How can God hate? (Malachi 1:2-3)
Malachi 1:1-2 AMP - 1 THE BURDEN or oracle (the thing to be lifted up) of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi [My messenger]. 2 "I have loved you," says the Lord. "Yet you say, 'How and in what way have You loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother?'" says the Lord; "Yet I loved Jacob" (Israel).
Malachi 1:1 - 14
AMP - 1 THE BURDEN or oracle (the thing to be lifted up) of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi [My messenger]. 2 I have loved you, says the Lord. Yet you say, How and in what way have You loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? says the Lord; yet I loved Jacob (Israel).
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Asked December 30 2023
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Anonymous
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Paula Fether
Supporter
The Bible abounds in hyperbole (exaggeration) and makes frequent use of synecdote (a figure of speech where a part of something is used to refer to the whole). In this case, Jacob and Esau refer to the nations that came from them, and love/hate describe which people are "chosen" and which are not. Though God certainly disciplined Israel many times, and though he also had promised blessings to the descendants of Esau, only one line was chosen to inherit the promises and privileges God made to Abraham.
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