Malachi 2:10-17

Yahweh Hates Faithlessness

10 {Do we not all have} one father? Has not one God created us? Why [then] are we unfaithful {to one another}, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?
11 Judah has been faithless, and a detestable thing has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem. Judah has profaned the sanctuary of Yahweh which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.
12 May Yahweh cut off from the tents of Jacob the man who does this, [the] one who is awake and [who] answers, and [the one who] brings an offering to Yahweh of hosts!
13 And this you do {as well}: [you] cover the altar of Yahweh [with] tears, [with] weeping and [with] groaning, because he {no longer regards the offering} or accepts [it] [with] favor from your hand.
14 But you ask, "{For what reason}?" Because Yahweh stands as a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have been unfaithful, even though she [is] your marriage partner and {your wife by covenant}.
15 {Did not one God make them?} But a remnant of [the] spirit is his. And what does the one [God] desire? An offspring of God. {You must be attentive to} your spirit, and you must not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
16 "For [I] hate divorce," says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and he [who] covers his clothing [with] violence," says Yahweh of hosts. "{You must be attentive to} your spirit and you must not be unfaithful."
17 You have wearied Yahweh with your words, but you ask, "With what have we wearied [him]?" [You have done so] {when you say}, "Everyone who does evil [is] good in the {sight} of Yahweh, and in them he delights," or "Where [is] the God of justice?"

Footnotes 17

  • [a]. Literally "[Is] for all of us not"
  • [b]. Literally "each man to his brother"
  • [c]. Or "fathers"
  • [d]. Or "pagan"
  • [e]. Literally "a second time"
  • [f]. Yahweh
  • [g]. Literally "there is no longer turning to the offering"
  • [h]. Literally "Because of what?"
  • [i]. Literally "the wife of your covenant"
  • [j]. Literally "Not one did he make"
  • [k]. The meaning of this sentence is difficult; literally "And a remnant of the spirit to him"
  • [l]. Or "a godly offspring"
  • [m]. Literally "You must keep watch on"
  • [n]. Hebrew "sending away"
  • [o]. Literally "You must keep watch on"
  • [p]. Literally "at your saying"
  • [q]. Literally "eyes"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.