But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

MALACHI 1:12KJV
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Malachi 1:12 (KJV)

What does Malachi 1:12 mean?

Malachi 1:12 says that the people have treated God’s altar with disrespect by calling it defiled and considering its offerings worthless. The verse points out that the priests and people are dishonoring what is meant to be holy by their attitude and words about the Lord’s table and its sacrifices.

Malachi, speaking for God, addresses the priests and people of Israel who were supposed to care for the temple worship. Instead of honoring God, they are saying that the "table of the LORD"—the altar where offerings are made—is polluted, and they see the food offered there as contemptible. This shows a deep disrespect for the worship practices God had commanded, and it highlights a spiritual problem among the people.

The Hebrew behind Malachi 1:12

  • "Profaned" (חָלַל, ḥālal) means to treat something as common or not sacred. Here, it shows that the people are not giving God’s altar the honor it deserves.
  • "Table" (שֻׁלְחָן, shulchan) refers to the altar in the temple, seen as God’s table where offerings are brought. Calling it polluted means they see even the place of worship as unworthy.
  • "Polluted" (גָּאַל, ga'al) carries the sense of being defiled or made unclean. The people are accusing the altar and its offerings of being impure.
  • "Contemptible" (בָּזָה, bazah) means to despise or treat as worthless. The people’s attitude toward the offerings reflects a lack of reverence for God.

Why Malachi 1:12 matters

  • Malachi 1:12 clears up that the problem is not just in actions but in the attitude and words of the people toward God’s worship.
  • The verse highlights how the priests and people are failing in their spiritual responsibilities, which is a major theme in Malachi’s message.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage where God confronts the people for giving less than their best and for disrespecting what is meant to be holy.

Where else these words appear

“fruit” Hebrew H5108 · used in 2 verses

  • Isaiah 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

“polluted” Hebrew H1351 · used in 9 verses

  • Ezra 2:62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
  • Isaiah 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
  • Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

“meat” Hebrew H400 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 14:11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
  • Exodus 12:4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
  • Job 36:31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

“contemptible” Hebrew H959 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
  • Esther 3:6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
  • Isaiah 37:22 This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.