Malachi 2

1 “And now [at this time, currently] this decree [commandment, law] is for you, O priests [spiritual leaders, those who serve God]: word study 2 If you do not [refuse to] listen, and if you do not [fail to] take it to heart [consider deeply] to honor [give glory and reverence to] My name [My identity and character],” says the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces], “I will send [dispatch, bring upon] a curse [divine judgment, punishment] among you, and I will curse [utterly reject, condemn] your blessings [gifts, provisions]. Yes, I have already begun [initiated, started] to curse [condemn, bring judgment upon] them, because you are not [fail to] taking it to heart [considering deeply, obeying]. word study 3 Behold [look, take notice], I will rebuke [correct, chastise] your descendants [seed, offspring], and I will spread [scatter, toss] dung [refuse, waste] on your faces [before you, in your presence], the waste [excrement, filth] from your feasts [solemn festivals, celebrations], and you will be carried off [taken away, lifted] with it [together, as one]. word study 4 Then you will know [be aware, understand, perceive] that I have sent [dispatched, commanded] you this commandment [instruction, law] so that My covenant [agreement, promise] with Levi [the tribe of priests] may continue [endure, remain],” says the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. word study 5 “My covenant [agreement, promise] with him was one of life [physical and spiritual existence] and peace [completeness, wellness, and friendship], which I gave to him; it called for reverence [fear, awe], and he revered Me and stood in awe [was afraid, had fear] of My name [identity, honor, and character]. word study 6 True [faithful, reliable] instruction [law of truth, torah] was in his mouth [lips, language], and nothing [no] false [unrighteous, unjust] was found [discovered, detected] on his lips [speech, words]. He walked [lived, journeyed] with Me [in My presence, alongside Me] in peace [shalom, completeness, wellness] and uprightness [equity, righteousness], and he turned [brought back, restored] many [a large number, numerous] from iniquity [sin, moral evil]. word study 7 For the lips [edge of speech, language] of a priest [one who serves God, leads worship] should preserve [keep, guard, protect] knowledge [understanding, wisdom], and people should seek [search, inquire] instruction [law, guidance] from his mouth [words, teachings], because he is the messenger [angel, representative] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. word study 8 But you [as priests, spiritual leaders] have departed [turned aside, strayed] from the way [path of righteousness, God’s will], and your instruction [teaching, guidance] has caused many [a large number, numerous people] to stumble [fall, sin]. You have violated [corrupted, broken] the covenant [agreement, promise] of Levi [the tribe of priests, spiritual leaders],” says the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. word study 9 “So I [as a consequence] in turn have made you despised [contemptible, lowly] and humiliated [base, vile] before all [every, the entire] the people, because you have not kept [obeyed, protected] My ways [path, manner of life], but have shown [accepted, lifted up] partiality [favoritism, respect of persons] in matters of the law [instruction, Torah].” word study 10 Do we not [certainly not] all have one [unique, single] Father? Did not [has not] one [united, single] God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] create [bring into existence, form] us? Why then do we break faith [act treacherously, deal falsely] with one another [each against his brother, mutually] so as to profane [violate, desecrate] the covenant [agreement, promise] of our fathers [ancestors, forefathers]? word study 11 Judah [the tribe descended from Jacob’s son] has broken faith [dealt treacherously, acted deceitfully]; an abomination [a disgusting, detestable thing] has been committed [done, made] in Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] and in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Palestine]. For Judah has profaned [defiled, made unclean] the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] beloved [loved, cherished] sanctuary [the Holy Place, a sacred area] by marrying [taking as wife, having dominion over] the daughter [a female child, a woman] of a foreign [strange, heathen] god [a false deity, an idol]. word study 12 As for the man [male person, individual] who does this, may the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] cut off [destroy, eliminate] from the tents [tabernacles, dwelling places] of Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah] everyone who is awake [roused, stirred] and aware [responsive, answering]—even if he brings an offering [gift, donation] to the LORD [Yehovah] of Hosts [armies, large groups]. word study 13 And this is another thing [again, a second time] you do: You cover [pour out, overwhelm] the altar [place of sacrifice] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] with tears [weeping, crying out], with weeping [sighing, mourning] and groaning [intense crying, lamenting], because He no longer regards [pays attention to, turns towards] your offerings [gifts, donations] or receives [accepts, takes with pleasure] them gladly [with good will, favor] from your hands. word study 14 Yet you ask [why or for what reason], “Why?” It is because the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has been a witness [to testify or uphold] between you and the wife [woman or female partner] of your youth [early years or young age], against whom you have broken faith [dealt treacherously or been unfaithful], though she is your companion [close friend or consort] and your wife [woman or partner] by covenant [promise or agreement]. word study 15 Has not the LORD [the supreme God, Elohim] made them one [united, a single entity], having a portion [a share, a remnant] of the Spirit [the breath of life, the divine presence]? And why one [a single, unified couple]? Because He seeks [is searching for, desires] godly [righteous, faithful] offspring [seed, descendants]. So guard [watch, protect] yourselves in your spirit [mind, emotions, the breath of life] and do not [refrain from, let not] break faith [be unfaithful, act treacherously] with the wife [woman, partner] of your youth [early years, young adulthood]. word study 16 “For I [intensely] hate divorce [putting away, sending away a wife],” says the LORD [Yehovah], the God [Elohim, the supreme deity] of Israel. “He who divorces [sends away, puts away] his wife covers [conceals, overwhelms] his garment [clothing, himself] with violence [cruelty, injustice],” says the LORD [the Commander] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. So guard [watch, protect] yourselves in your spirit [breath of life, mind and emotions] and do not [refrain from] break faith [act treacherously, be unfaithful]. word study 17 You have wearied [exhausted, tired out] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] with your words [speech, utterances]; yet you ask, “How have we wearied [caused to be disgusted] Him?” By saying, “All [every single one] who do evil [wicked, immoral acts] are good [righteous, pleasing] in the sight [presence, eyes] of the LORD, and in them He delights [takes pleasure, is pleased],” or, “Where [in what location] is the God [Elohim, the supreme Judge] of justice [righteous judgment, fairness]?” word study