Malachi 2:11

Translations

Modern

Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.

Traditional

Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

Literal

Judah has acted treacherously, and an abomination has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of YHWH, which He loves, and he has married the daughter of a foreign god.

Latin

Transgressus est Juda, et abominatio facta est in Israël et in Jerusalem, quia contaminavit Juda sanctificationem Domini, quam dilexit, et habuit filiam dei alieni.

Original

Hebrew

English

Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.

Notes

Malachi 2:11

Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Men were divorcing their wives to marry non-Israelite women for economic gain. These marriages allowed Jewish men to join existing merchant groups and trade networks when they returned from Babylonia. Malachi compares this unfaithfulness to idol worship.

In Israelite history, marrying foreign women often led to worshiping foreign gods. Loyalty was essential in Israel's agreements, both with God and in marriage. Divorce disrespects the unity of the marriage agreement (Malachi 2:15; see Genesis 2:24).

Malachi 2:10–16

Malachi’s third message shows that the failure to keep the covenant spread from the priests to all the people. They did not keep their promises to the Lord or to their fellow citizens when they married foreign women. They also broke their promises to their wives when they divorced them. The prophet now addresses the people as fellow members of the community. This marks a clear change in tone. He moves from sharp accusation to an inclusive appeal (Malachi 2:8–9; 10).

Theme notes and profiles

Biblical Marriage

Events

Prophecies of Malachic. 442 BC

Related verses

2 Corinthians 6:14–18
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
Ezra 9:1–2
After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
1 Kings 11:1–8
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.
Leviticus 20:26
You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.
Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Deuteronomy 7:3–6
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,
Exodus 19:5–6
Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
Nehemiah 13:23–29
In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
Psalm 106:34–39
They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them,
Jeremiah 2:21–22
I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?
Jeremiah 3:7–9
I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.
Jeremiah 7:10
…and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Malachi, Book of

Topics

Idolatry: Warnings Against, and Punishments of Marriage: Wives Among the Israelites Must be Israelites Wicked (People): Prayer of

Malachi 2:11

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

People

Places

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics