Malachi 2:10-16

Judah’s dishonesty

10 Isn't there one father for all of us, one God who created us? Why does everyone cheat each other to make the covenant of our ancestors impure?

11 Judah cheated— a detestable thing was done in Israel and Jerusalem. Judah made the LORD's holy place impure, which God loved, and married the daughter of a foreign god.

12 May the LORD eliminate anyone who does so from the tents of Jacob, anyone awaking, testifying, and making an offering to the LORD of heavenly forces.

13 You should do this as well: cover the altar of the LORD with tears, weeping, and groaning because there is still no divine favor for your offering or favorable regard for anything from your hand.

14 But you say, "Why?" Because the LORD testifies about you and the wife of your youth against whom you cheated. She is your partner, the wife of your covenant.

15 Didn't he make her the one and the remnant of his spirit? What is the one? The one seeking godly offspring. You should guard your own spirit. Don't cheat on the wife of your youth

16 because he hates divorce, says the LORD God of Israel, and he also hates the one covering his garment with violence, says the LORD of heavenly forces. Guard your own life, and don't cheat.

Malachi 2:10-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO MALACHI 2

This chapter contains a reproof both of priests and people for their sins. It begins with the priests, Mal 2:1 and threatens, in case they attend not to glorify the name of the Lord, they and their blessings should be cursed, their seed corrupted, dung spread upon them, and they took away with it, Mal 2:2,3 and the end of this commandment being sent them, of giving glory to the name of God, was that the covenant might appear to be with Levi, or him that was typified by him, Mal 2:4 of which covenant some account is given, with the reason why the blessings of it were given to him, with whom it was, Mal 2:5 who is described by the true doctrine he preached; by the purity of his lips; by the peaceableness and righteousness of his walk and conversation; and by his usefulness and success in turning many from sin, Mal 2:6 and it being part of the priest's office to preserve true knowledge, and communicate it, it is the duty of the people to seek to him for it; since he is the messenger of the Lord, Mal 2:7 but as for the priests of those times the prophet respects, they were apostates from the way of the Lord; made others to stumble at the law, and corrupted the covenant; and therefore became contemptible, base, and mean, in the sight of the people, Mal 2:8,9 who are next reproved for their marrying with those of other nations, idolatrous persons; and using polygamy and divorces, which were a profanation of the covenant of their fathers; a piece of perfidy and treachery among themselves; an abomination to the Lord; a profanation of his holiness; and led to idolatry, Mal 2:10,11 wherefore they are threatened to be cut off from the tabernacles of Jacob, and their sacrifices to be rejected; insomuch that the altar is represented as covered with weeping and tears, because disregarded, Mal 2:12,13. The reason of which was, because marrying more wives than one, and these strange women, was dealing treacherously with their lawful wives; was contrary to the first creation of man, and the end of it; and therefore such practices ought to be avoided; and the rather, since putting away was hateful to the Lord, Mal 2:14-16 and the chapter is concluded with a charge against them, that they wearied the Lord with their wicked words; affirming that the Lord took delight in the men that did evil; and that there were no judgment, truth, nor righteousness, in him, Mal 2:17.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb uncertain
• [b]. Heb lacks her.
• [c]. Heb uncertain; her refers to the wife in Mal 2:14.
• [d]. Heb uncertain
• [e]. Heb uncertain