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NASB | Malachi 1:3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Malachi 1:3 but [in comparison with My love for Jacob] I have hated Esau (Edom), and I have made his mountains a wasteland, and have given his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness." [Rom 9:13, 16] |
Bible Question:
Good Morning All! I have read this verse before and I did not understand how God, who is love, could hate. Last week, a sister came to me and asked if I had ever read the verse and I told her 'yes'. We looked up this verse in other versions and all used the word 'hate' except the NLT, which uses 'rejected'. We both want to understand how our loving God could hate. Does anyone have any insight into this verse? Thanks in advance to those who may response. Abba Father bless... |
Bible Answer: Greetings mbooker, Actual emotional hatred for Esau and his offspring is not the point here. The context here speaks of love as "choosing for intimate fellowship" and hate as "not choosing for intimate fellowship" in the realm of redemption. Malachi, who wrote this declaaration more than 1500 years after their death, was looking back at these two men, and by extension the nations of Israel and Edom that came from their loins rather than to the individual brothers. God chose one for divine protection and blessing and the other He left for divine judgement. Edom's judgement is further discussed in Obadiah in which Obadiah points out that the Lord's hatred was against Esau's idolatrous descendants. Hope this gives you a better understanding. prayon |