Malachi 2 16

Malachi 2:16 kjv

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.

Malachi 2:16 nkjv

"For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," Says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously."

Malachi 2:16 niv

"The man who hates and divorces his wife," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "does violence to the one he should protect," says the LORD Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

Malachi 2:16 esv

"For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless."

Malachi 2:16 nlt

"For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty, " says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife."

Malachi 2 verses

Malachi 2 16 Meaning

Malachi 2:16 declares that God detests divorce and the breaking of vows, stating that He covers with violence the one who divorces, and the one who covers himself with his garment. It emphasizes that the LORD Almighty guards His covenant, indicating that faithfulness in marriage is tied to God’s own faithfulness.

Malachi 2 16 Context

This verse is part of Malachi's final chapter, which addresses the continued unfaithfulness of the people of Judah upon their return from exile. Malachi confronts the priests first for their corrupt practices and disrespectful offerings. Then, he shifts to condemn the people's infidelity, particularly their spiritual treachery against God. This verse directly follows a condemnation of their intermarriage with foreign women, seen as a breach of their covenant commitment to God and a violation of the sanctity of marriage within their own community. The argument is that their failure in marital faithfulness mirrors their deeper unfaithfulness to God.

Malachi 2 16 Word analysis

• “For” (כי – ki): Indicates a reason or cause, connecting this verse to the preceding admonitions against treachery in marriage.
• “the man” (איש – ish): Refers to any individual man.
• “who hates” (שָׂנֵא – sene): Denotes intense dislike or aversion, applied here to the marital relationship.
• “her”: Refers to the wife.
• “puts away his wife” (שָׁלַח – shalach): Means to send away, dismiss, or divorce. The repetition emphasizes the action.
• “puts away his wife” (שָׁלַח – shalach): Reinforces the act of dismissal and divorce, highlighting the finality of the separation.
• “puts away his wife” (שָׁלַח – shalach): The threefold repetition powerfully underscores the violence and treachery associated with the act of unjustified divorce, painting a vivid picture of disregard.
• “puts away his wife” (שָׁלַח – shalach): This repetition emphasizes the action, the impact, and the covenant breach involved.
• “the LORD” (יְהוָה – Yahweh): The personal covenant name of God.
• “of Hosts” (צְבָאוֹת – tseva’ot): Signifies God's supreme power and authority over all heavenly armies and earthly forces.
• “guards” (שָׁמַר – shamar): Means to keep, watch over, preserve, or guard. Here, it emphasizes God’s active protection of His covenant.
• “His covenant” (בְּרִיתוֹ – b’rito): Refers to the solemn agreement or promise between God and His people, or in this context, the sacred bond of marriage itself.
• “and” (וְ – ve): Conjunction linking actions.
• “covers” (כִּסָּה – kissa): Means to cover, conceal, or overwhelm. It implies the perpetrator is either hiding his sin or being consumed by the consequences.
• “with violence” (חָמָס – chamas): Signifies violence, injustice, wrong, or oppression. It points to the cruel nature of the divorce.
• “him”: Refers back to the man who puts away his wife.
• “his garment” (בִּגְדוֹ – bigdo): Could metaphorically refer to the marriage vow, one's purity, or one's public covering, all of which are soiled or destroyed by his action. Some interpretations link "covering himself with his garment" to ceremonial impurity or the improper act of casting off the wife, akin to taking off priestly garments before the people, symbolizing a broader rebellion.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• “hates her puts away his wife, puts away his wife, puts away his wife”: The tripled "puts away his wife" highlights the severe spiritual implication and condemnation by God for unjust divorce. It frames divorce not just as a personal decision but as a profound violation of covenant and an act of hatred. This repetition is not mere redundancy but a rhetorical device to emphasize the abhorrent nature of the act and the gravity of God’s judgment. It suggests a pattern of treachery against the wife and, by extension, against God’s covenant.
• “For the man who hates her… puts away his wife”: This establishes a causal link between hatred, divorce, and treachery. God’s perspective is that divorcing one’s wife, particularly the wife of one's youth whom one pledged to in covenant, stems from a heart of hatred and is an act of treachery against the sacred bond.
• “And the LORD of Hosts guards His covenant”: This serves as a foundational principle. God’s own covenant faithfulness is presented as the standard against which human infidelity, including marital infidelity, is measured. It underscores that the marital covenant is divinely sanctioned and protected by God Himself.
• “For the man who hates her puts away his wife, puts away his wife, puts away his wife, and covers himself with his garment; but it is the LORD of Hosts who guards His covenant.”: This powerful statement contrasts human faithlessness with divine faithfulness. The man’s action, characterized by hatred and divorce, results in him being covered (perhaps by his own shame or God’s judgment), while God is actively guarding His covenant, which includes the covenant of marriage.

Malachi 2 16 Bonus section

The theological concept of God as a "jealous" God (Exodus 20:5) finds resonance here. God's guarding of His covenant reflects His passionate commitment to His people and His disapproval of betrayal. The marital relationship was often used as a metaphor for the relationship between God and Israel (Jeremiah 3:8). Therefore, infidelity in marriage was a tangible symbol of spiritual infidelity and apostasy. The reference to "covering himself with his garment" is debated. It could allude to hiding sin, the priestly garments indicating defilement if worn improperly (Leviticus 16:4), or simply an act of presumptuous covering that is ultimately judged by God who sees all. The profound emphasis on the "wife of your youth" (Malachi 2:14) implies a special weight on covenant faithfulness within a marriage that has endured and begun in devotion.

Malachi 2 16 Commentary

Malachi 2:16 presents a stern warning against divorce motivated by hatred or mere dislike. The repeated phrase "puts away his wife" powerfully conveys God's detestation of such actions, viewing them as violence and betrayal. God is portrayed as the keeper of covenants, not just His own with Israel, but implicitly, the covenants His people make with one another, especially the marital covenant. To divorce unlawfully is to rupture this divine safeguard, bringing a covering of violence upon oneself, signifying the judgment and ruin that inevitably follows. This emphasizes that marriage is a sacred vow before God, and its dissolution without legitimate grounds incurs divine displeasure and consequences. The verse underscores the seriousness of God's commitment to His covenant people and His expectation that they honor their commitments in turn.

Practical usage: This verse calls individuals to approach marriage with seriousness and lifelong commitment. It challenges modern attitudes that may too readily view divorce as an easy escape from marital difficulties, reminding believers that marital faithfulness is an expression of obedience to God and a reflection of His own covenant faithfulness. It encourages seeking reconciliation and perseverance in marriage, trusting God to strengthen the union, rather than severing it through selfish action.