Mal 1:2-3 | NETfull | STEP | “I have shown love to you,” says the Lord, but you say, “How have you shown love to us?” “Esau was Jacob’s brother,” the Lord explains, “yet I chose Jacob

Malachi 1:2-3

2 “I have shown love to you,” says the Lord, but you say, “How have you shown love to us?”

“Esau was Jacob’s brother,” the Lord explains, “yet I chose Jacob 3 and rejected Esau. ^{▼▼Heb “and I loved Jacob, but Esau I hated.” The context indicates this is technical covenant vocabulary in which “love” and “hate” are synonymous with “choose” and “reject” respectively (see Deut 7:8; Jer 31:3; Hos 3:1; 9:15; 11:1).} I turned Esau’s ^{▼▼Heb “his”; the referent (Esau) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} mountains into a deserted wasteland ^{▼▼Heb “I set his mountains as a desolation.”} and gave his territory ^{▼▼ Or “inheritance” (so NIV, NLT).} to the wild jackals.”