Malachi 2:15 kjv
And 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.
Malachi 2:15 nkjv
But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
Malachi 2:15 niv
Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
Malachi 2:15 esv
Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.
Malachi 2:15 nlt
Didn't the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.
Malachi 2 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Malachi 2:11 | Judah has been faithless... defiled the sanctuary of the Lord... | Marriage to foreign women |
| Deuteronomy 7:3-4 | You shall not intermarry with them. Do not give your sons to their daughters or take their daughters for your sons. | Prohibiting foreign marriages |
| Nehemiah 13:23-27 | Addressed intermarriage with foreign women in Jerusalem. | Historical parallel |
| Ezra 9:1-2 | Ezra lamented the people's intermarriage with surrounding nations. | Confession of sin |
| 1 Corinthians 7:39 | A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. | Christian marriage sanctity |
| Genesis 6:2 | Sons of God took daughters of men. | Early instance of impurity |
| Genesis 24:3-4 | Abraham instructed not to take a wife for Isaac from daughters of Canaan. | Patriarchal instruction |
| Exodus 34:16 | You shall not make marriage alliances with the people dwelling in the land. | Covenant command |
| Isaiah 6:13 | Even if a tenth part remains in it, it will be | Hope of remnant |
| 1 Corinthians 10:20 | The sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. | Idolatry warning |
| Romans 1:26-27 | Female passions exchanged for unnatural relations. | Divine order and perversion |
| Romans 11:11 | Israel stumbled so as to fall. | Divine discipline |
| Proverbs 3:13-18 | Wisdom brings blessedness. | Favor of God |
| Psalm 106:34-36 | Israelites mingled with the nations and learned their ways. | Consequences of compromise |
| Leviticus 19:33-34 | Do not mistreat a foreigner living in your land. | Respect for foreigners |
| 1 Corinthians 15:33 | Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals. | Influence of relationships |
| 2 Corinthians 6:14 | Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. | Spiritual compatibility |
| Ephesians 5:22-33 | Christ and the Church as a model for marriage. | Christological fulfillment |
| Revelation 14:4 | Follow the Lamb wherever he goes. | Spiritual purity |
| Joshua 23:11-13 | Warning against remaining peoples as snares and traps. | Warning against assimilation |
Malachi 2 verses
Malachi 2 15 Meaning
This verse addresses the infidelity of the people towards God, specifically by marrying foreign women. It questions whether God created humanity with unity in mind. The verse implies that such unions go against God's design for a pure lineage and sacred offspring, leading to a questioning of God's providence.
Malachi 2 15 Context
Malachi's prophecy is directed to the post-exilic community of Judah, who had returned from Babylonian captivity. The people are described as disillusioned and questioning God's faithfulness. Malachi addresses various issues, including corrupt worship, social injustice, and spiritual apathy. In chapter 2, the prophet confronts the priests for their unfaithfulness and the people for their mixed marriages with foreign women, which he views as a violation of the covenant and a source of spiritual corruption. This particular verse serves as a rhetorical question that highlights the contradiction in their actions: if God is the author of life and lineage, why would they engage in practices that contaminate their spiritual heritage?
Malachi 2 15 Word Analysis
Did (Hebrew: עָשָׂה -
asah): This verb generally means "to do," "to make," or "to perform." Here, it implies God's creative action in establishing humanity.- Significance: Emphasizes God's role as creator and the originating source of all life.
not (Hebrew: לֹא -
lo): A negative particle.one (Hebrew: אַחַת -
achat): Refers to unity, singularity, or oneness.- Significance: Highlights God's intention for humanity to be united, perhaps hinting at a single humanity from one ancestor or a unified people under God.
flesh (Hebrew: בָּשָׂר -
basar): Means flesh or meat. In this context, it refers to the physical being, humanity.- Significance: Connects to the physical creation of man and woman, and by extension, the continuity of lineage.
spirit (Hebrew: רוּחַ -
ruach): Means wind, breath, or spirit. Refers to the inner animating force.- Significance: Suggests a divine intention beyond the physical, encompassing the spiritual aspect of relationship and offspring.
and (Hebrew: וְ -
ve): Conjunction.his (Hebrew: הוּא -
hu): Pronoun.seed (Hebrew: זֶרַע -
zera): Means seed, offspring, or descendant.- Significance: Refers to the continuation of lineage and heritage, a crucial concept in Israel's covenant identity.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Did not one flesh... spirit?": This rhetorical question links physical creation ("one flesh") with the animating principle ("spirit"). It probes the contradiction of defiling this unity, especially concerning offspring ("seed"), with improper unions. It's a challenge to their understanding of God's creative order and intent for purity in lineage.
Malachi 2 15 Bonus Section
The concept of "one flesh" echoes the creation account in Genesis 2:24, where a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and they become "one flesh." This foundational unity in marriage is presented as God's design. Malachi leverages this established principle to condemn practices that fracture this intended unity, particularly by introducing foreign influences and potentially idolatrous practices through marriage. The mention of "spirit" can also allude to the Holy Spirit's role in producing righteous offspring, suggesting that such impure unions grieve or hinder this divine work. This verse also sets the stage for the next verse, which speaks of God hating divorce and the resultant violence.
Malachi 2 15 Commentary
This verse poses a fundamental question about God's design for humanity and His people. By asking if God created humanity as "one flesh" with "one spirit," Malachi is challenging the Israelites' departure from covenant faithfulness through their intermarriages. These unions with foreign women threatened the spiritual purity and distinctiveness of God's people. The implication is that such relationships defy God’s intention for a unified, sacred offspring. This highlights the importance of covenant, spiritual distinctiveness, and the preservation of a holy lineage in the eyes of God.