Malachi 2:5 kjv
My 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.
Malachi 2:5 nkjv
"My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me And was reverent before My name.
Malachi 2:5 niv
"My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.
Malachi 2:5 esv
My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name.
Malachi 2:5 nlt
"The purpose of my covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and that is what I gave them. This required reverence from them, and they greatly revered me and stood in awe of my name.
Malachi 2 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Malachi 2:4 | "You shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, O priests." | Direct Link (Instruction) |
| Malachi 2:6 | "True instruction was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity." | Direct Link (Blessing) |
| Numbers 18:8 | "The Lord is my allotted portion and my cup; you uphold my lot." | Fulfillment (God's Provision) |
| Deuteronomy 10:9 | "Therefore the Levites have no inheritance with his brothers. The Lord is their inheritance, as the Lord your God promised them." | Context (Levitical Inheritance) |
| Deuteronomy 18:2 | "And the Levites shall have no inheritance among the other tribes of Israel, for the portion of the Lord and his inheritance are theirs. And they shall have no inheritance among the other tribes of Israel, for the portion of the Lord and his inheritance are theirs." | Context (Levitical Inheritance) |
| Deuteronomy 33:11 | "Bless, O Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands. Strike through the loins of his enemies, and of those who hate him, so that they do not rise again." | Fulfillment (Blessing) |
| Joshua 13:33 | "But to the tribe of Levi, Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said to them." | Context (Levitical Inheritance) |
| Nehemiah 13:10-11 | "I also found out that the portions for the Levites had not been given to them. And so all the Levites and the singers who did the work had fled to their own fields." | Illustration (Failure to Provide) |
| 1 Corinthians 9:13 | "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service eat what is provided from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed at the altar?" | Parallel (Priestly Support) |
| Romans 15:8 | "Now I say that Christ Jesus was a minister to the circumcised for the truth of God, to confirm the promises to the fathers," | Echo (Covenant Fulfillment) |
| Acts 3:21 | "whom heaven must receive until the time of restoration of all things, about which God has spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets since the world began." | Echo (Restoration Theme) |
| Luke 1:72-74 | "To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham," | Echo (Covenant Oath) |
| Exodus 19:5-6 | "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel." | Foundation (Covenant Basis) |
| Psalm 106:30 | "Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague stopped." | Example (Righteous Zeal) |
| Proverbs 3:16 | "Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor." | Parallel (Blessings) |
| 1 Timothy 6:19 | "thus laying up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life." | Parallel (True Life) |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." | Echo (Spiritual Priesthood) |
| Revelation 5:10 | "and you have made them a kingdom, priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." | Echo (Future Priesthood) |
| Jeremiah 31:31-34 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah," | Echo (New Covenant) |
| Leviticus 26:12 | "And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people." | Parallel (God's Presence) |
| Hebrews 7:16 | "with a new qualification, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life." | Context (Christ's Priesthood) |
Malachi 2 verses
Malachi 2 5 Meaning
This verse proclaims God's covenant faithfulness. He made a covenant with Levi, a priest tribe, that promised life and peace. This covenant ensured the Levites received their priestly portions and had continuous service, resulting in blessings. God's relationship with Levi was one of honor and respect, which was then reflected in how the people would regard Him.
Malachi 2 5 Context
Malachi's prophecy addresses a post-exilic community that had fallen into spiritual decline. The priests, who were supposed to be mediators and exemplars, had become corrupt, offering blemished sacrifices and failing to uphold the covenant. This chapter specifically rebukes the priests for their disobedience and the contempt with which they treated God's name and worship. Verse 5 provides the divine warrant and the foundation for the priestly responsibilities that the priests were neglecting. It recalls the covenant God made with Levi to underscore the seriousness of their dereliction of duty. The broader context of Malachi is a call for repentance and restoration of proper worship, warning of divine judgment but also pointing to future restoration under a purified priesthood.
Malachi 2 5 Word Analysis
וְלִי (’eliy): "And with" or "and to." Introduces the specific covenant God made.
לֵוִי (Levî): "Levi." Refers to the priestly tribe, established as distinct and consecrated by God.
הָיְתָה (hāyetâh): "was" or "became." Indicates a past reality and enduring state.
בְּרִיתִי (bĕrîtî): "my covenant." A solemn agreement or bond established by God. This points to the foundational covenant God made with Levi, recorded in numbers.
אֱמֶת (’emet): "truth," "faithfulness," "reliability." This emphasizes the genuine and trustworthy nature of God's covenant with Levi. It was not a conditional promise that failed.
חַיִּים (ḥayyîm): "life." Refers to life itself, both physical and spiritual, signifying vitality and well-being.
וְשָׁל֑וֹם (wĕšālôm): "and peace." Encompasses completeness, welfare, security, and tranquility.
וָאֶתְּנֶנָּה (wā’ettənenâh): "and I gave it" or "and I granted it." God is the active giver of these blessings tied to the covenant.
לֺוֹ (lô): "to him" or "to it." Referring back to Levi or the covenant.
מוֹרָא (môrâ): "fear," "awe," "reverence." This describes the attitude inspired by God and His covenant, which should have characterized the priests and been reflected in the people.
וַיִּֽירָאֵ֫נִי (wayyîrʾēnî): "and he feared me" or "and he revered me." This signifies an obedient and respectful response to God's presence and covenant.
וּמֵחֶרְפָּתִי (umĕḥerpâṯî): "and from my profanity" or "and from my contempt." This connects to the negative actions of the priests which had brought reproach upon God's name.
אֵת (’et): Indicates the direct object.
בְּצֵל (’ĕtsel): "besides me," "in my presence."
הַגָּדוֹל (haggādôl): "the great one." Refers to God.
covenant with Levi: This phrase signifies the specific establishment of the Levitical priesthood and its inherent divine mandate.
life and peace: These are the twin blessings promised as the result of faithfully upholding this covenant. They are not mere absence of evil but fullness of divine provision.
fear me: This captures the essence of true worship and obedience, stemming from recognizing God's greatness and His covenantal faithfulness.
profanity: The contrast highlights what the priests were doing—disrespecting and profaning God—instead of revering Him as promised in the covenant.
Malachi 2 5 Bonus Section
The covenant with Levi described here, particularly its promises of life and peace, finds its ultimate fulfillment and expansion in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Great High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7), who Himself embodies perfect life and brings eternal peace. The spiritual life and peace promised to Levi prefigure the eternal life and abundant peace that believers have through Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. Furthermore, the concept of God walking with His people (implied in the blessings of the covenant) is fully realized in the indwelling Holy Spirit and Christ’s presence with His church (Matthew 28:20), fulfilling the ultimate desire for God’s people to be with Him.
Malachi 2 5 Commentary
This verse is pivotal as it grounds the indictment against the priests in the immutable nature of God's covenantal commitment. God reminds them that the very authority and provision they enjoyed stemmed from a solemn agreement with Levi, which was characterized by truth, life, and peace. This covenant was not to be taken lightly; it demanded a corresponding reverent response from the Levites. The essence of the covenant for Levi was to be God's portion, and in return, God would be their inheritance and grant them His presence and protection. Their failure, therefore, was a betrayal not just of their duty but of a divine commitment. This highlights a universal principle: God's grace and covenantal blessings require human faithfulness and a reverent attitude, particularly from those in leadership.