Malachi 2

King James Version

Full text for Malachi Chapter 2

1¶ And now, O ye priests, this commandment [is] for you.

2If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.

3Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, [even] the dung of your solemn feasts; and [one] shall take you away with it.

4And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

5My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him [for] the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

6The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

7For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he [is] the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

8But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

9Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

10¶ Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

11Judah 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.

12The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

13And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth [it] with good will at your hand.

14Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet [is] she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

15And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

16For 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.

17Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied [him]? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil [is] good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where [is] the God of judgment?

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Malachi 2 begins with a stern warning to the priests, who are condemned for failing to honor God's name and corrupting the covenant of Levi. God promises curses upon them for their unfaithfulness and partiality in the law. The chapter then addresses the people's treachery, particularly their profaning of the covenant through marrying foreign women and divorcing the wives of their youth, which God explicitly states He hates.

Medium Summary

The Lord addresses the priests, commanding them to lay His words to heart and give glory to His name, lest He send curses upon them and their blessings, even corrupting their seed. He reminds them of His original covenant with Levi, which was one of life and peace, where priests walked in truth and equity, turning many from iniquity. However, the current priests have departed from this way, causing many to stumble and corrupting the covenant, leading to their contempt before the people. The chapter then shifts to the people's treachery, questioning why they deal treacherously against their brethren and profane the covenant of their fathers, despite having one God. Judah is specifically condemned for marrying the daughters of strange gods, an abomination that leads God to reject their offerings. The Lord also condemns their treachery against the wives of their youth, emphasizing that He hates 'putting away' or divorce, as it covers violence. Finally, the people are accused of wearying the Lord by questioning His justice and implying that evil is good in His sight.

Long Summary

Malachi 2 opens with a direct commandment to the priests, warning them that if they do not heed His words and give glory to His name, the Lord of hosts will send curses upon them and their blessings, even corrupting their seed and spreading dung upon their faces. This judgment is intended to remind them of God's covenant with Levi. The Lord recounts the ideal nature of this covenant, which was founded on life and peace, given because Levi feared God and walked in truth and equity, turning many from iniquity. The priest's lips were meant to keep knowledge, and people were to seek the law from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord. However, the current priests have departed from this righteous path, causing many to stumble at the law and corrupting the covenant of Levi, resulting in God making them contemptible and base before all the people due to their partiality. The chapter then broadens its scope to address the people's treachery, asking why they deal treacherously against their brethren and profane the covenant of their fathers, given that they all share one God and one father. Judah is specifically accused of an abomination by profaning the holiness of the Lord through marrying the daughter of a strange god, for which God promises to cut off the offenders. This treachery has led to God no longer regarding their offerings, causing them to cover the altar with tears. When the people question why their offerings are rejected, the Lord reveals it is because they have dealt treacherously against the wife of their youth, who is their companion and wife of their covenant. God made one (man and woman) to seek a godly seed, urging them to take heed to their spirit and not deal treacherously. The Lord, the God of Israel, explicitly states His hatred for 'putting away' (divorce), describing it as covering violence with one's garment. The chapter concludes by condemning the people for wearying the Lord with their words, specifically by asserting that evildoers are good in God's sight or by questioning the very existence of a 'God of judgment'.

Core Concepts

  • Priestly CorruptionThe priests are condemned for failing to give glory to God's name, departing from His ways, causing many to stumble, and corrupting the covenant of Levi through their partiality in the law.
  • Covenant with LeviGod's original covenant with Levi was one of life and peace, based on fear, truth, and equity, where priests were to keep knowledge, teach the law, and turn people from iniquity.
  • Treachery Against BrethrenThe people are rebuked for dealing treacherously against one another and profaning the covenant of their fathers, despite acknowledging one God and one father.
  • Foreign MarriagesJudah committed an abomination by marrying the daughters of strange gods, thereby profaning the holiness of the Lord which He loved, leading to severe divine judgment.
  • Sanctity of Marriage and DivorceGod condemns treachery against the wife of one's youth, who is a companion and wife of covenant, and explicitly states that He hates 'putting away' (divorce), viewing it as covering violence.
  • Profaned WorshipDue to the people's treachery, particularly in their marital practices, God no longer regards their offerings, causing them to cover the altar with tears of unaccepted worship.
  • Questioning God's JusticeThe people are accused of wearying the Lord by suggesting that evildoers are good in His sight or by questioning the presence and action of a 'God of judgment'.