Malachi 1:13

"Ye say also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith Jehovah of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering: should I accept this at your hand? saith Jehovah."

The thing in view here is the inferiority and unacceptability of the animals being offered as sacrifices to God.

"That which was taken by violence ..." means either that which was taken through violence like robbery or theft, or any maimed or damaged animal torn by a wild beast, or any other unsuitable animal.

"The lame ... the sick ..." Such animals were forbidden to be presented as sacrifices.

"Ye have snuffed at it ..." This is a homely metaphor taken from the experience of those familiar with the care and feeding of livestock. Clarke explained it thus:

"It is a metaphor taken from cattle that do not like their fodder. They blow strongly through their nose upon it; and after this, neither they nor any other cattle will eat it!"[45]

A similar symbol of contempt is seen in the current idiom, "He turned up his nose at it." This is the attitude of one who presumes upon the favor of God. "It is the notion of cheap grace, summed up before that phrase was coined in Heine's words, `God will forgive me; it's his job.'"[46]