Malachi 3:8
New International Version
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings.

New Living Translation
“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.

English Standard Version
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.

Berean Standard Bible
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings.

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

New King James Version
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

New American Standard Bible
“Would anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

NASB 1995
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

NASB 1977
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed Thee?’ In tithes and offerings.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and contributions.

Amplified Bible
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings [you have withheld].

Christian Standard Bible
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me! ” “How do we rob you? ” you ask. “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!” You ask: “How do we rob You?"” By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions.

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

Contemporary English Version
You people are robbing me, your God. And, here you are, asking, "How are we robbing you?" You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten percent that belongs to me.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Can a person cheat God? Yet, you are cheating me! "But you ask, 'How are we cheating you?' "When [you don't bring] a tenth of your income and other contributions.

Good News Translation
I ask you, is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not, yet you are cheating me. 'How?' you ask. In the matter of tithes and offerings.

International Standard Version
"Will a person rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' "By the tithe and the offering.

Majority Standard Bible
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings.

NET Bible
Can a person rob God? You indeed are robbing me, but you say, 'How are we robbing you?' In tithes and contributions!

New Heart English Bible
Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In tithes and offerings.

Webster's Bible Translation
Will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, In what have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

World English Bible
Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and offerings.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Does man deceive God? But you are deceiving Me, "" And you have said, "" In what have we deceived You? The tithe and the raised-offering!

Young's Literal Translation
Doth man deceive God? but ye are deceiving Me, And ye have said: 'In what have we deceived Thee?' The tithe and the heave-offering!

Smith's Literal Translation
Will man defraud God? For ye defraud me. And ye said, In what did we defraud thee? The tenths and the offerings.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Shall a man afflict God? for you afflict me. And you have said: Wherein do we afflict thee? in tithes and in firstfruits.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If a man will afflict God, then you greatly afflict me. And you have said, “In what way, do we afflict you?” In tithes and in first-fruits.

New American Bible
Can anyone rob God? But you are robbing me! And you say, “How have we robbed you?” Of tithes and contributions!

New Revised Standard Version
Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, “How are we robbing you?” In your tithes and offerings!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Will a man defraud God as you have defrauded me? But you say, How have we defrauded thee? In tithes and offerings.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Will a son of man cheat God as you are cheating me? And if you say, ”In what have we cheated you?” In tithes and in first fruits
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Will a man rob God? Yet ye rob Me. But ye say: 'Wherein have we robbed Thee?' In tithes and heave-offerings.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Will a man insult God? for ye insult me. But ye say, Wherein have we insulted thee? In that the tithes and first-fruits are with you still.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Robbing God
7Yet 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?’ 8Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me.…

Cross References
Leviticus 27:30-32
Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. / If a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he must add a fifth to its value. / Every tenth animal from the herd or flock that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the LORD.

Deuteronomy 14:22-29
You must be sure to set aside a tenth of all the produce brought forth each year from your fields. / And you are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks, in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. / But if the distance is too great for you to carry that with which the LORD your God has blessed you, because the place where the LORD your God will choose to put His Name is too far away, ...

Nehemiah 13:10-12
I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields. / So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts, / and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms.

Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops; / then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

2 Chronicles 31:4-6
Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. / As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything. / And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

Numbers 18:21-24
Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting. / No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die. / The Levites are to perform the work of the Tent of Meeting, and they must bear their iniquity. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come. The Levites will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites. ...

Hebrews 7:5-9
Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham. / But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. / And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater. ...

1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? / In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Genesis 14:18-20
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High— / and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, / and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.

2 Kings 12:4-5
Then Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money brought as sacred gifts into the house of the LORD—the census money, the money from vows, and the money brought voluntarily into the house of the LORD. / Let every priest receive it from his constituency, and let it be used to repair any damage found in the temple.”

Amos 4:4-5
“Go to Bethel and transgress; rebel even more at Gilgal! Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days. / Offer leavened bread as a thank offering, and loudly proclaim your freewill offerings. For that is what you children of Israel love to do,” declares the Lord GOD.

Haggai 1:4-11
“Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” / Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. / You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.” ...

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


Treasury of Scripture

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

a man.

Psalm 29:2
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Proverbs 3:9,10
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: …

Matthew 22:21
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

In.

