Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

MALACHI 3:8KJV
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Malachi 3:8 (KJV)

What does Malachi 3:8 mean?

Malachi 3:8 describes God accusing the people of Israel of robbing Him by withholding tithes and offerings that were owed. The verse presents a conversation where God confronts the people, and they respond with surprise, asking how they have robbed Him, to which God answers: in tithes and offerings.

In this verse, the prophet Malachi speaks on behalf of God to the Israelites after their return from exile. The situation is that the people have become lax in their worship and duties, especially in giving what was required by the law for the support of the temple and priests. The verse uses strong language to show the seriousness of neglecting these responsibilities, framing it as an offense against God Himself.

The Hebrew behind Malachi 3:8

  • "rob" (קָבַע, qāva‘): This word is unusual in the Old Testament and carries the sense of taking something by force or acting deceitfully. Its use here adds weight to the accusation, suggesting not just neglect but a kind of bold wrongdoing.
  • "tithes" (מַעֲשֵׂר, ma‘ăsēr): This refers to the tenth part of produce or income that was to be given for religious purposes. The word highlights the specific obligation the people were failing to meet.
  • "offerings" (תְּרוּמָה, tərūmāh): This word means contributions or gifts, often above and beyond the tithe. Mentioning both tithes and offerings shows that the people were withholding both required and voluntary gifts.

Why Malachi 3:8 matters

  • The verse clarifies that failing to give tithes and offerings is not just a minor oversight but is seen as a serious breach of trust with God.
  • By using the word for "rob," the verse emphasizes the gravity of the people's actions and frames their neglect as active wrongdoing rather than passive forgetfulness.
  • Malachi 3:8 sets up the context for the following verses, where God invites the people to test Him by bringing the full tithe, promising blessing in response to obedience. This highlights the relational aspect between God and His people, centered on trust and faithfulness.

Where else these words appear

“rob” Hebrew H6906 · used in 3 verses

  • Proverbs 22:23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
  • Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

“tithes” Hebrew H4643 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
  • Deuteronomy 12:6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
  • Nehemiah 10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

“offerings” Hebrew H8641 · used in 63 verses

  • Exodus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
  • Numbers 15:19 Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD.
  • Ezra 8:25 And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered: