Malachi 2:16

Marriage Faithfulness and loyalty Conflict and reconciliation

¹⁴ Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

¹⁵ Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.

“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

¹⁷ You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.
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.
WEB: One who hates and divorces”, says the LORD, the God of Israel, “covers his garment with violence!” says the LORD of Armies. “Therefore pay attention to your spirit, that you don’t be unfaithful.
ASV: For I hate putting away, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, and him that covereth his garment with violence, saith Jehovah of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
DARBY: (for I hate putting away, saith Jehovah the God of Israel;) and he covereth with violence his garment, saith Jehovah of hosts: take heed then to your spirit, that ye deal not unfaithfully.
BLB: “For He hates sending away,” says YHWH the God of Israel, “And he [who] has covered violence with his garment.” Says YHWH of Hosts. You⁺ must keep guard over your⁺ spirit and not act treacherously.

ÅB: For jeg hater skilsmisse, sier Herren, Israels Gud; for det er å dekke klærne sine med vold, sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud. Så ta dere i vare, så dere ikke er troløse!
OTB: «For jeg hater skilsmisse,» sier Herren, Israels Gud, «og den som dekker sitt plagg med vold,» sier hærskarenes Gud. Så vær på vakt, og vær ikke utro.
B1930: For jeg hater skilsmisse, sier Herren, Israels Gud; en dekker derved sitt klædebon med vold, sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud. Så ta da vare på eders liv og vær ikke troløse!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Matthew 19:3–9
Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
Read in context
Matthew 5:31–32
It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
Read in context
Mark 10:2–12
Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired.
Read in context
Luke 16:18
Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Read in context
Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 24:1–4
If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house.
Read in context
Micah 7:2–3
The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net.
Read in context
Isaiah 59:6
Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands.
Read in context