Malachi 1:4

Edom ¹  says, “Though we are devastated, we will once again build the ruined places.” So the Lord who rules over all ²  responds, “They indeed may build, but I will overthrow. They will be known as ³  the land of evil, the people with whom the Lord is permanently displeased.

Job 9:4; Job 12:14; Job 34:29; Ps 127:1; Ps 137:7; Pr 21:30; Isa 9:9,10; Isa 10:4,15,16; Isa 11:14; Isa 34:5,10; Isa 63:1-6; Jer 31:17; La 3:37; La 4:21,22; Eze 11:10; Eze 25:14; Eze 35:9; Am 6:2; Mal 1:3; Mt 12:30; Jas 4:13-16

¹ sn Edom, a “brother” nation to Israel, became almost paradigmatic of hostility toward Israel and God (see Num 20:14-21; Deut 2:8; Jer 49:7-22; Ezek 25:12-14; Amos 1:11-12; Obad 10-12).

² sn The epithet Lord who rules over all occurs frequently as a divine title throughout Malachi (24 times total). This name (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, yÿhvah tsÿva’ot), traditionally translated “Lord of hosts” (so KJV, NAB, NASB; cf. NIV NLT “Lord Almighty”; NCV, CEV “Lord All-Powerful”), emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 123-57.

³ tn Heb “and they will call them.” The third person plural subject is indefinite; one could translate, “and people will call them.”