Malachi 2:10

¶ Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Have we not all one {H259} father {H1}? hath not one {H259} God {H410} created {H1254} us? why do we deal treacherously {H898} every man {H376} against his brother {H251}, by profaning {H2490} the covenant {H1285} of our fathers {H1}?

Don't we all have the same father? Didn't one God create us all? Then why do we break faith with each other, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?

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?

Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Malachi 2:10 is a powerful rhetorical question posed by God, through the prophet Malachi, to the people of Israel. It serves as a direct challenge to their spiritual and social hypocrisy, highlighting their unfaithfulness to God and to one another. The verse lays the groundwork for the subsequent condemnations of their treacherous dealings, particularly regarding marriage and divorce, and their general disregard for the covenant.

Context

The Book of Malachi is the final book of the Old Testament, written after the Jewish exiles had returned to Judah from Babylon. It addresses a period of spiritual apathy and moral decline among the post-exilic community. While the temple had been rebuilt, the people's hearts had grown cold, and their worship had become ritualistic and insincere. Malachi 2 specifically targets the priests for their corrupt leadership and the people for their unfaithful practices. This verse, with its foundational questions about shared origin and divine creation, sets the stage for God's indictment of their internal strife and covenant breaking.

Key Themes

  • Universal Fatherhood & Divine Creation (for Israel): The opening questions, "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?", remind the Israelites of their shared identity and origin under God. While God is the Creator of all humanity, this context emphasizes His covenantal relationship with Israel as a chosen people, implying a familial bond that should foster unity and loyalty. This echoes passages like Genesis 1:27, where humanity is created in God's image, and Isaiah 64:8, where God is explicitly called "our father."
  • Brotherhood and Unity Betrayed: The rhetorical questions underscore the profound irony of their behavior. Despite being "brothers" by virtue of their common "Father" and Creator, they "deal treacherously every man against his brother." This highlights a severe breakdown of trust and social harmony within the community, contrasting sharply with the ideal of unity found in Psalm 133:1.
  • Profaning the Covenant: The heart of the accusation lies in "profaning the covenant of our fathers." Their treacherous actions, particularly their unfaithfulness in marriage and their disregard for justice, were not merely social misdemeanors but direct violations of the sacred covenant God had established with Israel (e.g., the Mosaic Covenant, Exodus 19:5-6). To "profane" (Hebrew: chalal) means to defile, desecrate, or treat as common something that is holy. Their actions were a blatant disrespect for God's holy agreement and the heritage passed down from their ancestors.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "father," 'ab, carries connotations of source, origin, and authority, emphasizing God's foundational role in their existence and identity.
  • "Created us" uses the Hebrew verb bara', which is often reserved for divine, ex-nihilo (out of nothing) creation, underscoring God's unique power and ultimate ownership over humanity.
  • "Deal treacherously" translates the Hebrew term bagad, which signifies acting faithlessly, deceitfully, or betraying a trust. This word is strongly associated with breaking covenants or solemn agreements, highlighting the severity of their unfaithfulness to both God and their fellow Israelites.
  • "Profaning" comes from the Hebrew chalal, meaning to defile, pollute, or make common. It suggests a deliberate act of stripping something sacred of its holiness, treating it with contempt.

Practical Application

Malachi 2:10 serves as a timeless reminder for believers today. It calls us to reflect on:

  • Our Shared Identity: As believers, we are part of one spiritual family, united under one God who is our Father and Creator. This shared identity should foster genuine love, respect, and unity among us, not treachery or division.
  • The Sanctity of Covenants: Whether it's the covenant of marriage, promises made to others, or our ultimate covenant relationship with God through Christ, this verse reminds us of the serious nature of commitments. Breaking trust or acting faithlessly profanes what is sacred and dishonors God. The New Covenant in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34) calls for a new heart and steadfast faithfulness.
  • Integrity in Relationships: Our conduct towards fellow believers and all people should reflect God's character. Treachery and deceit are antithetical to the love and truth that should characterize followers of Christ.
  • Accountability to God: God sees our actions, even those done in secret, and holds us accountable for how we treat others, especially within the community of faith. Our outward worship means little if our hearts are filled with treachery and our actions profane His name.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 100:3

    Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

  • Malachi 2:11

    Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:6

    But to us [there is but] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him.

  • Ephesians 4:6

    One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.

  • Isaiah 63:16

    Doubtless thou [art] our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, [art] our father, our redeemer; thy name [is] from everlasting.

  • Isaiah 64:8

    But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.

  • Matthew 3:9

    And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
← Back