The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
The LORD {H3068} will cut off {H3772} the man {H376} that doeth {H6213} this, the master {H5782} and the scholar {H6030}, out of the tabernacles {H168} of Jacob {H3290}, and him that offereth {H5066} an offering {H4503} unto the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}.
If a man does this and presents an offering to ADONAI-Tzva'ot, may ADONAI cut him off from the tents of Ya'akov, whether initiator or follower.
As for the man who does this, may the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who is awake and aware—even if he brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts.
Jehovah will cut off, to the man that doeth this, him that waketh and him that answereth, out of the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto Jehovah of hosts.
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Isaiah 9:14
Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. -
Isaiah 9:16
For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err; and [they that are] led of them [are] destroyed. -
Numbers 24:5
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, [and] thy tabernacles, O Israel! -
Nehemiah 13:28
And [one] of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, [was] son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. -
Nehemiah 13:29
Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. -
Revelation 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. -
Isaiah 66:3
He that killeth an ox [is as if] he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, [as if] he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, [as if he offered] swine's blood; he that burneth incense, [as if] he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
Context
Malachi, the final book of the Old Testament, addresses the spiritual decline and disobedience of the Jewish people and their priests in the post-exilic period. Following their return from Babylonian captivity, the people had grown apathetic, offering defiled sacrifices and failing to uphold their covenant responsibilities. Malachi 2 specifically condemns the priests for their failure to teach God's law accurately and the people for their treachery, particularly in intermarrying with foreign idolaters and divorcing their Israelite wives (as detailed in Malachi 2:10-11). Verse 12 serves as a stark declaration of the LORD's impending judgment against those who persist in such unfaithfulness.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "cut off" (Hebrew: karath) signifies a severe form of judgment, often implying excommunication from the community of Israel, removal from God's protection, or even premature death. It denotes a complete severance of relationship.
The KJV rendering "the master and the scholar" is an interpretation of the difficult Hebrew phrase 'er ve'oneh (עֵר וְעֹנֶה), which literally means "one who wakes and one who answers" or "awakener and answerer." This obscure idiom is commonly understood to signify "everyone," "root and branch," or "all who bear witness or respond." The KJV's translation highlights the comprehensive nature of the judgment, affecting all segments of society, from leaders to followers, or teachers to students, ensuring that no one escapes accountability for their treachery.
The "tabernacles of Jacob" refers to the community or dwelling places of Israel, emphasizing the removal from God's people and presence.
Practical Application
Malachi 2:12 serves as a timeless warning that God takes covenant commitments seriously, especially those within marriage and the broader community of faith. It reminds us that: