Malachi 2:16

Yahweh, the God to whom we Israelis belong, says, “I hate divorce!” So if you men divorce your wives, you are overwhelming them by being cruel to them. So be sure that you are ◄not disloyal/remain united► to your wives. That is what the Commander of the armies of angels says.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

15It is certainly [RHQ] Yahweh who joined you together. Your spirits and your bodies belong to him. So what he wants [RHQ] from you are godly children. So make sure that each of you men remain ◄with/loyal to► the woman that you married when you were young.

17Yahweh also says, “What you have said has caused me to become disgusted.” You reply, “What have we said that caused him to become disgusted?” The answer is that you have caused him to become disgusted by saying that Yahweh is pleased with all those who do evil things. You have caused him to become disgusted by constantly asking, “Why does God not act fairly?”

Read all of Malachi 2

Cross References

Proverbs 5:20My son, do not be [RHQ] captivated/charmed by an immoral woman! Do not fondle the breasts of another man’s wife!

Isaiah 28:20You have heard people say, “Your bed is very short, you will not be able to sleep in it; your blankets are very narrow; they will not cover you!” That means for you that your agreement with Egypt is not going to save you.

Isaiah 59:6We people cannot hide/cover our skin with clothes made of spider webs [MET], and similarly you cannot hide the evil things that you have done. You are constantly acting [MTY] violently.

Matthew 5:31“It is written { Moses wrote}, ‘If a man is divorcing his wife, he should write a document on which he states that he is divorcing her.’

Mark 10:2While he was teaching them, some Pharisees approached him and asked him, “Does our Jewish law permit a man to divorce his wife?” They asked that in order to be able to criticize him whether he answered “yes” or “no”.

Matthew Henry on Malachi 2:11-17

Unlawful Marriages; Breach of the Marriage-covenant; Charge of Corrupt Principles. ( b. c. 400.) 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? 11 Judah 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. 12 The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this,… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Malachi 2:16