Keraia
Malachi 2

Malachi 2:16

Judah’s Unfaithfulness · Malachi 2:10–17
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Translations

Modern
“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.
Traditional
For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
Literal
“For He hates sending away,” says YHWH the God of Israel, “And he who has covered violence with his garment.” Says YHWH of Hosts. You must keep guard over your spirit and not act treacherously.
Latin
Cum odio habueris, dimitte, dicit Dominus Deus Israël: operiet autem iniquitas vestimentum ejus, dicit Dominus exercituum. Custodite spiritum vestrum, et nolite despicere.

Original

Hebrew
English
“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

Notes

Malachi 2:16

  • hate: God dislikes a broken promise (see Malachi 1:3; Hosea 9:15). This is fitting because God's relationship with people is based on faithfulness, and he expected the same from Israel (Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 7:9).

  • To divorce (literally send away) means to force a marriage partner to leave. Malachi wanted to address the misuse of divorce laws (see Deuteronomy 24:1–4).

  • covers his garment with violence: Cruelty involves acts of violence or wrongdoing. Divorce is a harsh and cruel social wrong. Divorcing one's wife is a betrayal of her and the marriage promise. It breaks hearts, destroys relationships, harms family integrity, damages children's well-being, and endangers the future.

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).

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Divorce Malachi, Book of

Topics

Annulment Dating a Married Man Dating While Separated Deserted Wives Desertion Divorce: General Scriptures Concerning Divorce: Jews Condemned for Love of Divorcing An Unbeliever Grounds for Divorce Hatred of God Husband: General Scriptures Concerning Marriage: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Physical Abuse in Marriage Respect the Wife Separation in Marriage Spousal Abandonment Spousal Abuse Unhappy Marriages