN
Visible grief and sacred gifts do not compel a favorable reception.
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.THE THREAD
Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.The same Hebrew noun, מִנְחָה (minḥāh, offering), appears in both verses. Here the offering meets no favorable reception; there the same word names an offering pleasant to the LORD, letting the change in reception come into view.
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