Malachi 2:14–16

Context

Malachi is a prophecy delivered to the community that had returned from the Babylonian exile. It is generally dated after the rebuilding of the temple, around the time of Nehemiah (fifth century BC). The book proceeds in a question-and-answer format: God speaks, the people respond with a question such as "Wherein?" or "Wherefore?", and God answers in turn.

Malachi 2:10–16 addresses breaches of faithfulness within the community. The preceding verses mention marriage to women who serve foreign gods (2:11). The people then ask why their offerings are not accepted even though they cover the altar with tears (2:13). Verses 14–16 answer that question: it is because they have "dealt treacherously" (that is, with deceit and betrayal) against "the wife of thy youth." God calls her "thy companion" and "the wife of thy covenant," and declares that the LORD was witness to that marriage.

Interpretation

• A covenantal reading: Many Protestant commentaries and sermons focus on the word "covenant," which renders the Hebrew berit, that is, covenant. This reading understands marriage as a covenant to which God is witness and regards divorce as the breaking of that covenant. Interpretations that connect the "one" of verse 15 with the "one flesh" of Genesis 2:24 belong to this line of reading.
• A reading in light of the historical situation: A number of commentators hold that the passage is directed at men of the returned community who had cast off their first wives in order to marry foreign women. This reading understands the passage as emphasizing both the purity of the community of faith and the protection of wives, who were the more vulnerable party.
• The meaning of "covereth … with his garment": In the Old Testament, spreading one's outer garment over someone serves as an expression for marriage (Ruth 3:9; Ezekiel 16:8). In light of this usage, some interpreters read the verse as meaning that a husband commits violence against the very wife he ought to protect.

Debates and Issues

• Translation and manuscripts: The Hebrew of verse 15 is extremely difficult, and its meaning varies considerably from translation to translation. Verse 16 is also read in two different ways. One reading is that "God hates divorce"; the other takes "the one who hates and sends away his wife" as the subject. The New Korean Revised Version follows the first reading. Some English translations, such as recent editions of the ESV and NIV, make the husband who hates and abandons his wife the subject. The Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls are reported to contain a text closer to "if you hate her, send her away."
• The extent to which divorce is permitted: In discussions of divorce and remarriage, this passage is often cited as grounds for forbidding divorce. Conclusions, however, differ among denominations and theologians. The Westminster Confession of Faith recognizes adultery and willful desertion as grounds for divorce. Some permit divorce in limited cases on the basis of the exception clause in Matthew 19, while others do not recognize divorce at all.
• Tension with the Book of Ezra: Ezra 10 directs that foreign wives be sent away, whereas Malachi rebukes the putting away of wives. The usual explanation of the relationship between the two texts is that Malachi rebukes men who abandoned their covenant wives in order to marry foreign women.
• Quotation out of context: The first part of verse 16 is sometimes isolated and used as grounds for forbidding divorce even in abusive marriages. Critics object to such use, pointing out that the same verse says that God also hates violence.

In the Korean Church

The phrases "the wife of thy youth" and "he hateth putting away" are often quoted in sermons on family and marriage and in exhortations delivered at wedding services.

Related Passages

• Genesis 2:20–24
• Deuteronomy 24:1–4
• Matthew 19:3–9
• Ephesians 5:31–32