Malachi2
English Standard Version
1And now, O , is for you.
2If you will , you will it to to my , the Lord of , then I will the upon you and I your . , I have already them, not it .
3 , I will your , and on your , the of your , and you shall be taken with it.
4So shall you I have this to you, that my with may stand, the Lord of .
5My with him was one of and , and I them to him. It was a covenant of , and he me. He stood my .
6 was in his , and no was on his . He with me in and , and he from .
7For the of a should , and people should from his , for he is the of the Lord of .
8But you have from the . You have caused to by your . You have the of , the Lord of ,
9and so I you and before all the , as you do not my but show in your .
10Have we not all ? Has not us? Why then are to , the of our ?
11 has been , and has been in and in . For has the of the Lord, which he , and has the of a .
12May the Lord from the of any of the this, who an to the Lord of !
13And this thing you . You the Lord ’s with , with and because he no the or it with from your .
14But you , does he not? the Lord was between you and the of your , to whom you have , though she and your by .
15Did he not them , with a of the in their union? And what was the God ? . So in your , and let none of you to the of your .
16For the man who does his wife but her, the Lord, the of , his with , the Lord of . So yourselves in your , and do not .
17You have the Lord with your . But you , How have we him? By , Everyone who is in the of the Lord, and he in them. Or by asking, Where is the of ?
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Malachi 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The priests reproved for neglecting their covenant. (1–9). The people reproved for their evil practices. (10–17).
vv1-9
What is here said of the covenant of priesthood, is true of the covenant of grace made with all believers, as spiritual priests. It is a covenant of life and peace; it assures all believers of all happiness, both in this world and in that to come. It is an honour to God's servants to be employed as his messengers. The priest's lips should not keep knowledge from his people, but keep it for them. The people are all concerned to know the will of the Lord. We must not only consult the written word, but desire instruction and advice from God's messengers, in the affairs of our souls. Ministers must exert themselves to the utmost for the conversion of sinners; and even among those called Israelites, there are many to be turned from iniquity. Those ministers, and those only, are likely to turn men from sin, who preach sound doctrine, and live holy lives according to the Scripture. Many departed from this way; thus they misled the people. Such as walk with God in peace and righteousness, and turn others from sin, honour God; he will honour them, while those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed.
vv10-17
Corrupt practices are the fruit of corrupt principles; and he who is false to his God, will not be true to his fellow mortals. In contempt of the marriage covenant, which God instituted, the Jews put away the wives they had of their own nation, probably to make room for strange wives. They made their lives bitter to them; yet, in the sight of others, they pretend to be tender of them. Consider she is thy wife; thy own; the nearest relation thou hast in the world. The wife is to be looked on, not as a servant, but as a companion to the husband. There is an oath of God between them, which is not to be trifled with. Man and wife should continue to their lives' end, in holy love and peace. Did not God make one, one Eve for one Adam? Yet God could have made another Eve. Wherefore did he make but one woman for one man? It was that the children might be made a seed to serve him. Husbands and wives must live in the fear of God, that their seed may be a godly seed. The God of Israel saith that he hateth putting away. Those who would be kept from sin, must take heed to their spirits, for there all sin begins. Men will find that their wrong conduct in their families springs from selfishness, which disregards the welfare and happiness of others, when opposed to their own passions and fancies. It is wearisome to God to hear people justify themselves in wicked practices. Those who think God can be a friend to sin, affront him, and deceive themselves. The scoffers said, Where is the God of judgement? but the day of the Lord will come.
Key Words
כֹּהֵן: literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
מִצְוָה: a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law)
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אִם: used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
שׂוּם: to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לֵב: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Cross References
Malachi 2God's covenant of peace given specifically to Phinehas/Levi, ensuring an everlasting priesthood.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Moses' blessing on Levi, illustrating the fear and dedication required by the original priestly covenant.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Nehemiah's contemporary condemnation of the priests for defiling the covenant of Levi.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Jesus references God's creation of one husband and one wife, confirming monogamous intent.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The standard covenant curses of Deuteronomy that God threatens to send upon the faithless priests.
Supported by JFB
Historical record of post-exilic Jews marrying foreign women and profaning the priesthood.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The foundational creation account establishing the covenant of marriage where two become one flesh.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The ignominious threat of being swept away like dung, denoting utter rejection and contempt.
Supported by JFB
God's standard for true prophets/priests: to stand in His counsel and turn many from evil.
Supported by JFB
The catastrophic consequences when priests reject knowledge and fail to keep the law for the people.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament comparison: ministers are ambassadors (messengers) of Christ, as priests were to Yahweh.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The divine principle that those who despise God will be lightly esteemed, fulfilled in the priests.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Mosaic regulation of divorce, contrasted with Malachi's declaration that God hates divorce.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Wordplay on 'messenger' (Malachi), highlighting the priest's office as God's official envoy.
Supported by JFB