Malachi 2:14–16
God calls to account the man who betrayed the wife of his youth
Study it word by word14And you say, “Why?” Because YHWH has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, whom you have betrayed, though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant.
15And did he not make one, and a remnant of spirit is his? And what of the one? He was seeking offspring of Elohim. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not let anyone betray the wife of your youth.
16For he hates divorce, says YHWH, Elohim of Israel, and the one who covers his garment with violence, says YHWH Tsevaot. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not betray.
In its context
12May YHWH cut off the man who does it, the one who wakes and the one who answers, from the tents of Jacob, and the one who offers an offering to YHWH Tsevaot.
13And this a second thing you do: cover the altar of YHWH with tears, with weeping and groaning, because he no longer turns to the offering or takes it with favor from your hand.
…
17You have wearied YHWH with your words. And you say, “How have we wearied him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the eyes of YHWH, and in them he delights”; or, “Where is the Elohim of judgment?”
Its words in the original
- אֲמַרְתֶּםamartem· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- הֵעִידheid· warn; testify
Warn solemnly; bear witness, testify. Also call as witness.
- אֵשֶׁתeshet· woman, wife
Woman; with a possessive ("his woman"), wife. In Hebrew it is "ishah", which sounds like "ish", man.
- נְעוּרֶיneure· youth
Youth: the time of being young.
- בָּגַדְתָּהbagadta· act treacherously
Be unfaithful: break one's word or someone's trust.
- חֲבֶרְתְּchavert· companion
Companion, the wife joined by covenant. It appears only in Malachi 2:14: “your companion and the wife of your covenant.”
- בְּרִיתֶberite· covenant
Covenant: a solemn commitment between two parties, with promises and obligations. When God makes it, he is the one who offers it and guarantees it.
- אֶחָדechad· one
One; only, the same. Also "first" in a series.
- עָשָׂהasa· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- שְׁאָרshear· rest, remainder
Rest: what is left of something.
- רוּחַruach· spirit, wind, breath
The basic idea is "air in motion". The same word can be "wind"; "breath", the air that is breathed and keeps life; or "spirit": the mood or inner strength of a person, or the Spirit of God, his presence and power at work.
- מְבַקֵּשׁmevakesh· seek
Seek, look for; also require, demand an account.
- זֶרַעzera· offspring, seed
Seed. From there "offspring": the children and generations that come from someone. Also sowing and semen.
- אֱלֹהִיםelohim· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- נִשְׁמַרְתֶּםnishmartem· keep, guard
Keep: watch over, guard, protect; also keep a command or a covenant, observe.
- שָׂנֵאsane· hate
Hate. In Hebrew it ranges from the hatred of an enemy to simply "loving less". "Those who hate you" are enemies.
- שַׁלַּחshalach· send, stretch out
Send; stretch out (the hand); let go, send away, set free.
- יִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael· Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
- כִסָּהchisa· cover
Cover, hide; also cover over (sin), conceal.
- חָמָסchamas· violence
Violence; unjust harm done to others.
- לְבוּשׁlevush· garment
Garment, clothing.
- צְבָאוֹתtsevaot· host, army
A great ordered company, like an army. "All their host" is everything that fills the heavens and the earth: the stars and the created beings. From this word comes the title "YHWH of hosts" (YHWH Tsevaot).