Malachi / Question
Malachi states that from the rising to the setting of the sun, God’s name will be great among the nations Malachi 1:11. The verse describes incense and offerings being presented to God’s name in many places Malachi 1:11. It contrasts with the priests who were profaning the altar in Judah Malachi 1:12.
In Malachi 1:10–11 Yahweh says he would rather the temple doors be shut than have people keep offering worship that amounts to nothing. He announces he takes no pleasure in them and will not accept what they bring. These verses sit inside Malachi’s opening dispute about honoring Yahweh, especially in the temple. Just before, the priests are confronted for treating the altar casually by bringing defective gifts, which signals contempt rather than respect (1:6–9).
Malachi 1:10–11 presents Yahweh rejecting worship that has become empty and disrespectful. The problem is not that sacrifice and temple worship are wrong in themselves, but that the current offerings and attitude make the whole routine “in vain.” Explicitly, Yahweh says he takes no pleasure in them and will not accept what they bring (verse 10).
A common mistake is to turn the wording into a slogan. The better reading keeps the phrase tied to the passage, the speaker, and the problem the book is addressing.
Start with Malachi 1:11, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
11For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense [shall be] offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles, says Yahweh of Hosts.