Malachi 1:2

1 This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi:

“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved,

3 but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”

4 Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved,
KJV
I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
WEB
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. Yet you say, “How have you loved us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” says the LORD, “Yet I loved Jacob;
ASV
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;
DARBY
I have loved you, saith Jehovah; but ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith Jehovah, and I loved Jacob,
BLB
“I have loved you⁺,” says YHWH. And you⁺ say, “In what way have You loved us?” “Was not Esau a brother to Jacob?” An utterance of YHWH. “And I have loved Jacob,
ÅB
Jeg har elsket dere, sier Herren. Og dere sier: Hvormed har du vist oss din kjærlighet? Er ikke Esau bror til Jakob? sier Herren, og enda har jeg elsket Jakob,
OTB
"Jeg har elsket dere," sier Herren. Men dere spør, "Hvordan har du elsket oss?" "Var ikke Esau Jakobs bror?" erklærer Herren. "Likevel har jeg elsket Jakob;
B1930
Jeg har elsket eder, sier Herren. Og I sier: Hvormed har du vist oss din kjærlighet? Er ikke Esau bror til Jakob? sier Herren, og enda har jeg elsket Jakob,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 31:3

    The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 41:8–9

    “But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 10:15

    Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them. And He has chosen you, their descendants after them, above all the peoples, even to this day.

    Read in context
  • Romans 9:10–13

    Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac.

    Read in context
  • Malachi 3:7–8

    Yet from the days of your fathers, you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts. “But you ask, ‘How can we return?’

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 43:4

    Because you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you and nations in place of your life.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 4:37

    Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power,

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 7:6–8

    For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

    Read in context