1. Malachi 3:14 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What does the word “serve” mean?

Malachi 3:14 (ESV)

14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts?

The word serve literally means to work or to labour. But in the religious sense, it means to worship the Lord. In Exodus 23:24 the word serve is used in connection with bowing down to gods. In Deuteronomy 10:12 serving the Lord is referred to in connection with fearing the Lord, walking in his ways, and loving him. In Deuteronomy 13:4, serving the Lord is referred to in connection with keeping God’s commandments and obeying his voice.