Of the Meaning of the Name of God
S. Clarke, D. D. Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles… I. THE PRINCIPAL SCRIPTURAL ACCEPTATIONS OF THE "NAME." 1. Sometimes it signifies God Himself. Praising or blessing the name of God is praising God Himself. By His name being "great" is meant their acknowledging or professing Him to be the true God, and their adhering to the worship of Him only, in opposition to all idolatry and false religions. 2. Sometimes it is used to signify His true religion and worship. "The place which the Lord your God shall choose,... to put His name there," means the place where He shall appoint His servants to appear before Him with the external tokens of their homage and worship. 3. In other places of Scripture the "name" expresses those adorable perfections or attributes which are, as it were, the proper denomination and character of the Divine nature. See Exodus 34:5. 4. Once more, the "name" signifies the authority of God, or His Divine commission. II. THE EVENT PREDICTED. In it is evidently contained — 1. To the Jews, something comminatory. 2. In relation to the Gentiles, a particular promise; joined with a general declaration concerning the state and condition of the universal Church in the future and latter ages of the world. Whatever be the true meaning of these and the like prophecies; whether there be a time still to come, wherein they shall be accomplished literally, or whether they are intended only to express the natural tendency of the universal and sincere practice of Christianity in the present world, and the real effect which shall be obtained by it in the world to come, we must not be too curious about particular times and seasons. Learn — (1) Our duty to promote the knowledge of God, and interest of true virtue among men. (2) To justify to ourselves the various methods in which the wisdom of God has chosen to reveal itself to the world. (3) If we, under the clearer light of the everlasting Gospel, still live corruptly, how much heavier must be our punishment than that of the Jews. (S. Clarke, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. WEB: For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations," says Yahweh of Armies.