Malachi 1:8,13
And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts…

Leviticus 5:15,16
If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: …

Leviticus 27:2-34
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation…

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Malachi 3
1. Of the messenger, majesty, and grace of Christ.
7. Of the rebellion,
8. sacrilege,
13. and infidelity of the people.
16. The promise of blessing to those who fear God.














Will a man rob God?
The Hebrew word for "rob" here is "קָבַע" (qaba), which implies a violent or deceitful taking. This rhetorical question sets the stage for a profound moral and spiritual indictment. The idea of robbing God is shocking and emphasizes the gravity of the people's actions. In a historical context, this question challenges the Israelites to reflect on their covenant relationship with God, where they are expected to honor Him with their resources. The notion of robbing God underscores the audacity and seriousness of failing to fulfill one's obligations to the Creator.

Yet you are robbing Me!
This direct accusation from God highlights the ongoing nature of the offense. The use of the present tense indicates that this is not a past mistake but a current, persistent issue. The personal pronoun "Me" emphasizes the personal nature of the offense against God Himself, not just a violation of religious duty. This statement serves as a divine call to self-examination and repentance, urging the people to recognize their failure to honor God with their wealth.

But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’
The people's response reveals a lack of awareness or acknowledgment of their wrongdoing. This question reflects a common human tendency to justify or minimize sin. It also suggests a disconnect between the people's religious practices and their understanding of God's expectations. Historically, this mirrors the spiritual complacency and moral decline that characterized the post-exilic community in Israel. The question invites introspection and a deeper understanding of what it means to live in faithful obedience to God.

In tithes and offerings
The terms "tithes" and "offerings" refer to specific religious obligations outlined in the Mosaic Law. The "tithe" (Hebrew: "מַעֲשֵׂר," ma'aser) was a tenth of one's produce or income dedicated to God, supporting the Levitical priesthood and the temple. "Offerings" (Hebrew: "תְּרוּמָה," terumah) were additional voluntary gifts given to God. The failure to provide these was not merely a financial issue but a spiritual one, reflecting a lack of trust and reverence for God. In the broader scriptural context, this neglect symbolizes a heart turned away from God, prioritizing personal gain over divine command. This phrase calls believers to examine their own stewardship and generosity, recognizing that giving is an act of worship and trust in God's provision.

(8) Robbed me.--Because the tithes are said to be offered to Jehovah, and then He gives them to the Levites in place of an inheritance (Numbers 18:24).

In tithes and offerings.--See Notes on Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:12; Numbers 18:21-24; Deuteronomy 18:4; Leviticus 3:1-17; Leviticus 7:11-21; Leviticus 7:28-36. . . .

Verse 8. - Will a man rob God? The prophet shows the people how they have departed from God, in not keeping even the outward observances of religion. The word translated "rob," defraud, found also in Proverbs 22:23, etc., is rendered in the Septuagint, πτερνιεῖ, "trip up," "supplant;" Vulgate, si affliget homo Deum, or, as St. Jerome first translated, "si affiget homo Deum," and referred the words to the crucifixion of our Lord. In tithes and offerings. These were due to the Lord, and therefore in withholding them they were defrauding not man but God. (For tithe, see Leviticus 27:30, etc.; Numbers 18:21. See the complaint of Nehemiah, Nehemiah 13:10-12.) The "offering" meant is the heave offering, the breast and shoulder of the peace offering, which were the priests' portion (Exodus 29:27; Leviticus 7:14, 32-34; comp. Nehemiah 10:37-39).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Will a man
אָדָ֜ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

rob
הֲיִקְבַּ֨ע (hă·yiq·ba‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6906: To cover, defraud

God?
אֱלֹהִ֗ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Yet
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you
אַתֶּם֙ (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are robbing
קֹבְעִ֣ים (qō·ḇə·‘îm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6906: To cover, defraud

Me!”
אֹתִ֔י (’ō·ṯî)
Direct object marker | first person common singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

You ask,
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם (wa·’ă·mar·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“How
בַּמֶּ֣ה (bam·meh)
Preposition-b | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

do we rob You?”
קְבַעֲנ֑וּךָ (qə·ḇa·‘ă·nū·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6906: To cover, defraud

“In tithes
הַֽמַּעֲשֵׂ֖ר (ham·ma·‘ă·śêr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4643: Tenth part, tithe

and offerings.
וְהַתְּרוּמָֽה׃ (wə·hat·tə·rū·māh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8641: Contribution, offering (for sacred uses)


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OT Prophets: Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you (Malachi Mal Ml)
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