Malachi 2:9

Shame Sin

⁷ For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

⁸ But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.

“So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not kept My ways, but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

¹⁰ Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?

¹¹ Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not kept My ways, but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”
KJV: Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
WEB: “Therefore I have also made you contemptible and wicked before all the people, according to the way you have not kept my ways, but have had respect for persons in the law.
ASV: Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons in the law.
DARBY: And I also have made you contemptible and base before all the people, because ye have not kept my ways, but have respect of persons in [administering] the law.
BLB: “And also I have made you⁺ despised and low before all the people, according to the measure by which you⁺ were not keeping guard of My ways, and were lifting faces regarding the instruction.”

ÅB: Derfor har også jeg gjort dere foraktet og ringe i alt folkets øyne, fordi dere ikke akter på mine veier, men gjør forskjell på folk for loven[^3].
OTB: «Så jeg har gjort dere foraktet og ydmyket for hele folket, fordi dere ikke har holdt mine veier, men har vist partiskhet i lovsaker.»
B1930: Derfor har også jeg gjort eder foraktet og ringe i alt folkets øine, fordi I ikke akter på mine veier, men gjør forskjell på folk for loven. / < d.e. når I skal dømme efter loven.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Deuteronomy 1:17
Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”
Read in context
1 Samuel 2:30
Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.
Read in context
Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.
Read in context
Galatians 2:6
But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism —those leaders added nothing to me.
Read in context
Matthew 19:17–18
“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Read in context
Micah 3:6–7
Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.
Read in context
Matthew 5:33–37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
Read in context
Matthew 5:43–44
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’
Read in context